Understanding Diabetes
- Diabetes is a life-long disease.
- 16 million people in the United States have diabetes and 50 percent are not aware they have it.
- Diabetes is a condition in which the body cannot use food for energy as it should because either the pancreas does not make insulin (Type I) or the pancreas does not make enough insulin or the body does not use the insulin effectively (Type II).
- Diabetes can be controlled with proper nutrition and regular exercise. Sometimes medication is necessary.
- Home blood sugar monitoring and a glycosylated hemoglobin (a test that measures the average blood sugar over 2-3 months) provide information on effective diabetes management.
- Serious health problems can result if blood sugar levels are not well-controlled. (ie., blindness, kidney disease, nerve damage, foot problems (amputations), heart attacks, and strokes)
- Serious health problems can be prevented or delayed by maintaining blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible.
- A team of health professionals are available to help manage diabetes:
- Physician
- Diabetes nurse educator (certified diabetes educator)
- Registered dietician (certified diabetes educator)
- Endocrinologist (doctor who specializes in diabetes)
- Psychologist
- Pharmacist
- Education is the basic tool of diabetes care.
For more information, contact the Lancaster General Health Diabetes & Nutrition Center at 717-544-5923. |