About Diabetes

• What is Diabetes?
• Types of Diabetes
• What are the Risk Factors for Diabetes?
• How do I control my diabetes?
• What are Common Signs and Symptoms of Uncontrolled Diabetes?
• Risk factors for People with Diabetes
• How do I prevent long-term diabetes complications?
• Where to Find Help

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is an incurable disease caused by the body’s inability to produce or use insulin, a hormone that turns the food you eat into energy. Left untreated, diabetes causes long-term health problems and can lead to an early death. No one knows for sure what causes diabetes, but family history, obesity, and lack of exercise play roles in determining who gets the disease.

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Types of Diabetes

There are three types of Diabetes:

Type 1 Diabetes

Your body does not make enough insulin.

You must take insulin injections (shots)

Most common in people under

30 years of age – with most being children under 18

Type 2 Diabetes

Your body cannot properly use insulin and, over time, makes less and less insulin

Often associated with being overweight and/or inactive

Usually occurs after age 40, but can happen sooner

Gestational (Pregnancy) Diabetes

Your blood sugar remains high during pregnancy

Usually runs in families

Can increase a woman's risk for getting type II diabetes after pregnancy

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What are the Risk Factors for Diabetes?

• Being older than 40 years of age
• Being overweight
• Having a close family member who has had diabetes
• Having had diabetes during pregnancy
• Being African American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian American, Pacific Islander, or Native American
• Inactivity
• Having a baby weighing more than 9 pounds

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How do I control my diabetes?

Good control of diabetes involves making healthy choices in your life. If you have diabetes, there are 5 important areas that may need improvement:

• Food – what you eat, how much you eat affects your blood sugar
• Weight gain
• Exercise – regular physical activity increases your sensitivity to insulin and promotes weight loss (and makes you feel better, too!)
• Stress Reduction – physical or psychological stress can actually raise blood sugars
• Medications – there are now a variety of oral medications that can help control blood sugar, and new types of insulin as well. They need to be taken as prescribed by your doctor.
• Oral hygiene – gum infections may be associated with elevated blood glucose.

Self blood sugar monitoring is the best way to assess how well you are doing. Glucose meters and related supplies are covered by nearly all insurance plans. Regular monitoring, which involves a small drop of blood from your fingertip allows you to evaluate the behaviors you are choosing around food and exercise, and helps your doctor adjust your medications accordingly.

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What are Common Signs and Symptoms of Uncontrolled Diabetes?

• Extreme thirst
• Frequent urination
• Feeling weak, tired or lacking energy
• Blurred vision
• Unusual weight gain or loss
• Nausea (upset stomach) and vomiting
• Stomach pain
• Tingling, burning, or numbness in feet, toes, or hands

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Risk factors for People with Diabetes

Diabetics have a higher risk of developing serious health problems. Taking good care of diabetes can lower the chances of getting diabetes complications such as:

• Eye disease that can lead to a loss of vision or even blindness
• Kidney failure
• Heart disease
• Nerve damage that may cause a loss of feeling or pain in the hands, feet or legs
• Stroke
• Lower limb amputation
• Dental disease
• Serious infections in any part of the body
• Dental decay and tooth loss

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How do I prevent long-term diabetes complications?

Make sure you get regular diabetes care supervised by your primary care provider – you have a right to health care regardless of your age, race, disability or ability to pay.

• See a primary health care provider at least two to four times a year.
• Get support from family, friends and co-workers.
• Check your insurance policy for benefits covering blood sugar monitoring supplies.
• Ask your doctor or clinic staff to help you find resources if you have problems paying for food, medicine and medical supplies.
• Have lab tests done regularly as prescribed by your doctor. These lab tests should be:
  
  • Cholesterol and other fats in the blood at least once a year
  • Hemoglobin A1C – ( a test of overall blood sugar control ) 2-4 times a year
  • Urine for hidden protein
• Have your blood pressure checked, and feet examined at every doctor visit.
• If you have any foot problems (pain, tingling, infection, irritation, or malformation), ask your doctor about a referral to a podiatrist. Special orthopedic shoes are now covered by Medicare and can be prescribed by your podiatrist.
• See an ophthalmologist yearly or more often as recommended.
• See a dentist twice a year for regular check-ups and for treatment of dental decay, infections, and gum disease.

KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR BLOOD SUGAR – It is your best defense against complications of diabetes! Notify your doctor if it is consistently higher than 150, or if you have episodes of blood sugar dropping too while taking diabetes medicine.

Visit our Clinical Services - Diabetes Center page to learn more about the services Alta Bates Summit Medical Center makes available to you.


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Where to Find Help

Alta Bates Summit Medical Center Resources:
Diabetes Center
(510) 204-1081

Health Match Physician Referral
(510) 869-6777


Other Resources:
Alameda County Public Health Department Diabetes Program
(510) 383-5185

American Diabetes Association
(800) 232-3472

American Dietetic Association
(800) 366-1655

Diabetes Exercise and Sports Association (DESA)
(800) 898-IDAA(4322)

Diabeteswatch Web Information
(866) GO-INSULIN(464-6785)

National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC)
(301) 654-3327

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