1. Diabetes- Are You at Risk?

2. 3 John 1:2
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth

3. What is Diabetes
Diabetes- a disorder that affects the way your body uses food for energy.
Normally, the sugar in foods that you eat is digested and broken down to a simple sugar, known as glucose.
Glucose circulates in your blood where it waits to enter cells to be used as fuel.
Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, helps move the glucose into cells.
A healthy pancreas adjusts the amount of insulin based on the level of glucose.
If you have diabetes, this process breaks down, and blood sugar levels become too high.

4. Types of Diabetes
.Type 1 Diabetes- a life-long condition in which the pancreas stops making insulin. Without insulin, the body is not able to use glucose (blood sugar) for energy. . Type 2 Diabetes- a condition in which the body either makes too little insulin or cannot properly use the insulin it makes to convert blood glucose to energy.
                         

5. Normal Values
There are two tests that are used to check your blood for sugar (glucose) levels:
Normal Fasting Blood Sugar range is
mg/dl- you can test this by a
finger stick and using a glucometer
(a machine that tests your blood sugar)
Normal Hemoglobin A1C is below 7%- it measures your average blood sugar over the previous 3 months- this is a test that only healthcare providers can do

6. Risk Factors of Diabetes
Obesity
Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
High cholesterol
Race - certain races have higher rates
African Americans
Hispanic Americans
Mexican Americans
Native Americans
Family history of Type-2 diabetes
Inactive lifestyle

7. Why are Risk Factors Good to Know?
Because you can prevent complications of diabetes such as:
Extremely high or low blood sugar
Heart disease- blocked blood vessels
High blood pressure
Vascular disease of your toes, feet,
and legs
Kidney disease- renal failure
Eye disease- retinopathy
Nerve damage- neuropathy

8. CAUTION!! Early signs & symptoms Frequent urination Frequent thirst
Frequent eating
Fatigue
Unexplained weight loss
Poor wound healing
Blurry vision
*If you experience these symptoms contact your healthcare provider.

9. How to Prevent Diabetes
Eat a well balanced diet- avoid foods high in sugar, carbohydrates, salt and cholesterol
Exercise regularly
Maintain ideal body weight
Annual health checkups

10. References
Black, J. & Hawks, J. (2009). Medical-Surgical Nursing: Clinical Management for Positive Outcomes. (8th ed.) St. Louis: Saunders/Elsevier

11. Authors Latoya Buchanan, SN, WSSU Lorraine Harris, SN, WSSU
Frances Williams, SN, WSSU
Fall 2009