In honor of National Diabetes Awareness Month, we’re sharing six tips for managing diabetes and explaining how it’s linked to family history and lifestyle. Meet a patient who is controlling her diabetes and feeling great.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 37.3 million people in the U.S. have diabetes (Type 1 or Type 2), which is 11.3% of the total population. It also reports that 8.5 million of these patients have undiagnosed diabetes, meaning their health is especially at risk unless they take action.
Finding an Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist primary care doctor made a difference for Ella Dennis, a 75-year-old patient with Type 2 diabetes. Ella’s father had complications from diabetes and eventually died from the disease. Nutrition classes and continued care relationship helped Ella understand her medical situation and how to make better food choices.
Before examining Ella’s improved health habits, consider the types and symptoms of diabetes as well as tips for managing the disease.
Types of diabetes
Patients with Type 1 diabetes have no insulin secretion from their pancreas. They are often born with this condition or may develop it later in life. Genetic and environmental factors may play a role in the disease. Type 1 diabetics must take insulin injections right away.
Type 2 diabetes typically affects adults and is often linked to lifestyle, obesity and family history. Type 2 diabetics have trouble using insulin efficiently, which causes the pancreas to produce more insulin. If Type 2 diabetes is left uncontrolled, insulin production eventually decreases and causes high blood sugar. This type is also very common in underserved communities.
Once you see a doctor for diabetes, it’s important to understand and monitor your A1C, which measures your average blood sugar levels over the previous three months.
Here are the ranges for A1C levels:
- Normal = Less than 5.6%
- Borderline diabetes/prediabetes = 5.7%-6.4%
- Diabetes = 6.5% and above
Major complications of diabetes include eye problems, foot problems, heart attack and stroke, kidney disease and nerve damage. That’s why it’s so important to get an accurate diagnosis and begin treatment as soon as possible.
Symptoms of diabetes
Here are the most common symptoms of diabetes:
- Excessive thirst
- Excessive hunger and overeating
- Frequent urination
- Vision changes
- Unintentional weight loss
Keeping up with your A1C levels is essential for managing diabetes, as it provides a clear snapshot of your average blood sugar over the past few months. Staying within your target A1C range helps prevent serious complications like heart disease, nerve damage and kidney issues. Together, A1C monitoring and regular visits to your primary care doctor are key to managing diabetes effectively and maintaining long-term well-being.
How to manage diabetes
Burney recommends taking the following steps to manage diabetes or prediabetes:
- Monitor blood sugar early. Watch for signs of insulin resistance in children, especially young teenagers. The younger you are when you develop diabetes, the longer you will be fighting to manage your blood sugar.
- Analyze family traditions and family eating patterns. You often inherit your eating patterns from your family, so it’s beneficial to work with your whole family to make food and lifestyle changes.
- Limit fruit juices and sweetened beverages. Fruit juices and sweetened beverages contain large amounts of added sugar, which can contribute to diabetes.
- Avoid convenient, processed foods. Avoid processed starches (e.g., white rice and white bread), which can elevate blood sugar quickly. Eat as many fresh fruits and vegetables as possible. Shop at farmers markets, where you can buy food from the person who grew it.
- Increase protein intake. Eating protein may help lower your blood sugar and make you feel full longer.
- Focus on moderation. Limit your portions of foods that increase blood sugar. Make small changes gradually. For example, eat one serving of dessert for a special treat.
Keeping her health in check
“I feel really good,” Ella says. “I’m happy that my doctor doesn’t just focus on weight loss for diabetes management. She encourages good overall health habits that also help me control my diabetes.”
For example, Ella quit smoking, marking the biggest step she’s taken toward improving her health. Not smoking has made it easier for her to manage her blood sugar.
Ella tests her blood sugar every morning to see how it will impact her food choices for the rest of the day. While she enjoys snacking, she is selective about her snack choices, especially at night. She often chooses raw vegetables instead of carbohydrates.
Ella visits her primary care doctor regularly to have her A1C checked and to monitor her medications. She also sees her podiatrist for diabetic foot care and her eye doctor for diabetic eye care. She’s very careful to avoid contracting any infections in her feet because she knows they would be slow to heal.
Helping patients thrive
According to Ella, the key to managing her health and controlling her diabetes has been asking her doctor questions. And her willingness to apply the advice she’s given.
Your primary care doctor can make personalized recommendations for improving your health. Need a provider? Call us 24/7 at 336-716-WAKE (9253) or make an appointment online.