Living With Diabetes 2009

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YOU THINK
OFLIVING WITH DIABETES 2009?
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Living with Diabetes | 15
TRAVEL TIPS
WHEN YOU RELY ON INSULIN OR MEDICINE AND A CAREFUL DIET, TRAVEL CAN SEEM A BIT DAUNTING. BELOW
ARE SOME WAYS YOU CAN KEEP YOUR TRIPS TROUBLE-FREE.
W
ith a little planning,
diabetes should not slow Have you found
down your travels. And,
for the most part, diabetes should
have little or no effect on your career.
People who have diabetes work a
variety of jobs in every ﬁ eld. If your
blood sugar is hard to control, you
can ask for certain accommodations, Schedule a Ask for a doctor’s Ask ahead about
such as a regular work schedule, check-up before note explaining health-friendly
meal breaks or a place to test your you travel your condition meals
blood sugar.
Living with Diabetes
Wear a medical Get all needed Pack extra insulin
ID bracelet immunizations and medicine
educational?
Li
vi
ng w
Bring an extra Keep insulin Pack some
prescription cool healthy snacks D
ith
IA
Keep medicine and supplies with you
where they can’t get lost. If you are
ﬂ ying, carry your medicine on board
with you, rather than packing it in your
checked luggage.
Is there anything not
B
Pa
E
rt of
the
T
AAF
P P
E
atien
t E
S
duca
tion
Prog
ram
22 | Living with Diabetes
DIABETES covered you’d like to
TREATMENT
THE ARRAY OF INSULIN TYPES AND HOW TO TAKE THEM IS NO DOUBT CONFUSING AT FIRST. HERE’S SOME
ADVICE ON SELF-INJECTION AND INSULIN ADMINISTRATION TO MAKE THE SUBJECT CLEARER.
A
ll people who have
type 1 diabetes and
some people who read about?
me
dici
ne
pre
ven
tio
have type 2 diabetes need n
to take insulin to help
control blood sugar levels.
The goal of taking insulin
is to keep your blood sugar
level in a normal range as
much as possible so you’ll
stay healthy. Insulin can’t
be taken by mouth. It’s
usually taken by injections
(shots). It can also be taken r
using an insulin pen or an
insulin pump.
different types of insulin
5-15 30-60 1-4 1-10
minutes minutes hours hours Have we given you
isk
fac
tors
trea
tme
nt
Rapid-acting Short-acting Intermediate- Long-acting Pre-mixed
insulin lispro, regular (R) insulin acting insulin glargine insulin
insulin aspart and Starts working in insulin NPH (N) and insulin A combination
insulin glulisine 30 to 60 minutes human detemir of two types of
Begins to work in and lasts three to Starts working in Starts working insulin (usually an
ﬁ ve to 15 minutes eight hours. one to four hours within one to 10 intermediate-acting
and lasts two to and lasts 12 to hours and lasts up insulin and a rapid- or
ﬁ ve hours. 18 hours. to 24 hours. short-acting insulin).
Rapid-acting insulin should be Rapid-acting insulin can be more injections — sometimes they end helpful advice about
injected no more than 15 minutes convenient to take than regular up eating too early or too late. Then
before you eat. Your doctor will tell insulin. With regular insulin, you they don’t achieve the best blood
you how much insulin to inject. inject the insulin and then wait sugar control. Since rapid-acting
Remember, you should not wait 30 to 60 minutes before eating. insulin is taken so close to meals,
more than 15 minutes to eat after Many people ﬁ nd it hard to time it may help you control your blood
you take this insulin shot. their meals around regular insulin sugar better.
how to handle your
nut
ritio
n
exe
rcis
e
Living with Diabetes | 27
RECOGNIZING SIGNS OF LOW
BLOOD SUGAR
diabetes?
help
ing
oth
e
k
r
P
eople who have diabetes may or if you don’t eat on time. If you took too much insulin, it is called an s
ids a
n
have times when their blood use insulin and take too much, this insulin reaction. Most people who d
d
i

asugar level is too low. This may also cause low blood sugar. Low take insulin have insulin reactions at be
tes
can happen if you exercise more blood sugar is called hypoglycemia. some time. Signs of hypoglycemia or
than usual, if you don’t eat enough If hypoglycemia occurs because you an insulin reaction are listed below.
Do you now feel
brough
t to you by
Feeling very tired Frequent yawning Being unable to speak or Loss of muscle Sweating
think clearly coordination
Twitching Seizures Suddenly feeling like Becoming very pale Loss of consciousness
you’re going to pass out better prepared to
People who have diabetes should reaction. The following are examples acting carbohydrate, or if monitoring
carry at least 15 grams of a fast-acting of quick sources of energy that can shows that your blood sugar level is
carbohydrate with them at all times relieve the symptoms. If you don’t feel still too low, have another 15 grams
in case of hypoglycemia or an insulin better 15 minutes after having a fast- of a fast-acting carbohydrate.
manage your illness?
Nondiet soda Fruit juice Fruit Milk Candy Glucose tablets
½ to ¾ cup ½ cup Two tablespoons One cup Five Lifesavers Three tablets
of raisins (5g each)
The more you tell us, the more we can help!
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AAFP Filler ad2.indd 1 14/9/09 17:38:07
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