If youve been recently diagnosed with diabetes or even if youve been dealing with the disease for years keeping up on the latest information about the management and treatment of this chronic condition can add both quality and years to your life.
Knowledge is power, said Deb Quinlan, RN, BSN, diabetes educator at Southwest Memorial Hospital. Its so important for patients to educate themselves. Learning is lifelong, and its an important element in managing diabetes.
Diabetes is a collection of diseases characterized by high blood glucose (sugar) levels. Left untreated, it can cause serious health problems and shorten life. Its estimated that more than 25 million people in the United States have diabetes, 7 million of whom dont yet know they have the disease. Native Americans and African Americans are at particularly high risk for acquiring diabetes. As obesity has become more prevalent in our society, so has the incidence of diabetes, even in very young children. According to the National Diabetes Education Program, the estimated cost of diabetes in the United States is $174 billion annually. Yes, thats billion, with a B.
Quinlan spends her days teaching patients how to manage their diabetes and prevent problems associated with the disease.
Complications of diabetes include cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, vision impairment or blindness, depression, periodontal disease, and circulatory problems that can result in patients having toes, feet and even their legs amputated, Quinlan said.
The good news is that these complications can often be prevented if patients control their weight, blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and lipid levels (such as cholesterol), and by practicing good foot and mouth hygiene.
If a patient successfully manages their diabetes by keeping their glucose levels stable and with diet and exercise, they can keep complications at bay, Quinlan said. I have one patient in his 80s who has had diabetes for 50 years and has no complications. It takes diligence and commitment.
Diabetes education is a multi-faceted process.
I start by determining what a patients special needs are and focus the education there, Quinlan said. When someone is newly diagnosed, they need an overview on how to take care of their diabetes, how to control glucose levels, and the basics about how to deal with low blood sugar. Patients who need to be on an insulin pump are taught how to manage the device.
Here are some of Quinlans top tips for patients who are intent on staying as healthy as possible by actively managing their diabetes:
Dont assume you know what your blood glucose levels are based on how you feel. Even if your diabetes is well controlled, you should check your levels twice a day, Quinlan said.
Balance you plate according to the new U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines (www.choosemyplate.gov). Half the plate should be salads and low-carb vegetables, one-fourth should be protein, and one-fourth should be carbs, Quinlan said. Diabetic patients should keep in mind that fruit can raise blood glucose levels.
Exercise for at least 150 minutes per week. Thats only 30 minutes a day, five days a week, Quinlan said. She recommends that patients invest in a pedometer and work up to 10,000 steps a day as part of their normal routine. You can get a good pedometer for about $25, Quinlan said.
If you need to lose weight, break the goal down into small bites. Someone who wants to lose 50 pounds should focus on losing 5 pounds at a time.
Keep an eye on your feet. Patients with diabetes should check their feet daily and have their doctor check them twice a year, Quinlan said.
Have your gums checked and your teeth cleaned every six months. Eye exams should be scheduled annually.
Attend educational and support group meetings to stay up on the latest information related to the management of diabetes.
Patients who need more information on how to manage their diabetes should ask their doctors about local resources, including one-on-one education and group classes. Medicare covers 10 hours of diabetes education during the first year after the initial diagnosis. After that, it covers three hours annually. Quinlan said many commercial insurance plans cover the cost of education, but that patients should check their policies or call the company to find out about the details.
I feel very passionate that patients can educate themselves, she said. Doctors have all of this information, but they dont always have the time to sit down with patients to go over it in detail.
Quinlan cautions patients to use care when doing research on the Internet.
Dont just Google diabetes, she said. There are some good sites out there and some not so good ones.
On the Net: American Diabetes Association, www.diabetes.org; National Diabetes Education Program, http://ndep.nih.gov; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov/diabetes; Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, www.cdphe.state.co.us/diabetes.
Southwest Health Notes is a public service feature provided by Southwest Memorial Hospital in Cortez, Colorado. The information provided herein is not intended as patient-specific medical advice or as a substitute for consultation with your personal health care provider.