ABC: Achieving Better Blood Sugar Control Group Meeting

We will…..

•Encourage everyone to participate•Answer all questions •Share experiences•Set goals•Get all your regular diabetic monitoring done and fill your prescriptions•Teach you the ABCs of Diabetes

To begin…….

• What question(s) do you need to have answered with regard to your condition?

• Question to ask yourself– What do you need to know to control your

diabetes.

The “Truth about Diabetes” quizTrue or False?

You can tell how well you are doing with your diabetes by:

1. How well you eat?2. How much medicine you take?3. How you feel?

ABCs of diabetes

A1c and blood sugar

Blood pressure

Cholesterol

ABCs not controlled can lead too….

• Blindness• Amputation• Kidney Failure• Nerve Damage• Heart attack• Stroke

Healthy Lifestyle is the first step!

• Don’t smoke unless it is for spiritual reasons.

• Eat healthy foods• Get regular exercise• Manage your stress and

spirituality

A1C Test

• An important test for people with diabetes.• Gives a measure of one’s average blood

sugar for the prior 2-3 months.

7% or less Excellent control

More than 7% Needs improvement

A = A1C and blood sugar

If A1C is: Average blood sugar has been:5% 5.06% 6.07% 7.08% 8.09% 9.0

10% 10.011% 11.012% 12.0

Medicine for blood sugar control

• An important tool for you• Not a sign of failure• Different types of pills

work in different ways• Includes insulin for many

B = Blood Pressure“Medicine for blood pressure”

• Lisinopril (or Cozaar)• Plus other BP meds for

many• Target blood pressure:

Less than 130/80• Diet (low salt) & exercise• Weight Loss (if BMI>25)

C = Cholesterol“Medicine for cholesterol”

• Statins – help lower LDL cholesterol– Rosuvastatin (Crestor)– Simvastatin (Zocor)– Lovastatin

• Target LDL: Less than 2.0

• Diet, Exercise & Weight Loss (if BMI > 25)

BMI?

Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to adult men and women.

Aspirin

Benefit:Lowers risk for heart attack

Dose (for most):81mg

Note: if you have a history of bleeding (ulcers, bruising, diverticular bleeding), let your health professional know.

Importance of insulin

• A hormone made by the pancreas that is necessary for life

• Helps move sugar from the blood to the body cells

• Without enough insulin, sugar will build in blood and cause harm to body tissues and deprive cells of glucose which is needed for energy and metabolism.

http://www.youtube.com/v/V1LjRi8Nvv4

Questions????

Safety note:Sharps disposal

• Don’t ever put lancets or needles in regular trash

• Put used ‘sharps’ in a tough plastic container or a ‘sharps’ container (available at some pharmacies)

• Take the containers to an approved collection site (many pharmacies accept ‘sharps’ and landfill dumps will accept them)

The End…….or…the beginning? The mind boggling “Heart Nebula”