Whether you have recently been diagnosed with diabetes, have had it for some time now, or are predisposed due to your family history, chances are you have many questions. We want you to be more informed about diabetes because the more you know, the better you can take care of yourself.

The ABC’s of Diabetes
Control of the ABC’s of diabetes can reduce your risk for heart disease, stroke and other complications. If your blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol levels are not on target, ask your doctor what changes in diet, activity and medications can help you reach these goals.

A is for A-1-C
An A-1-C is the blood glucose (sugar) check with a memory. It tells you your average blood glucose for the past two to three months. The A-1-C test can help you and your doctor know if the measures being taken to control your diabetes are successful or need to be adjusted.

B is for blood pressure
Your blood pressure tells you the force of blood inside your blood vessels. When your blood pressure is high, your heart has to work harder than it should. High blood pressure can damage your blood vessels and can lead to a heart attack, stroke or other life-threatening conditions.

C is for cholesterol
Your cholesterol numbers tell you the amount of fat in your blood. LDL cholesterol can clog your blood vessels and lead to heart disease. Exercise raises HDL cholesterol levels and lowers LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

D is for diabetes complications
Diabetes can lead to high blood sugar levels, a condition called hyperglycemia. Over a long period of time this damages the retina of the eye, the kidneys, the nerves and the blood vessels. You can help prevent these problems by making healthy lifestyle choices, like exercising regularly and eating properly.

E is for eye complications
Uncontrolled diabetes can damage the small blood vessels of the retina (called retinopathy). When retinopathy is found early, laser treatment can help prevent vision loss.  If it is not treated, retinopathy can cause blindness.

Tips on taking care of your eyes

• Have your eyes checked at least once a year
• Control your blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels
• See your doctor regularly
• Maintain a good diet (talk to your doctor about what to eat)

F is for foot complications
Your feet may not be receiving the proper blood supply due to damaged blood vessels. Also, the damage to your nerves may cause you to lose feeling in your feet. Early diagnosis and treatment of problems with the feet and lower extremities, along with regular diabetes foot care, are important to preserve the function of your legs and feet.

G is for gum and tooth complications
Keeping your gums and teeth healthy is very important if you have diabetes. High blood sugar causes germs to grow in your mouth and plaque to build up on your teeth. Your gums can become red and sore, and may even bleed when you brush your teeth.

H is for heart attack and stroke
Maybe your doctor has told you that you are at high risk for heart disease. Or, perhaps you have already had a heart attack. Having diabetes means that you are much more likely to have coronary artery (heart) disease, a heart attack or a stroke. The good news is that you can take steps to prevent heart disease or reduce your chances of having a heart attack.

Be aware of the signs of a heart attack

• Chest discomfort
• Discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach
• Shortness of breath
• Breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness       

Be aware of the signs of a stroke

• Weakness or numbness on one side of your body
• Confusion, trouble talking, or trouble understanding
• Dizziness, loss of balance, or trouble walking
• Trouble seeing out of one or both eyes
• Severe headaches
• Double vision

I is for insulin and how it works
If your pancreas no longer makes enough insulin, then you may need to take insulin as a shot. Insulin lowers blood glucose by moving glucose from the blood into the cells of your body. How quickly or slowly insulin works in your body depends on your own response.

J is for just say no to smoking
Smoking is bad for anyone but even worse for people with diabetes. It also has a bad effect on your blood vessels. If you have diabetes and you smoke, you double your risk of getting heart disease. And if you keep smoking while trying to reduce other risks such as losing weight, your diet will not be as effective.

K is for kidney complications
Many of the 12 million people with diabetes in the United States will have kidney problems during their lifetime. In fact, people with diabetes are at a higher risk for developing kidney failure than the general population.

Tips on taking care of your kidneys

• Quit smoking
• Control your blood sugar levels
• Be on the lookout for signs of advanced kidney failure:
  1. Anemia
  2. Nausea
  3. High Blood Pressure
  4. Weakness

L is for lower your cholesterol
Too much cholesterol in your blood can clog your arteries. If your doctor says your cholesterol level is too high, follow your doctor’s recommendation to lose weight and eat a healthy diet.

M is for measure your glucose levels regularly
When you have diabetes it is important that you measure your glucose levels regularly. How often you measure depends on your lifestyle. It can vary from one or two readings a week to several readings a day. Keeping your blood glucose at a healthy level will prevent or slow down diabetes problems.

N is for nutrition and a healthier you
When you have diabetes, you have special nutritional needs.  Nutrition is an important part of controlling diabetes, as well as exercise and medications (insulin or oral diabetes pills). By eating healthy, you can keep your blood glucose level as close to normal as possible.

O is for open up
Do not do it alone. Sharing your feelings and frustrations about your diabetes with friends and family may also help them better understand what you are going through. Let your family and friends provide support and guidance.

P is for peripheral nerve damage
Having high blood glucose for many years can damage the blood vessels that bring oxygen to some nerves. This may make your arms, hands, legs or feet feel numb. Peripheral nerve damage can also change the shape of your feet. Talk to your doctor about how to take preventative measures and where you can get special shoes.

Q is for questions to ask your doctor

• What exercises are best for me?
• How should I adjust my diet or insulin if I start an exercise regimen?
• What is my HbA1c? (HbA1c is the test that measures your average blood glucose level over the last 3 months.)
• How can I get my HbA1c into the normal range?
• How will diabetes affect my eyes, kidneys and feet?
• How often, and under what conditions, should I test my blood glucose?
• When should I meet with a dietitian to review what I eat?
• Are there any diabetes support groups I can attend in my area?

R is for research and diabetes
Educating yourself is the key to learning how to manage your condition. A wealth of resources and information including the latest research and treatment options are available on the Internet. Your local library also offers diabetes cookbooks and additional reading materials that can help you better understand and manage your diabetes.

S is for start exercising
Exercise can help improve your physical health. Physically active people are less likely to develop high blood pressure or heart and artery disease. This may also be because exercise and activity can help reduce stress. Consult your doctor before starting an exercise program.

T is for take a nap
Sleep if very important to your overall health, especially when dealing with the stress of diabetes. Without adequate sleep the body functions at half speed and tires out halfway through the day. Most adults require 8 hours of sleep each night. If you do not have the time, try to fit in an energizing short nap (10 to 20 minutes) during the day.

U is for unwind to relieve stress
Diabetes can cause stress. In response to stress, physical changes occur in the body such as increase in heart rate and breathing. We all experience stress from time to time. Having many stresses, or a long, intense, physical response to stress can lead to health problems and can negatively affect your diabetes control.

V is for vent to relieve stress
Diabetes, like any disease, can affect your emotional wellbeing. Keeping your feelings and emotions bottled up can also cause stress and affect your body. Learn to express yourself and let off steam.

W is for weight loss and diabetes
Diabetes and being overweight often go together. Losing weight helps a lot of health problems. For example, if you have been told that your blood pressure is too high, losing weight can make it lower. If your blood sugar level has been hard to control, losing weight can help.

X is for Xylitol and diabetes
Control of blood glucose, lipids and weight are the three major goals of diabetes management today. Xylitol is a low glycaemic sweetener. It is slowly absorbed and is metabolized independently of insulin. Thus, Xylitol can be recommended as a sugar-free sweetener suitable for people with diabetes.

Y is for your health is important to us
Diabetes management is more than control of blood sugar. You must also manage blood pressure and cholesterol. NationsHealth wants you to stay healthy. Talk to your doctor to learn about other ways to reduce your chance for heart attack or stroke.

Z is for zero in on the easiest way to order your diabetes supplies
Not currently receiving your supplies and/or oral prescription medications from NationsHealth? We provide a cost-effective and convenient way to order your diabetes supplies. Our highly trained staff and convenient home delivery service helps you live a healthier and more active life. You can join those who already enjoy the benefits of NationsHealth just by following these three easy steps:

• Call 1-800-298-1554 to enroll today.
• After obtaining approval from your doctor, you will begin receiving your diabetes supplies directly to your home.
• Follow your doctor’s advice and test your blood sugar as directed.