Welcome

Welcome to the brand new patient education program brought to you by the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Many know our highly successful Family Doctor publication. This is a follow-up program created to provide topic-focused publications, which address the real medical issues people face today.

The aim of this publication is to help people:
• Stay healthy
• Keep fit
• Avoid illness
• Manage chronic diseases

You can visit www.familydoctor.org and click on Living with Diabetes where you can access a digital version of this publication that has been enhanced with embedded videos to help your understanding of health issues.

For information about future publications, please send us an e-mail at:
AskFamilyDoctor@bostonhannah.com


Disclaimer
Neither this book nor its contents constitute an explicit or implied endorsement by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) or by Boston Hannah International of the products or services mentioned in advertising or editorial content. The editorial content in this publication does not necessarily represent policies or recommendations by AAFP. This publication is not intended to be exhaustive. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, neither AAFP nor Boston Hannah International shall have any liability for any errors or omissions. Readers who may have questions should consult their health care providers or other competent sources of information and guidance.


If you’ve recently been diagnosed with diabetes, you may be wondering how it will affect the way you live. Yes, you will have to make some changes. But many people learn to manage their diabetes and lead long, healthy, active lives. Getting the facts about medicine, blood sugar, diet and exercise can help you live with diabetes — and live well.

What is diabetes?
Your body changes most of the food you eat into glucose (a form of sugar). Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that allows glucose to enter all the cells of your body and be used as energy. Diabetes is a disease that occurs when a person’s body doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use insulin properly — the sugar builds up in your blood instead of moving into the cells.

Related symptoms?
The early stages of diabetes have few symptoms, so it may be hard to tell if you have the disease. But damage may already be happening to your eyes, your kidneys and your cardiovascular system even before you notice symptoms.

Symptoms of diabetes may include:
• Blurry vision
• Dry, itchy skin
• Extreme thirst or hunger
• Frequent or recurring skin, gum, bladder or vaginal yeast infections
• Frequent urination
• Sores or bruises that heal slowly
• Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
• Unexplained weight loss
• Unusual tiredness or drowsiness


Knowing the facts
Being diagnosed with diabetes doesn’t have to impact on your quality of living. Increasing your awareness is the key to a happy, fulfilled life — diabetes or no diabetes.

There are two types of diabetes:

Type 1 Diabetes
Once known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin, a hormone needed to allow sugar (glucose) to enter cells to produce energy.

Type 2 Diabetes
Often called non-insulin dependent diabetes, type 2 diabetes is the most common form of the disease. Insulin is produced, but the boy does not produce enough or it cannot use the insulin properly.
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