Dangerous Diabetes
People with diabetes have high blood sugar. This means the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or the insulin produced is ineffective to control the level of sugar in the blood.
Signs & Symptoms
These include: frequent urination, excessive thirst, excessive hunger, fatigue, frequent infections, slow wound healing. Sometimes no symptoms are present!
There is no cure for diabetes but it can be managed with diet, exercise and medicine, if prescribed.
Are you likely to get diabetes? Well, there are some risk factors if you fall into one of these groups:
- People with a family history
- Obese people
- Hispanic and African American people
- People over the age of 45 years
- Women who have had gestational diabetes or large babies over 9 pounds at birth
- People who live sedentary lifestyles
Eat Right and Get Active
Change what you eat and how much you eat. Focus less on high-starch food. Eat more fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy and whole grains. Combined with increased activity and you will experience weight loss which leads to better blood sugar levels.
Senior African American Couple Cycling In Park
Are You Checking?
Checking what?…well, you should check blood sugar as your doctor suggests. Check blood sugar levels before exercise. If your blood sugar is under 70, eat something and wait till it comes up over 70 before exercising. Check it again after exercise. Learn how your blood sugar reacts to exercise. You might need a snack if you are out and moving for several hours.
Remember to regularly check your blood sugar.
Prescriptions
Insulin may be given by injection. Oral meds are used to either increase insulin production or increase the responsiveness of the body’s cells. It is very important to take medicines as prescribed….the exact dosage, at the times ordered by the doctor. You may want to use a pill organizer or set a timer as a reminder to stay on your schedule.
Control Your Diabetes
…to avoid deadly complications to your eyes and vision, heart, kidneys, nerves and skin.
Need Help Learning More about Diabetes? Call AW Health Care at (314)726-5600 or (618) 344-8800.
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