Diabetes
Women's Health
Take Time To Care...
for yourself...for those who need you
What is Diabetes?
- Diabetes changes the way your body
uses food. In your body, the food you
eat turns to sugar.
- Your blood takes this sugar all over the
body. Insulin helps get sugar from the
blood into the body for energy.
- Your body does not get the fuel it
needs, and your blood sugar stays high.
- High blood sugar can cause heart and
kidney problems, blindness, stroke, the
loss of a foot or leg, or even kill you.
The Good
News…You Can
Manage Diabetes
Watch what you eat and get
exercise, use medicines wisely
and check your blood sugar.
Types of Diabetes
- Type 1 - The body does not produce any
insulin. People with type 1 diabetes must
take insulin every day to stay alive.
- Type 2 - The body does not make
enough, or use insulin well. Most people
with diabetes have type 2.
- Some women get diabetes when they
are pregnant.
Watch What You Eat
and Get Exercise
- There is no one diet for people with
diabetes. Work with your team to come
up with a plan for you.
- You can eat the foods you love by
watching serving sizes. Carbohydrates
raise your blood sugar the most.
- The “Nutrition Facts” label on foods can
help. Many packaged foods contain
more than 1 serving.
- The foods we eat are made up of:
Carbohydrates (fruits, vegetables, breads,
juices, milk, cereals and desserts)
Fats
Protein
Cholesterol
Fiber (fruits, vegetables, beans, breads,
and cereals)
- Be active at least 30 minutes a day
most days of the week
- Exercise helps your body's insulin work
better. It also lowers your blood sugar,
blood pressure and cholesterol.
Use Medicines Wisely
- Sometimes people with diabetes need to
take pills or take a shot (insulin). Be sure
to follow the directions.
- Ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist
what your medicines do, when to take
them, and if they have any side effects.
Have your doctor,
pharmacist or nurse report
serious problems with
medicines or medical
devices to the FDA at
1-800-FDA-1088
Check Your Blood Sugar and Know Your ABCs
- Help prevent heart disease and stroke
by controlling your blood sugar, blood
pressure, and cholesterol.
- Make a plan with your doctor, nurse or
pharmacist.
- Check your blood sugar using a meter
(home testing kit). This tells what your
blood sugar is so you can make wise
choices.
- Ask your doctor for an A-1-C (A-onesee)
blood test. It measures blood
sugar levels over 2-3 months.
- Talk to your health team about your
ABC's:
A - 1 - C
Blood pressure
Cholesterol
Women and Diabetes
- In the U.S., 9.1 million women have
diabetes and 3 million of them don't
even know it.
- Women who have diabetes are more
likely to have a miscarriage or a baby
with birth defects.
- Women with diabetes are more likely
to be poor which makes it harder to
manage the disease.
Heart Disease
and Stroke
- Women with diabetes are more likely
to have a heart attack and have it at a
younger age.
- Most people with diabetes die from
heart attack or stroke.
Are You at Risk for Diabetes?
[ ] Are you overweight?
[ ] Do you get little or no exercise?
[ ] Do you have high blood pressure (130/80 or higher)?
[ ] Do you have a brother or sister with diabetes?
[ ] Do you have a parent with diabetes?
[ ] Are you a woman who had diabetes when you were pregnant OR have you had a baby who weighed more than 9 pounds at birth?
[ ] Are you African American, Native American, Hispanic, or Asian American/Pacific Islander?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, ask
your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist if you need a
diabetes test.
Warning Signs
[ ] Going to the bathroom a lot
[ ] Feeling hungry or thirsty all the time
[ ] Blurred vision
[ ] Lose weight without trying
[ ] Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal
[ ] Feeling tired all the time
[ ] Tingling/numbness in the hands or feet
Most people with diabetes do not notice any
signs.
This document was developed by FDA's Office of
Women's Health (OWH), the National Association of
Chain Drug Stores (NACDS), and the American
Diabetes Association (ADA). The OWH, NACDS, and
the ADA thank all of the participating organizations
that have assisted in its reproduction and
distribution.
Take Time To Care…
About Diabetes
For more information:
1-800-DIABETES
(1-800-342-2383)
www.fda.gov/womens
www.diabetes.org
www.nacds.org