Your blood glucose level as determined during your screening test tells how your body handles food as the body is turning what you eat and drink into glucose (sugar) for fuel.  The body begins to turn some juices or liquids into sugar within 15 minutes.  The chart below will help you interpret your blood glucose level.

If your blood glucose today is not within the recommended guidelines, this does not necessarily mean you have diabetes.  However, if your blood glucose levels are not within these guidelines, you should talk with your physician and have a follow-up check at his or her office. Regardless of your blood glucose today, it is important to know the most common signs of diabetes:

• Passing urine often
• More hunger but with weight loss
• Irritability
• Blurred vision
• Skin infections
• Slow healing of cuts or scratches
• More thirst
• Rapid weight loss
• Weakness and tiredness
• Numbness in hands and feet
• Having vaginal infections often

Diabetes:  The diagnosis
Diabetes is a life-long disease characterized by either low insulin levels or resistance to insulin, which causes high levels of glucose in the blood.  Treatments include meal planning and exercise.  Some may also need glucose-lowering medications.

The number of Americans diagnosed with diabetes has risen sharply in the past decade -- climbing 70 percent among people in their 30's.  Some 17 million Americans have the disease, characterized by an inability to regulate blood sugar or glucose.  Diabetes is a leading cause of blindness, kidney failure and limb amputation and raises the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

There are two main types of diabetes.  Type 1is when the body does not produce any insulin and daily injections are necessary.  Type 2 may be controlled by meal planning and exercise, possibly in combination with insulin or diabetes pills.  Click here for the article "Diabetes...What is it?"

Living better with diabetes
You can live better with diabetes by:

• Following your doctor's and healthcare team's advice about medication and self-management of your diabetes.
• Following your meal plan.
• Exercising regularly to lower glucose levels.
• Taking care of your feet and having annual eye exams.

Treatment
There is no cure for diabetes.  The short-term goal is to stabilize your blood sugar and eliminate the side effects of high or low blood sugar.  The long-term goal is to prolong life and prevent complications such as heart disease and kidney failure.

Basic diabetes management skills include:

• Recognizing and treating low blood sugar and high blood sugar
• Knowing what to eat and when
• Knowing how to take insulin or oral medication
• Learning to test and record blood glucose
• Testing urine of ketones (for Type 1)
• Adjusting insulin and/or food intake when changing exercise and eating habits
• Handling sick days
• Buying and storing diabetes supplies

Eating right
When you have diabetes, every bite that you put into your mouth is important.  Just like everyone else, you should be following a low-fat diet that includes a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, fish and chicken and no-fat or low-fat dairy.  Your registered dietitian will help you tailor a meal plan to fit your particular needles.

Generally speaking those with Type 1 diabetes should plan meals designed to keep your blood glucose level as near to normal as possible.  Meals, medications, and exercise should be balanced according to your body chemistry and your daily schedule.

For those with Type 2 diabetes, additional consultation is given to planning meals to provide good control of your blood glucose and blood pressure levels, better blood fat levels and a healthy weight.

Working it out
Moving is a great way to lower your blood glucose level.  Before starting an exercise program, be sure to check with your doctor and find out what he or she recommends as an activity level.

Here are some basic guidelines for getting started:

• Start slowly.  If you've been a couch potato, a 10 minute walk two or three times a week may be enough for the first week or two.
• Warm up before your exercise and cool down afterward by walking slowly for five to seven minutes.  End your workout with gentle stretches.
• Test your blood glucose level before you exercise. Don't exercise if it is higher than 250 mg/dl and/or if there are ketones in your urine.  If you have Type 1 diabetes and your glucose level is less than 100 md/dl, have a carbohydrate food as a snack before exercising.
• Try to exercise at the same time each day to make the effect on your blood glucose more predictable.  An hour after a meal or snack is a good time to work out.
• Be prepared to treat hypoglycemia by carrying juice, a soft drink, glucose tablets or gel, or other sugar source with you.  If you feel a reaction coming on, stop and treat it right away.
• Always have a diabetes ID card or medallion with you.
• Stop exercising if you feel sick, dizzy, out of breath or if exercising becomes painful.

Foot care:  The bottom line
People with diabetes may have trouble with their feet because of poor blood flow and nerve damage.  Injuries may take longer to heal.  Take care to prevent them from ever happening.

See your doctor or podiatrist if you injure your foot, have cuts or breaks in the skin, an ingrown toenail, the skin changes color or if you experience a numb or tingling sensation.

Good foot care includes:

• Wash and carefully dry them each day.  Put on lotion.
• Check them for sores, calluses, red spots, swelling and blisters each day.
• If you injure your foot, clean it immediately with soap and water and call your doctor.
• Carefully cut your toenails to follow the curve of your nail.
• Don't buy tight shoes.
• Wear socks that fit and do not have big seams or bumps.
• Don't walk barefoot.

Click here for the article "Foot Notes".

Help for living with diabetes
Your doctor/diabetes educator can help guide you to resources for better living with diabetes.  Baptist Regional Medical Center's online Health Encyclopedia has a wealth of information about diabetes under its Disease section.

For help on a personal level, Baptist Regional has developed a quality diabetes program, Diabetes Smart...You Can Do It! for our community.  The program provides individuals with diabetes the management skills to care for themselves, thus improving blood sugar control and overall quality of life. 

Baptist Regional Medical Center also hosts a Diabetes Day Camp for Kids each year.  During the program, the children are taught how to manage their diabetes and lead a normal life. 

Baptist Regional also offers the Diabetes Education/Support Group to provide education and emotional support for individuals and families coping with diabetes.

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