Diabetes Health Tips
Summer Shape Up for People at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes
From the National Diabetes Education Program.
Family reunions and summer picnics offer the chance to reunite with relatives, learn about heritage, and share family recipes. This summer, help NDEP promote diabetes awareness when it comes to talking about having a family history of diabetes. NDEP research has shown that people seem to better understand that they are at risk for diabetes when they think about how diabetes has affected their family. Having a mother, father, sister, or brother with type 2 diabetes increases one's risk for developing the disease.
Encourage your constituents to talk about diabetes during their next family gathering. Use NDEP's newly updated TV public service announcement "Family Reunion" to get the conversation started. The feature article, "Ten Ways to Shape Up Your Family Reunion to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes" (PDF) offers simple tips for choosing physical activities the entire family can enjoy, as well as making a plan for what, when, and how much food to eat during gatherings.
For information on healthy recipes, check out NDEP's Tasty Recipes/Mas que comida booklet that offers foods that the whole family can enjoy, including Tropical Fruits Fantasia, a side dish that can complement any summer meal.
NDEP also has resources designed for African Americans and Hispanics/Latinos that can help carry out the family history conversation. The tip sheet More Than 50 Ways to Prevent Diabetes educates families on the small steps that offer big rewards when it comes to healthy eating and physical activity. Step by Step: Moving Towards Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes and Movimiento por su vida are CDs/DVDs with original music and strong messages that tell listeners that even moderately intense physical activity can make a difference.
Aspirin Recommended For People With Diabetes At High Risk
For more information see the
article on diabetes.org.
Stopping Your Foot Problems
Foot care is an important component of diabetes management. That's because high blood glucose levels can ultimately lead to a number of complications - including reduced circulation, nerve damage, and difficulty fighting infection - that make feet more likely to get injured and less able to recover. Fortunately, there are a number of simple steps you can take to keep your feet in tip-top shape. To find out how to stop foot problems before they start, check out this week's Article of the Week, "
Caring for Your Feet".
Diabetes on Board
Diabetes does not have to complicate your travel plans if you think ahead. Get tips on taking
planes, trains, or automobiles this summer or any time of the year, from dlife.com. Information includes planning ahead, what to pack, flight, train, car travel and more.
Food in Focus: Spinach
Spinach is a versatile and delicious way to add vitamin A, C, K and folate, potassium, magnesium and iron to your meal.
read more from foodfit.com
Spinach Recipes
Daily Aspirin: Still Recommended?
One of the most commonly used medicines in the world, aspirin is taken by millions to prevent heart attacks. For some people with diabetes, a daily, low-dose formulation of this drug can be a an important part of a risk-reduction plan. For others, however, daily aspirin may have no benefit - or it may even be unsafe. To find out what the experts say about aspirin use and diabetes, check out this week's Article of the Week, "
An Aspirin a Day: Still Recommended for Diabetes?" from Diabetes Self management.
The Transition from Pediatric to Adult Care
Transition from pediatric to adult health care can be a challenge for teens and young adults with diabetes, their parents and pediatric and adult health care providers. NDEP's new Transition Resource provides tools to help with the
transition process. This resource contains a Checklist, Patient Clinical Summary Page, and Resource List.
Every Family Has Secrets!
There is a new article on the National Diabetes Education Program entitled, "Every Family Has Secrets! Could Diabetes Be One of Them?"
Read article, authored by NDEP-NIH director Joanne Gallivan, M.S., R.D. The article focuses on the family risk of diabetes and provides tips on how to identify if a person is at risk and the steps you can take to prevent or delay the disease. For more tips to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes, read NDEP's
GAME PLAN booklet.
Click Here to End to Your Diabetes Frustrations
Doctor's office closed? Tired of getting trapped in the maze of voicemails? Just have a quick question about your diabetes? Put an end to your frustration!
A1C or Average Glucose: Take your pick
The results of the A1C-Derived Average Glucose study (ADAG), published in Diabetes Care this month, have affirmed the existence of a linear relationship between A1C and average blood glucose levels. Prior studies using limited numbers of meter glucose readings primarily in type 1 Caucasian populations had been used in the past to estimate average glucose. The international ADAG study clarified the very close linkage using about 2700 glucose readings per subject per A1C measurement, and verified that the relationship holds in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, of all ages, of both genders, and across ethnic/racial groups. The "new numbers" are somewhat different than those in the old tables of A1C vs. average glucose.
In light of the study results, health care providers can confidently report A1C results to patients using the same units (mg/dl or mmol/l) that patients see routinely in blood glucose measurements. For more information about the ADAG study, a table of A1C and the corresponding estimated average glucose, an eAG calculator, and other materials, go to the estimated Average Glucose, eAG calculator
NEW! Online Videos Teach Type 2 Diabetes Basics
NDEP has partnered with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to bring you three online videos about type 2 diabetes. The videos are a great resource for people who might be at risk or have been recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
The videos feature informational interviews with people who live with type 2 diabetes and use graphics to explain the science behind the disease, such as how blood glucose operates in the body. The videos also address symptoms and risk factors for type 2 diabetes, emphasize the importance of physical activity and making healthy food choices, and point out how health care professionals can help people with diabetes manage their disease.
The videos can be viewed at www.healthcare411.org, and through the following links:
To learn more about type 2 diabetes, visit www.YourDiabetesInfo.org
New US Estimates Show Diabetes Affects 24 Million
New government estimates show that nearly 24 million people in the United States have diabetes, an increase of more than 3 million in two years. This means that nearly 8 percent of the U.S. population has diabetes, mostly the type-2 diabetes linked with obesity, poor diet and a lack of exercise, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Tuesday June 24, 2008.
Check Your Expiration Dates
If properly stored, unmixed glucagon and insulin are good until their expiration dates. So remember to check those expiration dates and replace medicine before it expires.
Here are some tips on storing glucagon and insulin:
- Store away from heat and direct light
- Store unopened insulin in a refrigerator( never in a freezer)
- Although glucagon can be stored at room temperature, it is best kept in a refrigerator
Hypoglycemia
Insulin Storage
