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Frequently Asked QuestionsStaying Healthy with Diabetes
These publications were sources for this document: National Diabetes Fact Sheet 2003 Take Charge of Your Diabetes If You Have Diabetes, A Flu Shot Can Save Your Life NCCDPHP Nutrition & Physical Activity Recommendations Your Guide to Diabetes Type 1 and Type 2 Prevent Diabetes Problems: Keep Your Diabetes Under Control What I Need to Know About Physical Activity and Diabetes Insulin Resistance and Pre-Diabetes 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:
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 as a service to our users. Links do not constitute an endorsement of any organization by CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred. The CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organization Web pages found at this link. Return to Frequently Asked Questions
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 |