Diabetes

• Type 1

  This is usually diagnosed in children and young adults and was previously known as juvenile diabetes. In type 1, the body does not produce insulin, the hormone that allows the body to process sugar. The condition can severely damage the kidneys and pancreas. In some cases, it can lead to damage that makes an organ transplant necessary. [Link to pancreas and kidney transplant]

• Type 2
  

  Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. In type 2, either the body does not produce enough insulin, or the cells ignore the insulin. Insulin is the hormone that allows the body to use sugar. Sugar is the basic fuel for the cells in the body, and insulin takes the sugar from the blood into the cells. When glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into cells, it can cause two problems:

  1. Your cells become starved for energy.
  2. Over time, high blood glucose levels may adversely affect your eyes, kidneys, nerves, or heart.
• Pre-diabetes

  Before people develop type 2, they almost always have pre-diabetes—blood glucose levels that are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Research has shown that some long-term damage to the body, especially the heart and circulatory system, may already be occurring during pre-diabetes. However, if you take action to control your blood glucose when you have pre-diabetes, you can delay or prevent type 2 from developing. If you have, or are at risk for pre-diabetes, there are many steps you can take for your health and well-being. People with this condition can expect to benefit from much of the same advice for good nutrition and physical activity.

• Gestational diabetes

Hormonal changes and weight gain are part of a normal pregnancy. But for at least three out of every 100 pregnant women, these changes cause insulin resistance and a rise in blood sugar, resulting in gestational diabetes. With proper treatment, this condition can be controlled, preventing harm to you and your baby.

The key to keeping yourself and your baby healthy is to manage your blood glucose levels by seeking education from a certified educator. We can translate confusing nutrition restrictions into a customized meal plan for each individual. It is important to know that what you eat, how much you eat, and how often you eat each affect your blood sugar levels. Suggested meal plans may include:

• Eating three small meals and three snacks a day
• Limiting starches, including cereal, rice, pasta, and potatoes to one cup per meal
• Avoiding sweetened beverages such as soda, iced tea, and juice

After giving birth, blood glucose levels in most mothers with gestational diabetes return to normal. However, the risk of developing type 2 diabetes within eight to 10 years is increased. Eating right and staying active—30 minutes of exercise or more for at least five days a week—remain important to prevent this from happening.

• Maturity onset diabetes of youth (MODY) 
  

  A mutation in a single gene that limits a person's ability to produce insulin causes MODY. MODY runs in families and is often not diagnosed until adulthood, even though it is always present.

• Latent autoimmune diabetes (LADA)
  

  This is a type of diabetes that shows signs of both Type I and Type II diabetes. It is often called Type 1.5 diabetes, or double diabetes. In this form of the disease, patients are able to produce their own insulin, but, because of an abnormal autoimmune response, the pancreas cells slowly lose their ability to produce insulin.

• Shaking

• Fast heartbeat

• Sweating

• Impaired vision

• Anxiousness/dizziness

• Weakness/fatigue

• Headache

• Irritability

• Blurred vision

• Drowsiness

• Frequent urination

• Dry skin

• Extreme thirst

• Hunger

• Excess body weight (especially around the waist)

• HDL cholesterol under 35

• High blood levels of triglycerides, a type of fat molecule (250 mg/dL or more)

• High blood pressure

• Impaired glucose tolerance

• Low activity level

• Poor diet

• Smoking

• Age greater than 45 years

• Diabetes during a previous pregnancy

• Gender

• Giving birth to a baby weighing more than nine pounds

• Family history

• Race

• Maintain a healthy weight.

• Follow a diet low in fat, salt, and sugar, and high in fiber.

• Exercise on a regular basis. Aerobic activities are good for your heart and help your body work to lower your blood sugar.

• Listen to your doctor about other health problems, such as high blood pressure.

• Try to reduce stress in your life.

• Drink alcohol in moderation. No more than one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men.

• Regularly test your blood glucose, especially if you are older than 45.

1. Neuropathy - many factors cause neuropathy in diabetes. Numbness in the foot is one of the manifestations of diabetic neuropathy.

2. Vascular disease - this is the same as peripheral artery disease (PAD), and is caused by atherosclerosis.

3. Infection

• An ulcer or sore in the foot

• Pain

• Redness in the foot

• Gangrene

• Wound care

• Podiatry