© 2005-2011 Canadian Diabetes Association
Revised September 5,
2012

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

:
• Providing education and services
• Advocating on behalf of people with diabetes
• Supporting research
• Translating research into practical applications

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

• 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
– Digestive problems
– Dry Skin
– Depression
– Early death
– Amputation

• 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

• Family Doctor
• Diabetes Specialist (Endocrinologist)
• Certified Diabetes Educator
• Registered Nurse
• Registered Dietitian
• Pharmacist

• Foot Care Specialist
• Eye Specialist
• Social Worker
• Dentist
• Psychologist
• Other medical specialists

• The most important part of the diabetes healthcare team is you!
• Your choices will keep you healthy now and in the future.

• 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

• 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

• 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.

• 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

• 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, 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.

• 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

• Add milk to soup, pudding and baking.
• Make a vegetable dip with yogurt.
• Try a smoothie made with low-fat milk.

• Beans, dried peas, lentils, tofu
•
• Fish, chicken, eggs, beef
• Two to three servings per day

• 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

• 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.

•
• Limit fat to an amount the size of the tip of your thumb.
• Use cooking spray.
• Try low-fat salad dressing.

• Instead of butter or mayonnaise, try mustard, chutney, or salsa.
• Use herbs to season food.

• Snacking can be good for you.
• Make smart choices.
• Stay away from snacks with lots of sugar and fat.

• Keep lots of healthy snacks on hand.
• Add two or more food groups together.
• Drink more water.

• Alcohol can make some health problems worse.
• Alcohol should be limited to 1-2 drinks per day

• 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

• Better blood glucose management
• More energy
• Better mood
• Lower cholesterol
• Weight loss
• Maybe less medication

• 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!

• Life can get in the way of regular exercise and making healthy food choices.
• Have a back-up plan.

• 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

• 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.

• Ask how and when to take your medication.
• Ask about side effects and drugs that interact.
• Wear a MedicAlert® ID.

• 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.

• 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 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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

• 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.

• 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.

• 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%.

• 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.

• Ketones are found:
- in your urine
- when blood glucose levels are too high
• Your doctor can test your ketone levels.

• 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

• 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

• 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!

• 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.

• 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!

• 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.

• 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

• What to do:
- brush and floss often
- visit the dentist often

• 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.

• What to do:
- manage your blood glucose
- change your medication
- change your diet
• Talk to your healthcare professional

• 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

• 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.

• 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?

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

• Volunteer
• Donate
• Join Team Diabetes
• Become a member

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