Diabetes and You

If you already have the disease or could be at risk, here’s what you need to know

If you have Type 2 diabetes or have been told you’re at risk for developing it, you know that small but necessary changes in your lifestyle can bring about big and beneficial results. But how do you start making those changes? And how do you maintain them for the long run?

You Can Do This!

If you have prediabetes, the good news is that with the right changes, you may be able to reverse or delay the development of diabetes. If you already have diabetes, the good news is that you can live well with this condition. You can minimize its effects on your body. It will take work, discipline and commitment to make changes, but it can be done.

Manage Diabetes with the 5 D’s

What exactly does it take to manage your diabetes? While there are a lot of things you can do to live better with diabetes, there are five fundamentals.

The 5 D’s:
1. Doctors
2. Drugs
3. Data
4. Diet
5. Determination

Go to your doctor appointments, take your medications, monitor your health data — which is just a fancy way of keeping track of your key health numbers — and manage your diet. Be determined to stick with the 5 D’s every day. You do these things well, and you live better with diabetes.

If You’ve Recently Been Diagnosed

Maybe you were surprised to hear you have diabetes. It is certainly a life-changing disease. If not well controlled, it can lead to serious health problems. But with three simple lifestyle changes, you can live happier and healthier with diabetes:

1. Educate yourself
Don’t hesitate to ask your providers any questions you have.

2. Eat healthier
If you are overweight, commit to losing 5%–7% of your weight within a year. Changing just a few eating habits can make a difference.

> Check out our recipes in this issue for diabetes-friendly options!

3. Exercise
Aim for 150 minutes of physical activity each week. That’s a little more than 20 minutes a day. It’s OK to start slowly.

If You Have Diabetes

In addition to eating right, staying active and taking your medications, your provider may recommend you get regular screenings, including:

Eye exam
Yearly exams can often help prevent eye problems. An eye doctor will look for signs of diabetic eye disease, such as diabetic retinopathy.

Urine test for protein
Knowing how much albumin, a type of protein, is in your urine can help your provider recommend steps to limit or slow down damage from kidney disease.

Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C)
This test measures your average blood sugar over the past two or three months. The results show how well you and your doctor are managing your condition. It can also help you decide if you need to take further action to lower your risk for complications such as nerve damage, kidney disease and vision impairment.

Bone mineral density
Those with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes have a higher risk of hip fractures and osteoporosis. Therefore, your provider may want to scan your bones to see how dense they are (aka how likely they are to break).

Blood pressure
Having diabetes can raise the risk for high blood pressure, so getting your blood pressure checked regularly can be a good idea.

Blood tests
Because your kidneys remove waste, toxins, and extra fluid from the blood, your provider may use a blood test to check your kidney function. The blood test will show how well your kidneys are doing their job and how quickly the waste is being removed.

One type of blood test used is called the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). The GFR is a measure of how well your kidneys remove waste, toxins and extra fluid from your blood. If your GFR is low, your kidneys are likely not working as they should. As kidney disease progresses, your GFR goes down. Your serum creatinine level, age and sex are used to calculate your GFR number.

Like other kidney tests, a normal GFR number for you will depend on your age and sex.

Know if You’re at Risk

Did you know that nearly half of all Americans 65 and older have prediabetes? That means their blood sugar is higher than normal but not high enough to be classified as Type 2 diabetes. Learning what your diabetes risk is gives you the power to prevent it — or begin controlling it.

To see if you have a potentially higher risk for Type 2 diabetes, check all that apply:

Click here to print this checklist

Bring this list to your next wellness appointment and ask your provider if a quick blood sugar test is in order.

< Previous story__ |__ Next story >

Table of Contents

This publication is for informational purposes only and does not replace the care or advice of a doctor. Always talk with a doctor before beginning any exercise program, therapy or medication. Plans are insured through UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or one of its affiliated companies, a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in the plan depends on the plan’s contract renewal with Medicare. This information is not a complete description of benefits. Contact the plan for more information. Limitations, copayments and restrictions may apply. Benefits, premium and/or copayments/coinsurance may change on January 1 of each year. UnitedHealthcare does not provide any assurances nor accept any responsibility or liability regarding the quality, nutritional value, or safety of the included recipes.