Frequently Asked Questions
Staying Healthy with Diabetes
These publications were sources for this document:
National Diabetes Fact Sheet 2003
http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/general.htm#impaired
Take Charge of Your Diabetes
http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/tcyd/index.htm
If You Have Diabetes, A Flu Shot Can Save Your Life
http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/projects/pdfs/eng_brochure.pdf ( PDF -
724 KB)
- Learn more about PDFs
NCCDPHP Nutrition & Physical Activity Recommendations
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/physical/recommendations/index.htm
Your Guide to Diabetes Type 1 and Type 2
http://www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/type1and2/index.htm
Prevent Diabetes Problems: Keep Your Diabetes Under Control
http://www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/complications_control/index.htm
What I Need to Know About Physical Activity and Diabetes
http://www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/physical_ez/index.htm
Insulin Resistance and Pre-Diabetes
http://www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/insulinresistance/index.htm
Links to additional information came from the DDT information specialist
standard response files.
What routine medical examinations and tests are needed for people with diabetes?
Your doctors should:
- Measure your blood pressure at every visit
- Check your feet for sores at every visit, and give a thorough foot exam
at least once a year
- Give you a hemoglobin A1C test at least twice a year, to determine what
your average blood glucose level was for the past 2 to 3 months
- Test your urine and blood to check your kidney function at least once a
year
- Test your blood lipids (fats) – total cholesterol; LDL, or low-density
lipoprotein (“bad” cholesterol); HDL, or high-density lipoprotein (“good”
cholesterol); and triglycerides at least once a year
You should also get a dental checkup twice a year, a dilated eye exam once
a year, an annual flu shot, and a pneumonia shot.
For more information, see Tests and
Goals for Each Visit and Tests and
Goals for Each Year from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s
(CDC) publication, Take Charge of Your Diabetes.
How does maintaining healthy blood glucose levels help
people with diabetes stay healthy?
Research studies in the United States and other countries have shown that controlling
blood glucose benefits people with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. In general,
for every 1% reduction in results of A1C blood tests (e.g., from 8.0% to 7.0%),
the risk of developing eye, kidney, and nerve disease is reduced by 40%.
For more information, see Controlling Your
Diabetes from the CDC’s publication, Take Charge of Your Diabetes.
How does maintaining a healthy body weight help people
with diabetes stay healthy?
Most people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are overweight. Excess
weight, particularly in the abdomen, makes it difficult for cells to respond to
insulin, resulting in high blood glucose. Often, people with type 2 diabetes
are able to lower their blood glucose by losing weight and increasing physical
activity. Losing weight also helps lower the risk for other health problems
which especially affect people with diabetes, such as cardiovascular disease.
For more information, see
How does maintaining a healthy blood pressure level
help people with diabetes stay healthy?
About 73% of adults with diabetes have high blood pressure or use prescription
medications to reduce high blood pressure. Maintaining normal blood pressure
– less than 130/80 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) helps to prevent damage
to the eyes, kidneys, heart, and blood vessels. Blood pressure measurements
are written like a fraction, with the two numbers separated by a slash. The
first number represents the pressure in your blood vessels when your heart beats
(systolic pressure); the second number represents the pressure in the vessels
when your heart is at rest (diastolic pressure).
In general, for every 10 mm Hg reduction in systolic blood pressure (the first
number in the fraction), the risk for any complication related to diabetes is
reduced by 12%. Maintaining normal blood pressure control can reduce the risk
of eye, kidney, and nerve disease (microvascular disease) by approximately 33%,
and the risk of heart disease and stroke (cardiovascular disease) by approximately
33% to 50%. Healthy eating, medications, and physical activity can help you
bring high blood pressure down.
For more information, see
How does maintaining healthy cholesterol levels help
people with diabetes stay healthy?
Several things, including having diabetes, can make your blood cholesterol
level too high. When cholesterol is too high, the insides of large blood vessels
become narrowed, even clogged, which can lead to heart disease and stroke, the
biggest health problems for people with diabetes. Maintaining normal cholesterol
levels will help prevent these diseases, and can help prevent circulation problems,
also an issue for people with diabetes. Have your cholesterol checked at least
once a year. Total cholesterol should be under 200; LDL (“bad” cholesterol)
should be under 100; HDL (“good” cholesterol) should be above 40 in men and
above 50 in women; and triglycerides should be under 150. Healthy eating, medications,
and physical activity can help you reach your cholesterol targets. Keeping cholesterol
levels under control can reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications of
diabetes by 20% to 50%.
For more information, see
How does exercise help people with diabetes stay healthy?
Physical activity can help you control your blood glucose, weight, and blood
pressure, as well as raise your “good” cholesterol and lower your “bad” cholesterol.
It can also help prevent heart and blood flow problems.
Experts recommend moderate-intensity physical activity for at least 30 minutes
on 5 or more days of the week. Talk to your health care provider about a safe
exercise plan. He or she may check your heart and your feet to be sure you have
no special problems. If you have high blood pressure, eye, or foot problems,
you may need to avoid some kinds of exercise.
For more information, see
How does quitting smoking help people with diabetes
stay healthy?
Smoking puts people with diabetes at particular risk. Smoking raises your blood
glucose, cholesterol, and blood pressure, all of which people with diabetes
need to be especially concerned about. When you have diabetes and use tobacco,
the risk of heart and blood vessel problems is even greater. If you quit smoking,
you'll lower your risk for heart attack, stroke, nerve disease, kidney disease,
and oral disease.
For more information, see
Why is it important for people with diabetes to get
an annual flu shot?
Diabetes can make the immune system more vulnerable to severe cases of the
flu. People with diabetes who come down with the flu may become very sick and
may die. You can help keep yourself from getting the
flu by getting a flu shot every year. Everyone with diabetes—even pregnant women—should
get a yearly flu shot. The best time to get one is between October and mid-November,
before the flu season begins.
For more information, see
* Links to non-Federal organizations are provided solely
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Page last reviewed: December 3, 2008
Page last modified: June 27, 2006
Content Source: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Division of Diabetes Translation
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