Download Staying Healthy with Diabetes

Staying Healthy with Diabetes
From The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
What routine medical examinations and tests are needed for people with diabetes?
Your doctors should:
•
Measure your blood pressure at every visit
•
Check your feet for sores at every visit, and give a thorough foot exam at least once a year
•
Give you a hemoglobin A1C test at least twice a year, to determine what your average blood
glucose level was for the past 2 to 3 months
•
Test your urine and blood to check your kidney function at least once a year
•
Test your blood lipids (fats) – total cholesterol; LDL, or low-density lipoprotein (“bad”
cholesterol); HDL, or high-density lipoprotein (“good” cholesterol); and triglycerides at least once
a year
You should also get a dental checkup twice a year, a dilated eye exam once a year, an annual flu shot,
and a pneumonia shot.
How does maintaining healthy blood glucose levels help people with diabetes stay healthy?
Research studies in the United States and other countries have shown that controlling blood glucose
benefits people with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. In general, for every 1% reduction in results of
A1C blood tests (e.g., from 8.0% to 7.0%), the risk of developing eye, kidney, and nerve disease is
reduced by 40%.
How does maintaining a healthy body weight help people with diabetes stay healthy?
Most people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are overweight.
Excess weight, particularly in the abdomen, makes it difficult for cells
to respond to insulin, resulting in high blood glucose. Often, people
with type 2 diabetes are able to lower their blood glucose by losing
weight and increasing physical activity. Losing weight also helps lower
the risk for other health problems which especially affect people with
diabetes, such as cardiovascular disease.
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How does maintaining a healthy blood pressure level help people with diabetes stay healthy?
About 73% of adults with diabetes have high blood pressure or use prescription medications to reduce
high blood pressure. Maintaining normal blood pressure – less than 130/80 millimeters of mercury (mm
Hg) helps to prevent damage to the eyes, kidneys, heart, and blood vessels. Blood pressure
measurements are written like a fraction, with the two numbers separated by a slash. The first number
represents the pressure in your blood vessels when your heart beats (systolic pressure); the second
number represents the pressure in the vessels when your heart is at rest (diastolic pressure).
In general, for every 10 mm Hg reduction in systolic blood pressure (the first number in the fraction), the
risk for any complication related to diabetes is reduced by 12%. Maintaining normal blood pressure
control can reduce the risk of eye, kidney, and nerve disease (microvascular disease) by approximately
33%, and the risk of heart disease and stroke (cardiovascular disease) by approximately 33% to 50%.
Healthy eating, medications, and physical activity can help you bring high blood pressure down.
How does maintaining healthy cholesterol levels help people with diabetes stay healthy?
Several things, including having diabetes, can make your blood cholesterol level
too high. When cholesterol is too high, the insides of large blood vessels become
narrowed, even clogged, which can lead to heart disease and stroke, the biggest
health problems for people with diabetes. Maintaining normal cholesterol levels
will help prevent these diseases, and can help prevent circulation problems, also
an issue for people with diabetes. Have your cholesterol checked at least once a
year. Total cholesterol should be under 200; LDL (“bad” cholesterol) should be
under 100; HDL (“good” cholesterol) should be above 40 in men and above 50 in
women; and triglycerides should be under 150. Healthy eating, medications, and
physical activity can help you reach your cholesterol targets. Keeping cholesterol
levels under control can reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications of
diabetes by 20% to 50%.
How does exercise help people with diabetes stay healthy?
Physical activity can help you control your blood glucose, weight, and blood pressure, as well as raise
your “good” cholesterol and lower your “bad” cholesterol. It can also help prevent heart and blood flow
problems.
Experts recommend moderate-intensity physical activity for at least 30 minutes on 5 or more days of
the week. Talk to your health care provider about a safe exercise plan. He or she may check your heart
and your feet to be sure you have no special problems. If you have high blood pressure, eye, or foot
problems, you may need to avoid some kinds of exercise.
How does quitting smoking help people with diabetes stay healthy?
Smoking puts people with diabetes at particular risk. Smoking raises your blood glucose, cholesterol,
and blood pressure, all of which people with diabetes need to be especially concerned about. When
you have diabetes and use tobacco, the risk of heart and blood vessel problems is even greater. If you
quit smoking, you'll lower your risk for heart attack, stroke, nerve disease, kidney disease, and oral
disease.
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Why is it important for people with diabetes to get an annual flu shot?
Diabetes can make the immune system more vulnerable to severe cases of the flu. People with
diabetes who come down with the flu may become very sick and may die. You can help keep yourself
from getting the flu by getting a flu shot every year. Everyone with diabetes—even pregnant women—
should get a yearly flu shot. The best time to get one is between October and mid-November, before
the flu season begins.
Source: http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/consumer/healthy.htm
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