As you learn about your diagnosis of diabetes,please know that your healthcare team iscommitted to helping you enjoy many more yearsof healthy, active life. Diabetes is a chronicdisease that is BEST MANAGED BY YOU, with

support from your family,friends, and healthcare team.Research tells us that patientsthemselves are in the bestposition to know what theyneed to manage their health.

There are 8,760 hours in a year, and only ahandful of hours are spent with the healthcareteam. So knowing what to do, and doing it, isessential to maintaining your health.

Most persons think of diabetes as a disease of highblood sugar, but for many persons it is associatedwith high blood pressure and high cholesterol.Controlling ALL of thesefactors is important to REDUCEthe risk of developing the majorcomplications of diabetes:blindness, foot disease, kidneyfailure, heart attack, and stroke. IN FACT, the majorcause of disability and death in diabetes is heartdisease and stroke. For many persons with diabetes,controlling blood pressure and cholesterol, takingaspirin, and NOT smoking are the most importantsteps that they can take.

SCREENING for complications is important todetermine whether you alreadyhave eye, foot, or kidney disease. Ifyou do, you may need to have morefrequent follow-up visits, new,medications, or other treatments.

The following HEALTH TIPS SUMMARY is aguide to the essentials of diabetes care. Eachperson with diabetes is unique. We would like tohelp you develop the confidence and motivationto use your skills and knowledge to be the expertdecision-maker in your diabetes management.

Protect yourself. Take responsibility for thefollowing:

Smoking: If you smoke or usetobacco, STOP! Please talk toyour healthcare team aboutwhat steps you can take.Benefits start immediately.

Influenza – in season: Get aYEARLY vaccination. Beingvaccinated last year doesn’tprotect you this year. Getting aflu vaccination doesn’t giveyou the flu.

Pneumococcal vaccination:Once in lifetime. However, ifyou were vaccinated morethan 5 years ago, talk to yourprovider about whether you need a second one.

Aspirin: Aspirin decreases the riskof heart attacks for many persons—ask your health provider if there is areason you should not take thismedication.

Nutrition and Exercise:Following an appropriate dietand exercise are cornerstones ofdiabetes management. Work withyour healthcare team to develop aplan that is right for you!

Medications: Carry a list of your current medications.

DIABETES SELF-MANAGEMENT HEALTH TIPS

Access this document for downloading athttp://www.oqp.med.va.gov/cpg/DM/P/DMHealthTips.pdf

Sponsored & produced by the VA Employee Education System incooperation with the Offices of Quality & Performance and Patient CareServices and Department of Defense

ABCs of Diabetes

It is important for you to know what target valuesfor blood sugar, blood pressure and blood choles-terol are best for you! This is best determined byyou and your healthcare team, based upon factorssuch as your age, your general health, whetheryou have complications of diabetes, and what thepotential side effects of medications are for you.

A1c- Hemoglobin A1c is a 2-3 month average ofyour blood sugar level. Know your target number!

Target Current

Blood Pressure: Controlling blood pressure isthe most effective treatment forpreventing cardiovascular diseasein persons with diabetes. Checkyour blood pressure at home. Have

your blood pressure checked at every doctor’svisit. Know your target level!

Target Current

Cholesterol: Know your cholesterol level goal toprotect your heart!

Good Bad Triglycerides(HDL) (LDL)

Target

Current

Eyes: Know whether or not you have signs ofdiabetes related eye disease(retinopathy), and establish aschedule for a dilated (dropsin your eyes) eye examinationby an eye specialist (optometrist or ophthalmologist).Ask your health provider how often you shouldhave an eye examination. Frequency of eyeexams also depends on whether you have othereye conditions such as glaucoma or cataracts.

Feet: Look at your feet daily. Tell your healthprovider about any changes. Haveyour health provider look at yourfeet at each visit. Symptoms of painand numbness in your feet are notalways present, so ask your provider

whether you have signs of blood vessel or nervedamage in your feet. If you have blood vessel ornerve damage, you are at higher risk for developingsevere foot conditions and should be under thecare of a foot specialist.

Kidney Function: Protein in urine is an earlysign of kidney disease. Knowwhether you have protein in yoururine or more serious kidneydisease. Your health provider candetermine this from a urine andblood test. If you have protein in your urine, thismay help determine your A1c and Blood Pressuretarget goals. Also, your health provider may wantto consider certain medications for you.

Sick Day Management: Common illnesses cancause problems for people withdiabetes. When you are sick,check your blood sugar every fewhours. If your blood sugar remainsover 250 or is repeatedly below70, contact your healthcare team

or go to the hospital. Take your insulin ordiabetes pills unless you cannot take any food orliquid. Drink liquids every hour to avoiddehydration.