What is Diabetes?
- It is a disease that changes the way your body uses food. The food you eat turns to sugar. The sugar then travels through the blood to all parts of the body. Normally insulin helps get sugar from the body to the body’s cells, where it is used for energy.
- When you have diabetes, your body has trouble making and/or using insulin, so your body does not get the fuel it needs. And your blood sugar stays too high.
What are the types of diabetes?
- Type 1: The body does not make any insulin. People with type 1 must take insulin every day to stay alive
- Type 2: The body is not efficient at making insulin. Most people with diabetes have type 2.
What Can You Do?
Watch What You Eat and Get exercise
- There is no one diet for people with diabetes. Work with your health care team to come up with a plan for you.
- You can eat the foods you love by watching serving sizes. The “Nutrition Facts” label on foods can help. Many packaged foods contain more than 1 serving.
- Carbohydrates raise your blood sugar the most. Cut back on these. For example bread, cereal, rice and pasta.
- Be active at least 30 minutes a day most days of the week. Exercise helps your body’s insulin work better. It also lowers your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol.
Use Medicines Wisely
- Sometimes people with diabetes need to take pills or insulin shots. Be sure to follow the directions.
- Ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist what your medicines do. Also ask when to take them and if they have any side effects.
Check Your Blood Sugar and Know Your ABC’s
- Help prevent heart disease and stroke by keeping your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol under control.
- Check your blood sugar using a meter (home testing kit). This tells what your blood sugar is so you can make wise choices.
- Ask your doctor for an A-1-C (“A-one-see”) blood test. It measures blood sugar levels over 2 to 3 months
Talk to your health care team about your ABC’s:
- A-1-C
- Blood pressure
- Cholesterol