Successfully Living With Diabetes

Living with diabetes involves daily diabetes care which will vary depending on whether you have type 1 or type 2 Diabetes. Staying healthy everyday with diabetes means giving attention to food, physical activity, blood glucose monitoring and good health practices. See Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA) document http://www.diabetes.ca/files/StayHealthy.pdf

With both type 1 and type 2 Diabetes, Home Blood Glucose Monitoring and recording blood test results are an important part of self care. There are many different home blood glucose monitoring systems available for use, the choice of which is up to you.
**This document can be saved on your computer to record your blood glucose results. You can then print it off or e-mail it to your health care provider**

For information on home blood glucose monitoring,view the following:
See Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA) document
http://www.diabetes.ca/files/BloodGlucoseMgmt.pdf

For instructions on home blood glucose monitoring, Click Here.

If prescribed to manage your diabetes, medication is an important part of daily care. For those with type 1 Diabetes, you may be adjusting your insulin dose based on your blood glucose readings. If you have type 2 Diabetes, this may mean one or more different types of pills for managing blood glucose levels (or oral medications) to help control your diabetes.

For information on specific diabetes medications, refer to 2009/2010 CDA Consumer Guide for diabetes products and medications: http://www.diabetes.ca/documents/about-diabetes/CDA_ConsmrGuide.pdf

Recording these home blood glucose monitoring results and making notes can help you to make decisions about meal planning, medication and activity.
**This document can be saved on your computer to record your blood glucose results. You can then print it off or e-mail it to your health care provider**

Low Blood Glucose (Sugar) or Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia or low blood glucose (sugar) can occur with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Recommended guidelines for treatment of low blood glucose when it occurs are available below. It is important to recognize what caused the low blood sugar and how to prevent it in the future.

High Blood Glucose (Sugar) or Hyperglycemia

High blood glucose (sugar) can occur for a variety of reasons. These may include factors such as eating changes, illness, medications and stress. See documents below:
Low blood glucose type 1 diabetes
Canadian Diabetes Association: Lows and highs: Blood glucose level

Other Information

Other factors in your life can also affect your diabetes management. These may include:

• how you manage stress
• Illness
• sexual dysfunction for both men and women
• healthy teeth and gums
• and any number of lifestyle factors.

Working with your diabetes education team and educating yourself about the disease is important for living successfully with diabetes. Other sources of valuable information:

• If you need information on what devices are available to help you live successfully with diabetes, see company links to provide help you find information on blood glucose machines, insulin delivery devices, insulin pumps and more.
• Information on obtaining diabetes identification is available. www.medicalert.ca
• Safe Sharps Disposal provides information for residents of Prince Edward Island on how to safely dispose of supplies used for home blood glucose testing and insulin delivery.
• Information on other health associations with valuable information for people living with diabetes is available as well

Illness

Everyone with diabetes becomes ill from time to time.

Type 1 Diabetes: Using the Sick Day Management - Type 1 Diabetes will help you manage if you have type 1 diabetes. You will also need to learn about Ketone Testing but only if you have type 1 diabetes.

Type 2 Diabetes: If you have type 2 diabetes, use the Sick Day Management - Type 2 Diabetes.

Long Term Complications

Blood glucose levels, blood lipid (fat) levels and blood pressure are all factors which may contribute to the development of long term complications with diabetes. These complications include:

Diseases of the small blood vessels such as:

• Retinopathy (eye disease in diabetes which may lead to blindness). For more information see: Keep your eyes healthy
• Nephropathy (kidney disease in diabetes which can lead to kidney failure requiring dialysis). For more information see: Diabetes, Kidney Disease and You
• Neuropathy (nerve damage which can affect almost every organ system) such as:
• Numbness and tingling in the feet and hands, leading to a loss of ability to notice pain, touch or heat. This inability to feel can allow injury to occur without any sensation of pain. Foot Care: http://www.diabetes.ca/files/footcare-new.pdf
• Sexual dysfunction for men and women:
  http://www.diabetes.ca/files/CD%20Spring%2006%20FINAL%20PDF.pdf
• Problems with autonomic nerves controlling the stomach, bowels and bladder.
• For more information on neuropathy see: Keep your nerves healthy

Diseases of the large blood vessels such as:

• Arteriosclerosis (where deposits of fat appears on the walls of the arteries) leading to circulation problems, stroke, heart disease and heart attacks.
• Studies have shown that control of blood glucose, blood lipid (fat) levels and blood pressure can decrease the risk of developing complications.
• See Keep your Heart and Blood Vessels Healthy

For more information review the following information from the Canadian Diabetes Association:

• Blood Pressure and Diabetes
• Cholesterol and Diabetes
• Staying healthy with diabetes means having a regular follow-up with your diabetes health care team to monitor and review progress and to allow for early intervention as needed. Managing diabetes is your responsibility together with support from your doctor and diabetes health care team.
• Smoking and diabetes
• Weight management and diabetes
• Alcohol and diabetes
• Physical Activity and diabetes

More Information

You can obtain more information from :

• The Provincial Diabetes Program and from the many links provided on this site.
• Province of Prince Edward Island Drug Formulary
  If you live in Prince Edward Island, there is some medical coverage for diabetes medications and supplies. You can look for this information on their site.
• This website has links to many health associations that provide information on diabetes and related conditions.
• As well, we have included many company links which provide you with information about products and services for people with diabetes.