Type 2 Diabetes Care for your body today for a healthier tomorrow
Understanding diabetes You may already know that having diabetes means you have too much sugar in your blood. Why do you have high blood sugar? And why is that such a bad thing? This brochure will help you understand: How the body uses sugar What other health problems can be caused by diabetes How you can recognize warning signs and help prevent some of these health problems from happening Glucose is your body s fuel Your body needs energy to get you through the day. That energy comes from glucose, a kind of sugar. Glucose (sugar) in your blood comes from the food you eat and from your liver. Glucose travels through your blood to reach and feed every part of your body. The liver and pancreas are your body s glucose managers Your body needs the right amount of glucose at all times. The liver and pancreas work together to make sure that your blood sugar is never too low and never too high. Here s how: The liver keeps your body fed between meals. The liver is like a bank. When you eat, the liver stores extra glucose that your body doesn t need right away. The liver sends glucose into your body when you need it, like when you haven t eaten for a while. The pancreas makes sure glucose can be used properly. The pancreas produces a chemical called insulin. Insulin helps move the glucose from your blood into the body s cells, where it can be used for energy. In diabetes, the liver and pancreas are unable to balance glucose in the blood properly. They are unable to keep glucose at the correct level. That s why you have high blood sugar. On the next pages you will learn how this condition can affect your whole body and why it s so important to take care of yourself! This booklet does not substitute for discussions with your health care professional (HCP). Only he or she can diagnose your condition and provide treatment guidance that is right for you.
Diabetes can harm your heart and blood vessels Diabetes can cause serious problems for your heart and blood vessels. Many people with diabetes may have: Arteries that are clogged with fat High blood pressure Increased blood clots These problems can lead to heart attack or stroke. What you should look out for Unfortunately, heart and blood vessel problems don t always come with warning signs, but they can become serious enough to threaten your life. Here s how you can protect them Make sure you receive these 3 important tests, called the ABCs of diabetes: A1C test at least twice a year Blood pressure measurement at every visit Cholesterol screening at least once a year Work with your HCP to get your blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight under control. Take your medicine exactly as your HCP told you to. If you have questions, ask your HCP or pharmacist. If you smoke, stop! Your HCP can help you. That s why it s important to see your HCP regularly to check your blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol.
Diabetes can harm your eyes Diabetes can cause the following eye problems: Damage to blood vessels in your eyes (diabetic retinopathy) Cloudy vision (cataracts) Increased pressure in the eye (glaucoma) If not treated, these problems can lead to loss of vision or even blindness. What you should look out for Any change in your vision Here s how you can protect them Discuss any changes in your vision with your HCP immediately. See your eye doctor regularly, even if your vision is fine. Have a dilated-eye exam at least once a year. This test lets the eye doctor see inside your eye better. Work with your HCP to keep your blood sugar and blood pressure under control. Don t smoke! Seeing spots or floaters Blurred vision Double vision
Diabetes can harm your nervous system Diabetes can damage the nerves in your body. That can be dangerous. Nerves send messages to and from your brain about pain, temperature, and touch. If they re damaged, the messages can t get through. This can cause problems like numbness or complications like infection. It may even lead to having a limb surgically removed (amputation). What you should look out for Numbness or loss of feeling in the feet, hands, legs, or other parts of the body Here s how you can protect it Discuss any numbness or any digestion, bladder, or sexual problems with your HCP. Test your blood sugar regularly to see whether your glucose is controlled. Continue to have your A1C tested in your HCP s office. Check your feet regularly. Ask a family member for help if it s hard for you. If they look or feel different or you have sores that do not heal, tell your HCP about it right away. Have your feet checked every year by your HCP, even if they appear healthy. Problems digesting food Bladder problems Sexual problems (for example, being unable to have an erection) Work with your HCP to keep your blood sugar under control. Treat damaged or infected skin right away. Keep feet clean, smooth, and dry. Keep toenails trimmed. Protect your feet by wearing comfortable, properly fitted socks and shoes at all times. Don t smoke. Reduce alcohol use.
Diabetes can harm your kidneys Kidneys have a very important job: They filter the waste from your blood and remove it in your urine. If your diabetes is not controlled, however, your kidneys can get damaged and diseased. Kidney disease can lead to kidney failure, which means they stop working. If that happens, a patient s blood must be filtered through a machine (called dialysis) or the patient may need a kidney transplant. It s very important to test early for kidney disease! What you should look out for Here s how you can protect them Tell your HCP if you notice any of the warning signs. Test your blood sugar regularly to see whether your glucose is controlled. Continue to have your A1C tested in your HCP s office. Get a blood cholesterol test and a urine protein test at least once a year. Work with your HCP to keep your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol under control. Don t smoke. Feeling tired or weak Swelling in your hands and/or your feet Vomiting However, you may still have kidney disease even if you don t have these warning signs! Your HCP can find out for sure by giving you a simple urine test.
Follow these tips today for a healthier tomorrow Know and control your blood sugar levels Test at your HCP s office. Keep your appointments and follow your test schedule Here are some guidelines for how often you should see your HCPs and get certain tests. You may want to schedule your next visit before leaving your HCP s office. Make sure you get an A1C test at least twice a year or as your HCP recommends. This tells your HCP how well your blood sugar has been controlled over the past few months. Which Health Care Professionals to See? Primary health care professional Eye doctor (ophthalmologist or optometrist) Dentist Foot doctor (podiatrist) How Often twice a year once a year twice a year once a year Test at home. Use your blood sugar monitor to measure your glucose levels. Try to do it at around the same times every day. This will help you understand how your food, exercise, and medication are making your blood sugar levels go up or down. Follow your treatment plan. Ask questions if you don t understand or have trouble following the plan. Which Tests Should I Take? A1C Blood pressure Cholesterol More tips are on the following pages. How Often twice a year At every visit once a year
Manage your weight Ask your HCP for a plan you can handle. Eat more fruits and vegetables. If you need to lose weight, reduce the number of calories you eat. You may want to see a nutritionist for more help. Limit how much alcohol you drink. Alcohol makes it hard to lose weight. It can also lead to other health problems. Take special care of your feet and your mouth Foot care Check your feet every day for any changes, pain, numbness, or sores that do not heal. Wear comfortable socks and shoes that fit properly at all times. Never walk barefoot. Oral care Brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss at least once a day. Stop smoking Diabetes can increase the bad effects cigarettes have on the body. This can greatly increase your risk of future health problems. Ask your HCP for help if you need it. Start moving more Regular exercise is important for everyone, even those at a healthy weight. Check with your HCP for a plan that s right for you. Start slowly; for example, begin by exercising 10 minutes a day. Be aware of the warning signs listed in this booklet. Don t be afraid to ask questions and share concerns with your HCPs. Their goal is to help you succeed. Watch for loose teeth, bleeding gums, and bad breath.
See the results of your healthy efforts Getting control over your diabetes takes time. It also means more than just getting your blood sugar lower. To see how all your hard work is paying off, take this tracker to your HCP at every visit. Ask him or her to fill out your health goals and to update your numbers at every visit. This will show you what you need to do to get healthy and how well you are doing on your way there! For more information, visit MerckSource at mercksource.com. MerckSource is a trademark of Merck & Co., Inc. Date B blood LDL ( bad ) HDL ( good ) Total tested Weight A1C pressure cholesterol cholesterol Triglycerides cholesterol My goals lb % mmhg mg/dl mg/dl mg/dl mg/dl lb % mmhg mg/dl mg/dl mg/dl mg/dl lb % mmhg mg/dl mg/dl mg/dl mg/dl lb % mmhg mg/dl mg/dl mg/dl mg/dl HDL = high-density lipoprotein; LDL = low-density lipoprotein. Copyright 2008 Merck & Co., Inc. All rights reserved. 20706916(3)-02/08-HMS Printed in USA Minimum 10% Recycled Paper