WORLD DIABETECS DAY

World Diabetes Day

How diabetes affects your blood
sugar
Your body uses glucose for energy.
Glucose metabolism requires insulin, a
hormone produced by your pancreas
Diabetes is a disease where your body
either can't produce enough insulin or it
can't use insulin properly.
The food you eat consists of three basic
nutrients: carbohydrates, protein and fat.
During digestion, chemicals in your
stomach break down carbohydrates into
glucose, which is absorbed into your
bloodstream. Your pancreas responds to
the glucose by releasing insulin. Insulin
is responsible for allowing glucose into
your body's cells. When the glucose
enters your cells, the amount of glucose
in your bloodstream falls.
If you have type 1 diabetes, your
pancreas doesn't secrete insulin —
which causes a buildup of glucose in
your bloodstream. Without insulin, the
glucose can't get into your cells.
If you have type 2 diabetes, your
pancreas secretes less insulin than your
body requires because your body is
resistant to its effect.

Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes was once known as
adult-onset or noninsulin-dependent
diabetes.
With type 2 diabetes, your body either
resists the effects of insulin — a
hormone that regulates the movement
of sugar into your cells — or doesn't
produce enough insulin to maintain a
normal glucose level. Untreated, type 2
diabetes can be life-threatening.
There's no cure for type 2 diabetes, but
you can manage — or even prevent —
the condition.

Symptoms
• Increased thirst and frequent urination.
• Increased hunger.
• Weight loss.
• Fatigue.
• Blurred vision.
• Slow-healing sores or frequent
infections.
• Areas of darkened skin.

Causes
Type 2 diabetes develops when the
body becomes resistant to insulin or
when the pancreas stops producing
enough insulin.
Exactly why this happens is unknown,
although excess weight and inactivity
seem to be contributing factors.

Risk factors
• Weight.
• Fat distribution.
• Inactivity.
• Family history.
• Race.
• Age.
• Prediabetes.
• Gestational diabetes.

Complications
Type 2 diabetes can be easy to ignore,
especially in the early stages when
you're feeling fine. But diabetes
affects many major organs.
Although long-term complications of
diabetes develop gradually, they can
eventually be disabling or even
life-threatening. Some of the potential
complications of diabetes include:
• Heart and blood vessel disease.
• Nerve damage (neuropathy).
• Kidney damage (nephropathy).
• Eye damage.
• Foot damage.
• Skin and mouth conditions.
• Osteoporosis.
• Alzheimer's disease.
• Hearing problems.

Preparing for your appointment
It probably will be your family doctor
or primary care physician who makes
the initial diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.
Because appointments can be brief,
and there's often a lot of ground to
cover, it's a good idea to be well
prepared for any appointments you
have with your health care team.

What you can do
• Be aware of any pre-appointment
restrictions.
• Write down any symptoms you're
experiencing,
• Ask a family member or friend to join
you, if possible.
• Bring a notebook and a pen or
pencil,
• Write down questions to ask your
doctor.

What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask you a
number of questions. Being ready to
answer them may reserve time to go
over any points you want to spend
more time on.
Your doctor may ask:
• Do you understand and feel confident
you can follow your treatment plan?
• How are you coping with diabetes?
• Have you experienced any low blood
sugar?
• What's a typical day's diet like?
• Are you exercising? If so, what type of
exercise? How often?

What you can do in the meantime
If your blood sugar isn't well controlled,
or if you're not sure about what to do in
a certain situation, don't hesitate to
contact your doctor or diabetes
educator for guidance.

Tests and diagnosis
Type 2 diabetes testing include the:
• Glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test.
• Random blood sugar test.
• Fasting blood sugar test.
• Oral glucose tolerance test.
The American Diabetes Association
recommends routine screening for type
2 diabetes beginning at age 45,
especially if you're overweight. If the
results are normal, repeat the test every
three years. If the results are border line,
ask your doctor when to come back for
another test. Screening is also recommended
for people who are under 45
and overweight if there are other heart
disease or diabetes risk factors present,
such as a sedentary lifestyle, a family
history of type 2 diabetes, a personal
history of gestational diabetes or blood
pressure above 135/80 millimeters of
mercury (mm Hg).

After the diagnosis
A1C levels need to be checked between
two and four times a year. Your target
A1C goal may vary depending on your
age and various other factors.

Lifestyle and home remedies
Careful management of type 2 diabetes
can reduce your risk of serious — even
life-threatening — complications.
Consider these tips:
• Commit to managing your diabetes.
• Identify yourself.
• Schedule a yearly physical exam and
regular eye exams.
• Keep your immunizations up to date.
• Take care of your teeth.
• Pay attention to your feet.
• Keep your blood pressure and
cholesterol under control.
• If you smoke or use other types of
tobacco, ask your doctor to help you
quit.
• If you drink alcohol, do so responsibly.
• Take stress seriously.
It probably will be your family doctor
or primary care physician who makes
the initial