An Ounce of Prevention – Avoiding Complications Managing Diabetes An Ounce of Prevention – Avoiding Complications

How to prevent or delay: Topics How to prevent or delay: Heart Disease Eye Disease Kidney Disease Nerve Disease Skin Problems Dental Problems

Keeping your heart and blood vessels healthy Heart Health Keeping your heart and blood vessels healthy Manage your blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol (the ABCs) Reduce the amount of sodium (salt) you eat Make wise food choices

Keeping your heart and blood vessels healthy Heart Health Keeping your heart and blood vessels healthy Lose weight If you smoke, get help to quit Take medications as prescribed Ask about taking aspirin

2 out of 3 people with diabetes die from heart disease or stroke Warning Signs 2 out of 3 people with diabetes die from heart disease or stroke Know the warning signs of a heart attack and stroke If you have warning signs, call 911 right away

Warning Signs

Retinopathy Eye Disease To prevent eye problems: High blood glucose damages the tiny blood vessels in the eye. Can cause vision problems and blindness. High blood pressure can make eye disease worse. To prevent eye problems: Keep your blood glucose and blood pressure in your target ranges. Have a yearly eye exam (with eye drops to dilate your pupils).

Nephropathy Kidney Disease Kidneys clean the blood by filtering it through tiny blood vessels. Waste materials are removed and eliminated in the urine. High blood glucose damages the tiny blood vessels in the kidney. High blood pressure can make kidney disease worse.

Kidney Disease To prevent kidney problems: Keep your blood glucose and blood pressure in your target ranges. Have regular checkups and get a urine microalbuminuria test every year (a check for urine protein). Have other recommended tests (may include tests for creatinine, BUN or urea nitrogen). If you have protein in your urine, treatment with an ACE inhibitor or ARB (blood pressure medications) can slow the progress of kidney disease).

Neuropathy Nerve Disease Nerves carry messages that tell your body what you see or feel. High blood glucose can damage your nerves and parts of your body may not feel things as well as they did in the past. Nerve problems can also cause diarrhea, urinary bladder infections, sweating, dry skin, light-headedness or loss of balance. See your health care provider if you have these problems.

Nerve Disease To avoid nerve problems: Keep your blood glucose in your target range. Check your feet for injuries, blisters or redness every day. If you see any problems, call your health care team immediately. Have a doctor or nurse check your feet at least once a year with a monofilament to make sure the nerves are working.

Skin Problems Skin Problems What to do about skin problems: Some with diabetes have skin infections or dry, itchy skin, especially in the feet. Damage to blood vessels caused by diabetes can also trigger other skin diseases. What to do about skin problems: Keep your blood glucose in your target range. If itching, use a non-drying mild soap. See your health care provider about any skin problems. Ask your provider about lotions that can help dry or cracked skin.

Dental Care Dental Care To protect your teeth: More likely to have dental problems including gum infections. See your dentist if your gums bleed or are red. To protect your teeth: Keep your blood glucose in your target range. See your dentist twice a year. Brush at least twice a day with a soft brush. Floss daily.

What can you do to prevent or delay diabetes-related problems? Review What can you do to prevent or delay diabetes-related problems?

More Help A new powerful risk assessment tool Enter your personal health information. Receive a personalized “Results Overview” showing your current risk for heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, eye and foot complications. Change items in your profile (such as stopping smoking, losing weight, taking certain medications, etc.) to see how making these changes would impact your future.

Diabetes PHD Online at diabetes.org/phd

More Help Diabetes Learning Center Link for Life For people who are recently diagnosed with diabetes, or those needing basic information. Online at diabetes.org/learningcenter Link for Life An interactive program on diabetes and heart disease (starring Type 2 Lou) filled with practical tips and valuable information. Online at diabetes.org/linkforlife

Diabetes Learning Center

Link for Life

on diabetes, please call 1-800-DIABETES or visit diabetes.org For More Information For more information on diabetes, please call 1-800-DIABETES or visit diabetes.org

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