1. Measure Your Diabetes Risk
US.NMH

2. Blood sugar and insulin are normally in balance
What Is Diabetes?
Diabetes affects the way your body uses food.
When you eat, food is turned into sugar, or glucose. Glucose, in turn, makes energy in your body.
Insulin (produced by your pancreas) opens your cells to allow the glucose to enter.
If your body does not make enough insulin or if the insulin doesn’t work the way it should, glucose can’t get into your cells. It stays in your blood instead. Your blood glucose level then rises too high, causing prediabetes or diabetes.
S=sugar, I=insulin
Blood sugar and insulin are normally in balance

3. The 2 Types of Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes – The body no longer produces insulin, so the sugar cannot move into the cells to become energy
Type 2 diabetes – The body doesn’t produce enough insulin and/or cannot use it well enough to get the blood sugar into the body’s cells for energy
In both situations, blood glucose builds up in the
body and can lead to:
Nerve damage and pain (neuropathy)
Kidney disease (nephropathy)
Eye disease that can lead to blindness (retinopathy)
S=sugar, I=insulin

4. The Importance of Controlling Blood Sugar
It is important for people with diabetes to get their blood sugar under control and keep it that way to reduce the risk of serious health problems (neuropathy, nephropathy, retinopathy).
Things that affect blood sugar levels:
Food raises blood sugar
Exercise lowers blood sugar
Diabetes medicine (pills or insulin) lowers blood sugar

5. How Blood Sugar Is Measured
1. Blood sugar monitoring Finger stick test
Done 1 or more times a day
Shows the blood sugar level at that moment
Blood sugar goals for people who have diabetes
2. A1C test
Your blood is drawn and sent to a lab (at least 2 times a year)
Shows average blood sugar level over the past 2 to 3 months
Goal: Less than 7% for most patients. However, your individual goal may be more or less, depending on your age and/or health history
1% reduction in your A1C level can lower your risk of many diabetes complications by 40%
Before meals
80 to 130 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter)
2 hours after the start of a meal
Less than 180 mg/dL

6. Be Aware of Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar)
Low blood sugar (less than 70 mg/dL) occurs when the blood sugar level drops too low to provide enough energy for the body’s activities.
Symptoms can include:
Nervousness − Dizziness
Drowsiness − Feeling anxious
Confusion − Sweating
Causes:
Taking your insulin or diabetes medication at the wrong time or taking too much
Side effects to some medications
Meals or snacks that are too small, delayed, or skipped
Waiting too long after taking medicine to eat your meal
Increased physical activity (not adjusting the insulin dose)
Alcoholic beverages

7. How to Treat Hypoglycemia
Raise your blood glucose level quickly by eating or drinking something in the form of a sugar or simple carbohydrate
3 to 4 glucose tablets
½ cup (4 oz) of regular soda (not diet)
2 tablespoons of raisins
4 teaspoons of sugar
If you experience hypoglycemia, check your blood glucose every 15 minutes until it is above 70 mg/dL.
½ cup (4 oz) of juice
4 or 5 saltine crackers
1 tablespoon of honey or corn syrup

8. Be Aware of Hyperglycemia (High Blood Sugar)
High blood sugar occurs when a patient’s body has too little insulin or when the body cannot use insulin properly.
The signs of hyperglycemia are often difficult to detect but include:
Frequent hunger – Weight loss
Frequent thirst – Frequent need to urinate
Fatigue – Blurred vision
Causes:
Type 1 Diabetes – Not enough insulin
Type 2 Diabetes – Low insulin level or the body is not using insulin properly
Improper dosing of prescribed medication
Too much food
Too little exercise
Stress from an illness, such as cold or flu

9. Eating With Diabetes
“Choose My Plate” helps you to eat a variety of nutritious foods and understand portion sizes at each meal. This will help you balance your blood sugar level and better manage your diabetes.

10. Beverages You Should Drink
What do you drink when you are thirsty?
Beverages can make a difference in your blood glucose level and weight.
Drink
Don’t Drink
Water
Energy drinks
Unsweetened teas
Sweet tea
Diet soda
Regular soda
Coffee
Fruit drinks
Other low-calorie drinks and drink mixes
Other sugary drinks

11. Benefits of Exercise for People With Diabetes
The potential benefits include:
Weight control
Controlling blood sugar
Improving strength, balance, and flexibility (which reduces the risk of falling)
Check with your health care provider before starting or changing an exercise regimen

12. Protect Your Skin Keep skin clean and dry
Use moisturizing soaps when bathing
Moisturize your skin to prevent chapping, especially in cold or windy weather
Treat cuts right away

13. Protect Your Feet Check your feet every day
Wear shoes and socks. Do not walk barefoot.
Protect your feet from hot pavement or the sand on the beach
Make sure your shoes fit correctly
Wash your feet regularly
Rub lotion over the tops and bottoms of your feet but not between toes
Trim toenails when needed
Do not use hot water bottles, heating pads, or electric blankets on your feet
Try to put your feet up when sitting

14. Medication for Type 1 Diabetes – Insulin
There are several ways you may take insulin:
By injection
Using a vial and syringe or an insulin pen
Using an insulin pump
Small machine worn outside of the body
Using an insulin jet injector
Looks like a large pen
Variable A
residents

15. Medication for Type 2 Diabetes
People with type 2 diabetes may take medication in the following ways:
Pills
Insulin

16. Thank you for your participation. Questions?