Understanding Diabetes Kelly Kassien, RN, BSN Diabetes Educator Gundersen Health System
Diabetes Fact or Myth? • Diabetes affects more than 30 million people in the United States and over 400 million people worldwide • Diabetes is a preventable disease • People with Diabetes should avoid carbohydrates and sugar • Diabetes is a chronic, lifelong condition • Everyone with Diabetes needs to take insulin • People with Diabetes can live a long, healthy life
What is Diabetes? Food is broken down into sugar (glucose) that is released into the bloodstream u This sugar is used by all the cells of the body for energy (fuel) u Insulin is a hormone that “unlocks” the cells and allows sugar to move out of u the bloodstream and into the cells People with Diabetes either do not make enough insulin, or the insulin that is u being made does not work as well as it should Result = high blood sugar u
How is Diabetes Diagnosed? Fasting 2-hour Random A1c Diagnosis glucose glucose glucose Less than Less than Less than Normal 100 140 5.7% Pre- 100 to 140 to 5.7 to Diabetes 125 199 6.4% 126 or 200 or 200+ with 6.5% or Diabetes more more symptoms more
Type 1 vs. Type 2 Diabetes Type 2 Type 1 Body does not make Body still makes insulin u u insulin Can be managed with u Requires lifelong diet/exercise, oral u insulin therapy medications, non-insulin injectables and/or insulin Onset most often in u childhood/adolescence Onset most often after age 45 u No way to prevent Can prevent or delay with u u lifestyle changes About 5-10% of u Americans with About 90-95% of Americans u Diabetes with Diabetes Quick onset Slow onset u u
What Puts a Person at Risk for Developing Type 2 Diabetes? Family History Prediabetes u u Certain Ethnic Overweight u u Backgrounds Little or no u Age 45 or older physical activity u History of Uncontrolled u u Gestational cholesterol Diabetes High blood u (diabetes during pressure pregnancy)
How is Diabetes Managed?
If Left Untreated… Heart disease or heart attack u High blood pressure u Stroke u Skin infections u Kidney Disease u Eye complications or blindness u Nerve damage u With good blood sugar control, Foot problems u these are preventable complications!
Preventing Diabetes – Behavior Changes for Success Increasing physical activity u Eating a healthy, balanced diet u Regularly seeing health care providers and keeping up to date with health screenings u Treating high blood pressure u Managing cholesterol and triglycerides u STOP SMOKING! u
At Gundersen Health System: Diabetes Educators u Pharmacists in some primary care departments u Wellness coaches u Healthy Living with Diabetes classes u Resources on Gundersen Health System Website: gundersenhealth.org u YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program u
Thank You! Any Questions?
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