Ed and all, I just saw, "take the test know the score - You could have DIABETES and not know it": banner ad :
diabetes.org
Chucka
P.S.- superscooperdouper.org ( is that less than 22 letters now allowed??? ?) I just read the Met'ianLife lost their name when the resyriction was lifted today.
PS:
diabetes.org
What is non-insulin dependent diabetes
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Finding out you have diabetes is scary. But don't panic! Sure, diabetes is serious. But, people with diabetes can live long, healthy, happy lives. You can too by taking good care of yourself.
The Sugar Connection
In diabetes, there's too much glucose in the blood. Glucose is a kind of sugar that your body's cells use for fuel. When glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into cells, it can cause two problems:
Right away, your cells may be starved for energy.
Over time, high glucose levels may hurt your eyes, kidneys, nerves, or heart.
Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes
There are two main types of diabetes. Non-insulin-dependent diabetes is also called Type 2 diabetes. When you eat, your body turns your food into glucose. Glucose fuels the cells. In healthy people, a hormone called insulin helps the glucose get into the cells. However, in people with non-insulin-dependent diabetes, something goes wrong. Sometimes, a person does not make enough insulin. Sometimes, cells ignore the insulin.
Is It Curable?
In people with non-insulin-dependent diabetes, glucose builds up in the blood. With good treatment, your glucose levels may go down to normal again. Normal glucose levels do not mean you are cured. You will always have diabetes. Instead, normal glucose levels show that your treatment plan is working and that you are doing a good job of taking care of yourself.
Taking Care Of Your Diabetes
The goal of treatment is to lower your glucose levels and improve your body's use of insulin with:
a good diet,
exercise, and
weight loss.
Good diet. When you eat, your body changes food into glucose. Your blood glucose levels go up. A good diet dampens this rise. The best diet for a person with diabetes is like the best diet for anyone. Such a diet:
is low in fat,
has only moderate amounts of protein, and
is high in complex carbohydrates, like those in beans, vegetables and grains (such as breads, cereals, noodles and rice).
You and your dietitian will work out a meal plan just for you.
Exercise. Being active helps your cells take in glucose. This lowers glucose levels in your blood. So exercise plays a major role in your treatment.
Tell your doctor about the kinds of exercise you do now. Your doctor will help you fit them into your new lifestyle. If you don't exercise, your doctor will probably advise you to become more active. It would be great if you could be active for at least 20 minutes, three or four times a week. However, if you're not used to exercise, start small. Even a 5-minute walk can get you moving.
Weight loss. Losing weight is another big part of your diabetes treatment. It will help your body use insulin better. The best way to lose weight is to exercise and adopt a healthy eating plan. If you merely diet—change your eating habits for only a short time—then you will regain the weight once you go back to your bad eating habits.
With a healthy eating plan, you take in fewer calories because you are filling up on good, healthful foods, not fatty foods. Decide with your doctor how much weight you should lose. Sometimes, just 10 or 20 pounds is enough to bring diabetes under control.
Then decide how much you want to lose per week. One or two pounds should be the maximum. Slow weight loss is healthier and easier.
Glucose testing. You now know that eating a healthful diet, losing weight, and keeping fit help keep glucose levels normal. You can check your glucose levels at home to keep track of how you're doing.
To test your blood, you need a drop of blood from your finger. You place the drop on a special test strip. A device called a glucose meter measures how much glucose the drop of blood contains.
Your doctor will tell you how often to test your blood. Write down each result, along with the time and date. You will soon learn how well your treatment plan is working, and you will learn how exercise and food affect you.
A Back-Up Plan
Sometimes, healthful habits like eating well, losing weight and exercising are not enough. In that case, your doctor may have you take:
Diabetes pills, or
Insulin shots
Diabetes pills. There are two kinds of diabetes pills—sulfonylureas and biguanides (metformin).
Your doctor will tell you how many pills to take and how often. Taking pills does not replace healthful habits. You still should eat a good diet, or the pills won't work well.
Insulin shots. Insulin helps your cells take in glucose. Then you no longer have too much glucose in your blood.
Your doctor will try you on pills first, but sometimes pills don't work. Or they work at first and then stop. When this happens, your doctor may have you take both pills and insulin or maybe just insulin alone. Your doctor will tell you what kind of insulin to take, how much and when.
What Can Go Wrong
Diabetes can cause three types of problems:
High blood glucose
Low blood glucose
Complications
High blood glucose. There are times when your blood glucose levels may go way too high. High levels are most likely when you are sick or under a lot of stress. When your glucose levels are too high, you may:
have a headache,
have blurry vision,
be thirsty and need to go to the bathroom often, or
have dry, itchy skin.
High levels can cause two problems. First, your body may produce harmful chemicals called ketones. You should test your urine for ketones when:
You have some of the symptoms of high glucose levels (in that case, also test your glucose level)
Your glucose levels are over 240mg/dl
You are sick
Call your doctor right away if your blood glucose is high and your urine has ketones.
Second, going to the bathroom so often can dehydrate you. Be sure to drink lots of water when you are sick or have high glucose levels.
Low blood glucose . Sometimes your blood glucose levels can fall too low. Too-low levels are most likely if you take insulin or sulfonylurea pills. This is called hypoglycemia. It can be caused by:
taking too much insulin,
eating too little or skipping a meal,
exercising extra hard or for very long, or
drinking alcohol on an empty stomach (without eating).
If your blood glucose is getting too low, you may feel:
shaky,
tired,
hungry,
confused, or
nervous.
If you think your glucose is low, test it. Also test yourself if you feel "odd" or "funny." If your glucose level is low, eat or drink something with 15 grams of sugars right away, such as:
1/2 cup of fruit juice,
4 teaspoons of sugar, or
1 cup of skim milk.
If you can't test your glucose right then, eat something with 15 grams of sugar, just to be safe.
Complications . Too-high levels of glucose in the blood over many years can hurt your organs. Diabetes can damage eyes, kidneys and nerves. It also makes heart and blood vessel disease more likely.
The best defense against complications is taking good care of your diabetes. Keeping your glucose levels in control will make you feel better now, and it will help you stay healthy in the future.
Copyright © 1999 American Diabetes Association
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Other related materials: For additional information on diabetes, visit the American Diabetes Association Book Store or follow the hyperlinks to view our Complete Guide to Diabetes, The Uncomplicated Guide to Diabetes Complications, and 101 Medication Tips for People with Diabetes.
Additional Information:
Diabetes Diagnosis and Understanding Lab Tests
Diabetes Facts and Figures
Children with Diabetes -- Information for Teachers and Child-Care Providers
Medical Treatment Of Diabetes
Nutrition And Fitness
Sex, Pregnancy And Parenting
Living With Diabetes
Diabetes Complications And Related Concerns
[Main Page]
P.P.S.- The RISK TEST- Real Risk Management, put your dollars where our health is:
diabetes.org
Diabetes Risk Test
Copyright © 1999 American Diabetes Association
If your browser does not support forms, try our text-only version.
Could you have diabetes and not know it?
Take the Test. Know the Score. Sixteen million Americans have diabetes - one in three does not know it! Take this test to see if you are at risk for having diabetes. Diabetes is more common in African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders. If you are a member of one of these ethnic groups, you need to pay special attention to this test. To find out if you are at risk answer the following questions and click on "CALCULATE" to see what information is returned.
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Please select your age category.
0-45
46-64
65 or Older
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Please select your height.
3' 4' 5' 6' 7' 8' 0" 1" 2" 3" 4" 5" 6" 7" 8" 9" 10" 11"
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Please enter your weight in pounds.
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I am a woman who has had a baby weighing more than nine pounds at birth.
True
False
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I have a sister or brother with diabetes.
True
False
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I have a parent with diabetes.
True
False
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I get little or no exercise during a normal day.
True
False
your score or this form.
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The information contained in this American Diabetes Association (ADA) Web site is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment, and the ADA recommends consultation with your doctor or health care professional.
P.P.P.S.- Put our weight as fraction parts per millions of TONS! |
