Keys to Diabetes Self-Management
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Healthy Eating - Balance, timing, eating from a variety of nutrient-rich foods and being
carbohydrate aware (not cutting them out!).
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Being Active - Helps control the amount of glucose and increases good (HDL) cholesterol.
Just 30 minutes of walking is equal to a pill for diabetes.
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Monitoring (glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol) - Test glucose before breakfast
and before dinner, at the least.
Premeal goal: 70 to 120
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To learn from meal choices:
Two hours after meal goal: less than 160
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Healthy Coping - Stress raises glucose and blood pressure. Stress can come from pain, lack
of sleep, work, planning for a trip, steroids, etc.
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Taking Medication - Which ones are you taking? Don't skip, double up on or change medicine
without checking with your doctor.
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Secretagogues - makes the pancreas release insulin
- (Glucotrol, Glyburide, Amaryl, Starlix, Prandin)
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*Risk of hypoglycemia; take 15 to 30 minutes before a meal
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Biguanides - decrease liver glucose production (Glucophage)
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*Risk of diarrhea, nausea (take WITH food to minimize)
- *Takes a couple of weeks to reach full effect
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Thiazolidinediones - decreases insulin resistance (Actos, Avandia)
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*Risk of swelling, weight gain, 4 to 8 weeks for full effect
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Insulin: the hormone; know its peak time to avoid low glucose
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BASAL = background (Lantus, Levemir, NPH)
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BOLUS = mealtime or correction (Novolog, Humalog, Regular)
Problem Solving
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Hypoglycemia (low glucose); less than 70
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Causes: medications, missed meal, exercise, alcohol
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Signs: shakiness, hunger, sleepiness, weakness, headache, irritability, sweating
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Treatment: Sugar! Rule of 15 (15 grams sugar, wait 15 minutes, retest. If low, 15
grams of sugar, retest, if above 70, eat)
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Hyperglycemia (high glucose); above 200
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Causes: too little medicine, stress, food choices
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Signs: tired, increased urination, poor would healing
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Treatment: medications
Reducing Risks
Certain tests reduce your risk of complications (yearly exams for eyes,
feet, cholesterol; regular A1C tests and dental visits)
Created by the Washington Hospital Diabetes Program Team.
510.818.6556.