Diabetes Awareness
by Cecilia Mullen, R.N.C., N.P.
March 15, 2000
It is estimated that 12-14 million Americans have Type 2 diabetes. Half of these individuals do not even know they have it.
Diabetes, if left untreated or uncontrolled, can have devastating health consequences. Long-term consequences include reduced vision or blindness, heart disease, kidney failure, reduced circulation in the legs and possible amputation. Although these are feared long-term effects, they are usually preventable by early diagnosis and treatment.
The first step is screening. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, affecting over 90% of all diabetics. It usually occurs in those individuals over 40 years of age and is more common among overweight people. The symptoms of thirst, frequent urination and unexplained weight loss can be so mild that it goes unnoticed for years.
This is why routine screening is so important. A simple blood test or finger stick is all it takes and is recommended yearly for those individuals at high risk. High risk individuals include women who have had diabetes during pregnancy or have had babies over 9 pounds. A family history of diabetes is considered high risk. Being obese or overweight or having a sedentary lifestyle puts you at risk. It is important to see a health care provider regularly and let him or her know any risk factors you may have.
If you are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, it is important to follow up regularly with your health care provider. Routine health care will include blood tests every three months (called hemoglobin A1C), a yearly eye exam and foot exam, a yearly urine test and physical exams every 3-6 months. This is to monitor for any long-term effects of the illness and determine how well the diabetes is in control.
Gaining control of diabetes requires a lot of work and effort by the individual. Diet and exercise are crucial to a successful outcome.
Recommended exercise is 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity each day such as walking, bicycling, or dancing. If you are sedentary, check with your doctor before starting an exercise routine. Some people might only be able to exercise while sitting in a chair; others may be limited to 5-10 minutes a day. Other health issues must be taken into consideration thus limiting types of exercise but again, check with your doctor as most individuals can do some form of activity.
Diet modifications are key. Portion control is the first element to control. Overeating anything will raise blood sugars in diabetes. Eat moderate portions. A typical serving size is ½ cup or 1 slice of bread.
When reading food labels, look at TOTAL CARBOHYDRATES, not sugar. All carbohydrates turn to sugar anyway so know how many carbohydrates are in the foods you eat. A typical serving size is 15 grams of total carbohydrates.
A moderately active woman can eat about 7 servings of starch per day, e.g., ½ cup of cereal and 1 slice of toast, a sandwich and 1 cup of pasta in the course of a whole day. Add in 2 fruits, 2 vegetables, 2 milks and 4 ounces of protein and this is a well balanced diet. A man can add an extra starch, an extra fruit, and an extra milk, and 2 more ounces of protein per day.
If all this seems confusing, ask to see a nutritionist or certified diabetes educator. They can help you. But remember, limit your starches (e.g., bread, potatoes, pasta, rice, crackers, cereal) and avoid sweets, fruit juices, and soda.
It is advisable for all Americans to eat healthy in this way. But for diabetics, it is especially important.
If you already know you have diabetes, come see our certified diabetes educator to gain more information and control of your diabetes.
We recently held a diabetes seminar that included a lecture, question and answer period and demonstrations of home glucose monitoring. Over 40 people attended and over 20 home glucose monitors were distributed. We will be holding another seminar in the fall if you are interested.
Useful links for more information about Diabetes Mellitus
- American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists
- American Association of Diabetes Educators
- American Diabetes Association
- Canadian Diabetes Association
- CDC Diabetes Home Page
- Diabetes Self-Management
- Juvenile Diabetes Foundation
- Managing Your Diabetes
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (of the NIH)
Cecilia Mullen is a nurse practitioner at Granite Medical Group. The information in this column is not intended to diagnose individual conditions. Readers should see their own doctors about specific problems.