Living Well with Diabetes - Canadian Diabetes Association

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© 2005-2011 Canadian Diabetes Association

Revised September 5,

2012

About the Canadian Diabetes

Association

Our mission is to lead the fight against diabetes by helping people with diabetes live healthy lives while we work to find a cure.

We deliver our mission by

:

• Providing education and services

• Advocating on behalf of people with diabetes

• Supporting research

• Translating research into practical applications

Objectives

At the end of this session, you will:

• Understand the seriousness of diabetes

• Know who could be part of your healthcare team

• Understand the importance of healthy living and blood glucose management

• Be able to recognize diabetes related complications and help to prevent or minimize their impact

True or False?

• People with diabetes can eat sweets.

- TRUE

• If you take medication or insulin, you can eat anything you want.

- FALSE

• You can tell if your blood sugar is too high or too low by how you feel.

- FALSE

• Diabetes is a serious disease, like cancer or heart disease.

- TRUE

– Ketoacidosis

– Eye disease

– Heart disease

– Nerve damage

– Kidney disease

– Sexual dysfunction

Diabetes is Serious

– Digestive problems

– Dry Skin

– Depression

– Early death

– Amputation

Diabetes Management

• Get to know your healthcare team

• Schedule regular check-ups to remember your

ABCs:

A1C

Blood Pressure

Cholesterol

• Choose healthy food as part of a balanced meal plan

• Live an active lifestyle

Your Healthcare Team

• Family Doctor

• Diabetes Specialist (Endocrinologist)

• Certified Diabetes Educator

• Registered Nurse

• Registered Dietitian

• Pharmacist

Your Healthcare Team

• Foot Care Specialist

• Eye Specialist

• Social Worker

• Dentist

• Psychologist

• Other medical specialists

You Matter Most

• The most important part of the diabetes healthcare team is you!

• Your choices will keep you healthy now and in the future.

Healthy Eating

• Choosing when, what and how much to eat is important to managing your diabetes.

Resources:

Eating Well with

Canada’s Food Guide

Just the Basics Your Dietitian

How Much Do I Need?

Fruits and Vegetables

• Banana, apple, carrot, broccoli, salad

• Seven to 10 servings per day

• 1 serving =

• 1 medium size fruit or vegetable

• 125 ml (½ cup) chopped fruit or vegetables

• 125 ml (½ cup) juice (100% pure)

• 250 ml (1 cup) salad

Small Changes

• Eat unpeeled carrots, potatoes and apples.

• Add grated carrots or zucchini to pasta sauce.

• Try a vegetarian meal.

• Try a new fruit or vegetable this week.

Grain Products

• Bread, pasta, rice, pita, cereal

• Six to eight servings per day

• 1 serving =

• 1 slice of bread (35 g)

• ½ small bagel (45 g) or pita

• 125 ml (½ cup) rice or cooked pasta

• An amount the size of your fist

Small Changes

• Add barley, bulgur or brown rice to soup and stews.

• Use bran or whole grain flour in baking.

• Try whole wheat pasta.

• Use whole grain breads.

• Try bran and oat cereals.

Milk and Alternatives

• Milk, cheese, yogurt, fortified soy beverage

• Children need two to four servings per day.

• Teens, pregnant women, and breastfeeding women need three to four servings per day.

• Adults need two to three servings.

Milk and Alternatives

• 1 serving =

• 250 ml (1 cup) milk

• 2 slices (50 g) processed cheese

• 50 g (1½ oz) hard cheese

• 250 ml (1 cup) low-fat soy beverage

• 175g (3/4 cup) yogurt

Small Changes

• Add milk to soup, pudding and baking.

• Make a vegetable dip with yogurt.

• Try a smoothie made with low-fat milk.

Meat and Alternatives

• Beans, dried peas, lentils, tofu

• Fish, chicken, eggs, beef

• Two to three servings per day

Meat and Alternatives

• 1 serving =

• 2 eggs

• 175 ml (3/4 cup) beans

• 175 ml (3/4 cup) tofu

• 30 ml (2 tbsp) peanut butter

• 75 g (2½ oz) meat, poultry or fish

Small Changes

• Bake, broil, barbecue, poach or stir-fry.

• Try a meatless meal one day a week.

• Try lentils and rice, quiche, an omelette, bean salad with a pita or a tofu burger.

Fats

• Limit fat to an amount the size of the tip of your thumb.

• Use cooking spray.

• Try low-fat salad dressing.

Small Changes

• Instead of butter or mayonnaise, try mustard, chutney, or salsa.

• Use herbs to season food.

Don’t Forget Snacks

!

• Snacking can be good for you.

• Make smart choices.

• Stay away from snacks with lots of sugar and fat.

Don’t Forget Snacks!

• Keep lots of healthy snacks on hand.

• Add two or more food groups together.

• Drink more water.

Alcohol

• Alcohol can make some health problems worse.

• Alcohol should be limited to 1-2 drinks per day

True or False?

• You have to be slim to be fit.

- FALSE

• Too little exercise is almost as bad for your health as smoking.

- TRUE

• Exercise can greatly lessen the risk of getting type 2 diabetes.

- TRUE

• You have to exercise for long stretches of time to benefit.

- FALSE

Benefits of Physical Activity

• Better blood glucose management

• More energy

• Better mood

• Lower cholesterol

• Weight loss

• Maybe less medication

Getting Started

• Start slowly.

• Do something you like.

• Have a support network.

• Set small goals and celebrate when you achieve them.

• Speak to a personal trainer or healthcare professional.

• Maintain a healthy weight.

• Start today!

Plan for Success

• Life can get in the way of regular exercise and making healthy food choices.

• Have a back-up plan.

Oral Diabetes Medications

• Every person is different and may need different types or combinations of medication to manage their diabetes.

• Oral diabetes medication:

- Helps the pancreas release more insulin.

- Makes cells more sensitive to insulin

- Slows food digestion

- Does not contain insulin

Insulin

• Some people need insulin, either alone or with other medication.

• When oral diabetes medication is no longer enough to manage blood glucose levels, insulin may be needed.

• Thousands of Canadians take insulin, and most say it's easier than they expected.

• The most important thing is managing your blood glucose levels.

Medication

• Ask how and when to take your medication.

• Ask about side effects and drugs that interact.

• Wear a MedicAlert® ID.

Blood Glucose Testing

• Talk to your healthcare team about what your target range should be.

• Regularly review your home blood glucose test results with your healthcare professional.

• Work with your healthcare provider to choose a meter that is right for you.

Blood Glucose Levels

• Healthy levels differ from person to person.

• For most people with diabetes, healthy levels are:

• 4.0 – 7.0 mmol/L before meals

• 5.0 – 10.0 mmol/L two hours after meals

• 5.0 – 8.0 mmol/L two hours after meals (if A1C is more than 7%)

A1C

• A1C is the average of your blood glucose levels over the past 120 days.

• Aim for an A1C of 7% or less.

• A lab can test your A1C.

Low Blood Glucose

• Hypoglycemia = blood glucose that is less than 4 mmol/L

• When your blood glucose is low you may feel:

– Shaky, weak

– Nervous, irritable

– Confused

– Hungry

– Headachy, light headed

– Sweaty

– Faster heart beat

– Numbness or tingling in the tongue or lips

• Some people have no symptoms at all.

Treating Low Blood Glucose

• Test your blood glucose.

• Even if you can’t check, help yourself by taking:

– 3 glucose 5 gram tablets (15 g of carbohydrate)

– 15 ml (3 tsp) sugar stirred in water

– 175 ml (3/4 cup) juice or regular pop

–6 Life Savers®

–15 ml (1 Tbsp) honey

• Wait 15 minutes and then test your blood glucose again.

• If it is still less than 4.0mmol/L, eat or drink one of the above choices again.

High Blood Glucose

(Hyperglycemia)

• Hyperglycemia is when the amount of blood glucose is higher than your target range (more than 11 mmol/L).

• Causes:

- Too much food

- Too little activity

- Not taking your medication and/or insulin

- Being sick

- Stress

High Blood Glucose

• When your blood glucose is high, you may:

- Need to urinate often

- Be unusually thirsty

- Feel very tired

• To treat and prevent high blood glucose, find the cause and fix it if you can.

Sick Day Management

• When you are sick, it is important that you:

- Test your blood glucose every two to four hours.

- Take your medication as prescribed.

- Continue taking your insulin. You may need to adjust your dosage, depending on your blood glucose levels.

- Call a doctor or go to an emergency room if you vomit and/or have diarrhea two times in four hours.

- Eat at regular times or, if you can't eat, drink something like juice or Gatorade®.

- Drink lots of water or sugar-free drinks.

The Flu

• It is recommended that people at high risk of influenzarelated complications, including all adults and children

(aged six months and older) with diabetes, receive an annual influenza vaccine.

• Influenza vaccination can reduce hospitalizations by approximately 40%.

Visiting the Hospital

• Always carry diabetes supplies with you.

• Carry an up-to-date list of all medications and food and drug allergies.

• Wear a MedicAlert ID®.

• Carry emergency contact numbers.

• Tell medical staff you have diabetes.

• Bring a snack in case of long wait times.

Ketone Testing

• Ketones are found:

- in your urine

- when blood glucose levels are too high

• Your doctor can test your ketone levels.

Ketone Testing

• Diabetic ketoacidosis is a serious problem.

• It happens when:

- blood glucose and ketone levels are high

- you do not control your diabetes

- you are sick

Foot Care

• High blood glucose can lead to poor blood flow and loss of feeling in the feet.

• Even a small cut can be a problem.

• Prevent problems by:

- checking your feet every day

- washing and drying your feet every day

- wearing shoes that fit well

- visiting your healthcare professional if you suspect a problem

Eye Care

• High blood glucose can damage blood vessels in the retina of the eye.

• There are no early symptoms, so eye check-ups are very important!

Eye Care

• Type 1 diabetes:

- Schedule an eye exam each year for people over 15 years of age who have had type 1 diabetes for five years or more.

• Type 2 diabetes:

- Have your eyes checked when first diagnosed and every one to two years after.

Preventing Heart Disease

• Also known as cardiovascular disease.

• Diabetes is closely linked to high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

- This can lead to angina, stroke, heart attack and heart failure.

• 80% of people with diabetes die of heart disease.

• Prevent it!

Kidneys

• Also known as diabetic nephropathy.

- High blood glucose levels can permanently damage the delicate blood vessels of the kidneys, which can lead to kidney infections, kidney damage and end-stage renal failure.

• Once the kidneys have been damaged, they cannot be fixed.

• Early treatment can slow the way kidney disease progresses, and delay the onset of end-stage renal disease.

Sexual Dysfunction

• High blood glucose levels can decrease blood flow and damage nerves that include the sexual organs.

• For men, it may mean difficulty getting or keeping an erection.

• For a woman, it may cause:

- less vaginal lubrication, leading to discomfort during intercourse

- more cases of vaginitis (inflammation of the vagina)

- more yeast infections

Dental Care

• What to do:

- brush and floss often

- visit the dentist often

Digestive Problems

• High blood glucose can damage the nerves that affect digestion.

• Common problems include:

• Constipation

• Diarrhea

• Gastroparesis

- About 30% to 50% of all people with diabetes will have some sort of digestive problem.

Digestive Problems

• What to do:

- manage your blood glucose

- change your medication

- change your diet

• Talk to your healthcare professional

.

Dry Skin (dermatitis)

• High blood glucose damages small blood vessels and small nerves.

• What to do:

- Keep the room temperature low

- Keep the room more humid

- Wear gloves for cleaning

- Don’t take hot baths and showers

- Use creams and lotions

- Check feet often

- Drink plenty of sugar-free clear fluids

Depression

• Poor diabetes control can affect the way you feel and the way you cope.

• People with diabetes are more likely to develop depression than people without diabetes.

Review

• List some members of the diabetes healthcare team.

• What are the benefits of healthy eating?

• Why is it important to test your blood glucose levels regularly?

• List some diabetes related complications.

• How often should you exercise?

• How can you stay healthy and decrease your risk for developing complications?

Learn more

• To learn more about how to live well with diabetes and how complications may be prevented or delayed, please visit:

www.diabetes.c

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Your donation counts. Every dollar is gratefully received and wisely invested in the fight against diabetes .

Thank You!

• Participant List

• Evaluation Form

• Handouts

We’re Here to Help

• Call 1-800-BANTING

• (1-800-226-8464)

• Visit www.diabetes.ca

• to find local events and support groups.

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