According to the American Diabetes Association, 29.1 million Americans were living with diabetes in 2012 and 86 million adults had prediabetes.
Diabetes is a serious disease that can cause damage to the lining of your blood vessels and nerve endings throughout your body. The stress of dealing with diabetes can also lead to mental health issues. So it’s important for people with diabetes to understand how to effectively manage their disease. October is American Diabetes Month and it’s a great time to help your members and patients learn about diabetes symptoms and treatments. The Healthwise Knowledgebase is full of helpful resources and interactive guides to help people make informed decisions about managing their diabetes.
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Article Teasers
The 411 on diabetes
Whether you have just been diagnosed with diabetes or have been living with it for a while, it’s important to learn about your specific type of diabetes and how to manage it. Although there are some similarities between managing the four different types—prediabetes, type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes—there are some key differences as well. For everything you need to know about managing your diabetes, including blood sugar, diet, lifestyle changes, and medications, refer to this helpful resource.
[Create a hyperlink to the Diabetes Learning Center on your website. DOCHWID=center1010]
Reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes
Your doctor may have told you that you have prediabetes. This means that your blood sugar is higher than it should be and you have a higher risk of getting diabetes. Even if you’re at risk for type 2 diabetes, there are some treatment options that may help delay or avoid diabetes. One option is to make big lifestyle changes. These changes may include losing weight, getting more moderate activity, and eating a healthy diet. The other option is to take a medication called metformin. Like lifestyle changes, this prescription drug may help you delay or avoid diabetes. So which option is right? It depends on your personal preferences and overall health. Use this interactive guide to help you understand your options and decide which treatment option is best for you.
[Create a hyperlink to the Prediabetes: Which Treatment Should I Use to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes? Decision Point on your website. DOCHWID=abp5563]
What you need to know about gestational diabetes
Women are typically screened for gestational diabetes between the 24th and 28th weeks of pregnancy. Gestational diabetes occurs when your blood sugar gets too high during pregnancy. Changing the way you eat, exercising more, and monitoring your blood sugar levels can all help you treat your gestational diabetes. Some women may need to take diabetes medication to control their blood sugar levels. The good news is that with treatment, most women are able to control their blood sugar and give birth to healthy babies. If you’re pregnant or are planning to become pregnant, refer to this handy guide for all your gestational diabetes questions.
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Give your feet some extra love and attention
“Left foot, Right foot. Feet, Feet, Feet.” – Dr. Seuss, The Foot Book
When you have diabetes, your feet need a little more care. Diabetes can damage the nerve endings and blood vessels in your feet and make it more difficult for your body to fight infection. So it’s important to keep your feet healthy and injury-free, so you don’t develop ulcers on your feet that can lead to serious infections. There are a number of ways you can give your feet some extra love and attention. The most important step is checking your feet every day for injuries. Check out this helpful resource for more foot care tips.
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Manage your child’s diabetes at school
When your child has diabetes, you might feel anxious about what could happen while he or she is at school. Having a diabetes care plan for school can help you feel at ease. This plan can help your child’s teachers and other school staff meet your child’s daily needs and prepare for any problems ahead of time. You’ll want to include information like how and when to give insulin to your child, what foods your child can eat, and when and how to test your child’s blood sugar level. For more about what to include in your child’s diabetes care plan for school, use this helpful guide.
[Create a hyperlink to the Diabetes in Children: Preparing a Care Plan for School Topic Overview on your website. DOCHWID=uz2122]
Social Media Teasers
- Here’s everything you need to know about managing your diabetes.
[Insert a shortened URL to the Diabetes Learning Center on your website. DOCHWID=center1010] - At risk for type 2 diabetes? Use this interactive guide to decide how you can prevent it.
[Insert a shortened URL to the Prediabetes: Which Treatment Should I Use to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes? Decision Point on your website. DOCHWID=abp5563] - Pregnant? Planning to become pregnant? Here’s what you need to know about gestational diabetes.
[Insert a shortened URL to the Gestational Diabetes Topic Overview on your website. DOCHWID=hw197466] - Diabetes? Here’s how to give your feet some extra care and attention.
[Insert a shortened URL to the Diabetes: Taking Care of Your Feet Topic Overview on your website. DOCHWID=aa168569] - Here’s help creating your child’s diabetes care plan for school.
[Insert a shortened URL to the Diabetes in Children: Preparing a Care Plan for School Topic Overview on your website. DOCHWID=uz2122]
