What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a disease in which blood glucose levels are above normal. Most
of the food we eat is turned into glucose, or sugar, for our bodies to use for
energy. The pancreas, an organ that lies near the stomach, makes a hormone
called insulin to help glucose get into the cells of our bodies. When you have
diabetes, your body either doesn't make enough insulin (Type 1) or can't use
its own insulin as well as it should (Type 2). This causes sugar to build up in
your blood.
Diabetes can cause serious health complications including heart disease,
blindness, kidney failure, and lower-extremity amputations. Diabetes is the
sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Additionally, the rate of
depression in people with diabetes is much higher than in the general
population. Therefore, treatment for diabetes is extremely important.
Risk Factors for diabetes include older age, obesity, family history of
diabetes, prior history of gestational diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance,
physical inactivity, and race/ethnicity.
Symptoms
Type 1 Diabetes
Frequent urination
Unusual thirst
Extreme hunger
Unusual weight loss
Extreme fatigue and irritability
Type 2 Diabetes
Any of Type 1 symptoms
Frequent infections
Blurred vision
Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal
Tingling/numbness in hands/feet
Recurring skin, gum, or bladder
infections
*Often people with type 2 diabetes have no symptoms
Treatment- Work with your heath care provider to design a plan unique to
your situation including any combination of the following treatment
strategies.
 Diet. Modify what you eat by (1) avoid or reduce high sugar and fat
foods and large quantities of food and (2) decrease alcohol
consumption and caffinated beverages
 Physical Activity. Increase physical activity by incorporating exercise
into your daily routine.
 Emotional Regulation. Learn adaptive coping skills in order to
improve mood.
 Monitor Blood Glucose Levels. Take and record blood glucose levels
daily.
 Insulin Injections for Type 1 diabeties. Insulin is delivered through
injection or via a pump. The amount of insulin taken must be
balanced with food intake and daily activities.
Oral Medications are used occasionally for Type 2 diabetes along with
insulin in order to reduce the amount of glucose in the blood.
The following oral medications are used:
 Sulfonylureas- stimulates release of insulin in pancreas.
 Meglitinides- stimulates release of insulin by beta cells.
 Biguanides- lower blood glucose levels primarily by decreasing the
amount of glucose produced by the liver.
 Thiazolidinediones- help insulin work better in the muscle and fat and
also reduce glucose production in the liver.
 Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors- help the body to lower blood glucose
levels by blocking the breakdown of starches.
 DPP-4 inhibitors- prevents the breakdown of a naturally occurring
compound in the body, GLP-1, that reduces blood glucose levels in
the body.
Online Resource
http://www.diabetes.org/
http://www.changingdiabetes-us.com
http://www.cdc.gov/