Living with Diabetes
Information to help you live a healthier, happier life with diabetes
Understanding Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease in which levels of blood glucose, also called blood sugar, are above normal. People with diabetes have problems converting food to energy. Normally, after a meal, the body breaks food down into glucose, which the blood carries to cells throughout the body. Cells use insulin, a hormone made in the pancreas, to help them convert blood glucose into energy.
A number of other types of diabetes exist. A person may exhibit characteristics of more than one type. For example, in latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA), also called type 1.5 diabetes or double diabetes, people show signs of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Diagnosis usually occurs after age 30.
In pre-diabetes, blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. However, many people with pre-diabetes develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years.
Diabetes is a disease in which blood glucose levels are above normal. People with diabetes have problems converting food to energy. After a meal, food is broken down into a sugar called glucose, which is carried by the blood to cells throughout the body. Cells use the hormone insulin, made in the pancreas, to help them process blood glucose into energy.
Gestational (jes-TAY-shun-ul) diabetes is diabetes that is found for the first time when a woman is pregnant. Out of every 100 pregnant women in the United States, three to eight get gestational diabetes. Diabetes means that your blood glucose (also called blood sugar) is too high. Your body uses glucose for energy. But too much glucose in your blood can be harmful. When you are pregnant, too much glucose is not good for your baby.
In 1997, to move away from naming the two main types of diabetes based on treatment or the age at onset, an American Diabetes Association expert committee recommended universal adoption of simplified terminology. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) agrees.
Hypoglycemia, also called low blood glucose or low blood sugar, occurs when blood glucose drops below normal levels. Glucose, an important source of energy for the body, comes from food. Carbohydrates are the main dietary source of glucose. Rice, potatoes, bread, tortillas, cereal, milk, fruit, and sweets are all carbohydrate-rich foods.
Today, almost 21 million children and adults in the US have diabetes — including 9.7 million women — and almost one third of them do not know it. Diabetes can be especially hard on women. The burden of diabetes on women is unique, because the disease can affect both mothers and their unborn children.
Gastroparesis, also called delayed gastric emptying, is a disorder in which the stomach takes too long to empty its contents. Normally, the stomach contracts to move food down into the small intestine for digestion. The vagus nerve controls the movement of food from the stomach through the digestive tract.
What benefits does Medicare provide to people with diabetes?
Medicare Part B covers 80% of the cost of your diabetic testing supplies, after you have met your yearly deductible. The Medicare deductible is $166.00 for 2016.
Hand Cleaning: One of the quickest and easiest ways to prevent infection is to clean your hands! Hand washing can help to protect you, your family members and others from spreading everyday illnesses at home, school or work.
Remember to wash your hands when they are visibly dirty and before, eating or preparing food, caring for someone who is sick, or visiting a hospital room.
Hand washing is also important after going to the bathroom, caring for someone who is sick, blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing, touching garbage, handling raw meat, touching an animal, handling animal waste, changing diapers or assisting someone with toileting, or leaving a hospital room.
When using soap and water, remember to wet hands with clean, warm water. Add soap to make lather, rub your palms, backs of your hands, and between your fingers, rub your hands for a minimum of 15 seconds. Thoroughly rinse your hands, use a clean paper towel or air dryer to dry your hands, and turn off the faucet with a paper towel to avoid recontamination.
No soap and water? No problem! While washing with soap and water is the best way to clean your hands, using alcohol-based hand cleaners also can be effective in preventing the spread of many germs. When using alcohol-based hand rub, remember to use one that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.
Drawing of a toothbrush and a container of floss with some floss hanging out. Apply the cleaner to the palm of one hand, but ensure you have enough for both hands. Rub your palms, backs of your hands, and between your fingers. Continue rubbing until hands are dry (approximately 30 seconds). Remember… Clean hands help keep germs away.
Always cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze.
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Keeping Healthy
I have had the pleasure of presenting my thoughts about diabetes to different groups in north Mississippi. I have met very few people in the categories of inherited weakness to develop diabetes, those with glucose intolerance (pre-diabetic) or early stages of type 2 diabetes, who understood what they could do for themselves to reduce the effects of diabetes and increase the chances of delaying the onset of/advancing to later stages of diabetes.
Wash your feet in warm water every day. Make sure the water is not too hot by testing the temperature with your elbow. Do not soak your feet. Dry your feet well, especially between your toes.
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Hand Cleaning: One of the quickest and easiest ways to prevent infection is to clean your hands! Hand washing can help to protect you, your family members and others from spreading everyday illnesses at home, school or work.
Diabetes means your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. Your body uses glucose for energy. But having too much glucose in your blood can hurt you.
When you take care of your diabetes, you’ll feel better. You’ll reduce your risk for problems with your kidneys, eyes, nerves, feet and legs, and teeth.
