This simple-to-use booklet is a worksheet for healthcare professionals to provide to their patients. It enables the patient with diabetes to track the data he or she receives from the monitoring of blood sugar, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, and weight. By using this tool, patients, in consultation with their healthcare professional, can create specific goals, evaluate progress, and reach the target goals to improved health.
Many people are surprised to learn that treating diabetes involves more than keeping blood sugar levels within range. In fact, treating diabetes also includes monitoring and treating total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, and weight.
Type 2 diabetes has two features: resistance (a condition of low insulin sensitivity in which the body cannot successfully lower the blood sugar); and failure of the insulin-producing cells of the to make enough insulin to meet the body's demands. Early in type 2 diabetes, the pancreas tries to make up for the resistance by making 2 to 3 times more insulin than it does in people without diabetes. As the course of progresses, however, the pancreatic cells that make insulin cannot keep up with the high demand for insulin, and the blood sugar level starts to rise. In addition to high blood sugar levels, people with resistance are likely to have other changes in the way the body works. This is called the resistance syndrome, which consists of high blood sugar; high blood pressure; overweight, especially around the middle of the body; high triglyceride levels; and low HDL-cholesterol levels.
This tool is divided so that you can keep track of blood pressure, blood cholesterol, weight, and blood sugar as measured by hemoglobin A1c (the blood test that reflects your blood sugar levels over the last 3 months). You can write down your result for today, your goal, and when the test should be done again. Your plan will help you reach your target goal. Keep in mind that your plan can include healthy actions already in place, such as taking pills for high blood pressure, and actions that you would like to take, such as walking for exercise a few times a week.
By using this tool, you can make choices that will have a beneficial effect on your health.
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Blood glucose levels decrease early in the course of weight loss, at times even before a loss of 5 pounds. |
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If you lower your hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) by just 1% you can decrease the possibility of damage to your eyes from diabetes by at least 30%! |
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Insulin resistance syndrome, an underlying cause of type 2 diabetes, consists of high blood sugar, high blood pressure, weight gain especially in the middle of the body, high levels of triglycerides, and low levels of HDL (good) cholesterol. |
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Walking is an excellent exercise for losing weight as long as you do not increase your food intake. Most people can burn about 200 calories in a 1-hour walk. |
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If you keep your blood glucose at healthy levels (HbA1c less than 7%), you will lower your risk of periodontitis (gum disease). |
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People with diabetes are 2 to 4 times more likely to get heart disease than people without diabetes. Lowering blood fats and blood pressure are ways to reduce the risk. |
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Taking a low dose of daily (81 to 325 mg) can lower your risk of heart disease.
Check with your health professional before beginning aspirin therapy. |
