14. What are the signs and symptoms of Diabetes?
Many people have no signs or symptoms of diabetes. Symptoms can also be so mild that you might not notice them. Here is what to look for:
- increased thirst
- increased hunger
- Fatigue
Symptoms of diabetes:
- increased urination, especially at night
- weight loss
- blurred vision
- sores that do not heal
Sometimes people have symptoms but do not suspect diabetes. They delay scheduling a checkup because they do not feel sick. Many people do not learn they have the disease until they have diabetes complications, such as blurry vision or heart trouble. Finding out early if you have diabetes is important because treatment can prevent damage to the body from diabetes.
15. How do doctors diagnose diabetes and pre-diabetes?
Doctors use the following tests to diagnose diabetes.
- A fasting Plasma glucose, or FPG test measures your blood glucose after you have gone at least 8 hours without eating. Doctors use this test to detect diabetes or pre-diabetes.
- An oral glucose tolerance test, or OGTT measures your blood glucose after you have gone at least 8 hours without eating and 2 hours after you drink a glucose-containing beverage. Doctors can use this test to diagnose diabetes or pre-diabetes.
- In a random plasma glucose test, the doctor checks your blood glucose without regard to when you ate your last meal. This test, along with an assessment of symptoms, is used to diagnose diabetes but not pre-diabetes.
If any of these tests show that you might have diabetes, your doctor will need to repeat the fasting plasma glucose test or the oral glucose tolerance test on a different day to confirm the diagnosis.
16. When should I be tested for diabetes?
Anyone 45 years old or older should consider getting tested for diabetes. If you are 45 or older and you are overweight, it is strongly recommended that you get tested. If you are younger than 45, you should consider testing if you are overweight and have one or more of the other risk factors for diabetes.
Ask your doctor for a fasting plasma glucose, or FPG test or an oral glucose tolerance, or OGTT test. Your doctor will tell you if you have normal blood glucose, pre-diabetes, or diabetes. If your blood glucose is higher than normal but lower than the diabetes range, you have a condition called pre-diabetes. Have your blood glucose checked again in 1 to 2 years.
17. How do I take care of my diabetes every day?
People with diabetes must take responsibility for their day-to-day care. Much of the daily care involves keeping blood glucose levels from going too low or too high.
People with diabetes should do four things every day to lower high blood glucose.
- Follow your meal plan.
- Get regular Exercise.
- Take your diabetes medicine.
- Check your blood glucose.
Experts say most people with diabetes should try to keep their blood glucose level as close as possible to the level of someone who doesn't have diabetes. The closer to normal your blood glucose is, the lower your chances are of developing damage to your eyes, kidneys, and nerves.
Check with your doctor about the right range for you. Your health care team will help you learn how to reach your target blood glucose range. Your main health care providers are your doctor, nurse, diabetes educator, and dietitian.
A diabetes educator is a health care worker who teaches people how to manage their diabetes. Your educator may be a nurse, a dietitian, or another kind of health care worker. A dietitian is someone who's specially trained to help people plan their meals.
18. What kind of meal plan should a person with diabetes follow?
Healthy eating is very important to lowering blood glucose levels, and people with diabetes should have their own meal plan. Ask your doctor to give you the name of a dietitian who can work with you to develop a meal plan.
In designing a meal plan, the dietitian considers the person's weight and daily physical activity. For overweight people, a weight loss plan is a must for proper blood glucose control.
Your dietitian can help you plan meals to include foods that you and your family like to eat and that are good for you, too. Ask your dietitian to include foods that are heart healthy to reduce your risk of heart disease.
People with diabetes don't need to eat special foods. You can eat foods that are low in fat, salt, and sugar and high in fiber, such as beans, fruits, vegetables, and grains. Eating right will help you reach and stay at a weight that's good for your body, keep your blood glucose in a desirable range, and prevent heart and blood vessel disease.
19. If I have diabetes, should I avoid all sweets and sugars?
If you have diabetes you should limit the amount of fats and sweets you eat. These foods have calories, but not much nutrition. Some contain saturated fats and
Cholesterol that increase your risk of heart disease. Limiting these foods will help you lose weight and keep your blood glucose and blood fats under control.
It is okay to have sweets once in a while. Try having sugar-free popsicles, diet soda, fat-free ice cream or frozen yogurt, or sugar-free hot cocoa mix to satisfy a "sweet tooth."
Remember, fat-free and low sugar foods still have calories. Talk with your diabetes educator about how to fit sweets into your meal plan.
20. How important is exercise in controlling diabetes?
Exercise is very important for people with diabetes. Taking part in a regular fitness program has been shown to improve blood glucose levels in older people whose levels are high.
Exercise is especially good for people with diabetes because
- exercise helps keep weight down
- exercise helps Insulin work better to lower blood glucose
- exercise is good for your heart and lungs
- exercise gives you more energy.
21. What types of exercise should I do?
Before you begin exercising, talk with your doctor. Your doctor may check your heart and your feet to be sure you have no special problems. If you have high blood pressure or eye problems, some exercises may not be safe. Your health care team can help you find safe exercises.
Walking, swimming, dancing, riding a bicycle, playing baseball, and bowling are all good ways to exercise. You can even get exercise when you clean house or work in your garden.
Try to exercise almost every day for a total of about 30 minutes. If you haven't exercised lately, begin slowly. Start with 5 to 10 minutes, and then add more time. Or exercise for 10 minutes, three times a day.
22. What kinds of medication do people take for diabetes?
Strict control of blood glucose is the best defense against the serious complications of diabetes. Insulin and diabetes pills are the two kinds of medicines used to lower blood glucose.
You need insulin if your body has stopped making insulin or if it doesn't make enough. Everyone with type 1 diabetes needs insulin, and many people with type 2 diabetes do, too. If your body makes insulin but the insulin doesn't lower your blood glucose, you may need diabetes pills.
