Diabetes is a chronic medical condition resulting in high blood sugar (glucose) levels in the mothers who have gestational diabetes are more likely to …
Diabetes
Facts for Older Adults with Diabetes
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This brochure was produced by Pfizer and RAND to improve the quality of care for older adults
Diabetes
A common disease affecting more than 10 of Americans over age 65
What is diabetes?
This information is intended for educational purposes to improve the general knowledge of diabetes It is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions, is not a substitute for regular medical checkups, and does not replace individualized medical judgment of a healthcare professional If you have a question relating to your health, you should consult your doctor or other healthcare provider This information does not suggest or recommend the use of any Pfizer pharmaceutical product RAND does not manufacture, distribute, or endorse specific pharmaceuticals or other medical products
Diabetes is a disease in which the blood sugar is elevated or too high Almost all older adults who develop this disease have what is called Type 2 diabetes Type 2 diabetes occurs because the body cannot properly use the insulin it makes called insulin resistance Also, the body cannot produce enough insulin to overcome the
bodys resistance to insulin Insulin is a hormone that converts sugar, starches, and other food into energy for daily life It is a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar
Why is controlling diabetes important?
Besides having higher amounts of sugar in their blood, older adults with Type 2 diabetes are more likely to have higher blood pressure, higher cholesterol and triglyceride fat levels, erectile dysfunction, and infections that do not heal quickly Compared with people the same age who do not have Type 2 diabetes, older adults with diabetes are at least twice as likely to suffer from heart attacks, stroke, and kidney failure Proper treatment of diabetes may help avoid these complications
Facts About Diabetes You Can Use
Control your blood sugar today, enjoy the benefits tomorrow The link between blood sugar control and fewer complications
Lowering your cholesterol can help you prevent heart attacks
People with diabetes whose blood sugar is controlled are likely to have fewer complications You can help prevent damage to your eyes, kidneys, and nerves by maintaining good blood sugar control
You can keep tabs on your blood sugar control
People with diabetes are at high risk of
having heart attacks Decreasing cholesterol and fat in your blood stream makes a heart attack less likely Diet, together with cholesterol and fatlowering medications, can help decrease your risk of heart attack and lower the risk of stroke and blood vessel diseases
Watch for kidney disease and treat it early
The level of sugar in your blood can be measured Your doctor can test the level of sugar in your blood at the time that blood is taken from your finger or by a regular blood test Using a simple monitor, you can do this test at home to check yourself daily or at different times of the day Using a regular blood test, your doctor also can test the overall control of your blood sugar during the past couple of months This long-ter 
m sugar test is also called a glycosylated hemoglobin or hemoglobin A1c test Using the results of this test, your doctor can help you understand how well your sugar is controlled Your doctor can also use the results to design a plan to improve control if your sugar is too high
Controlling your blood pressure is also important
An annual urine test can detect early damage to your kidneys from diabetes If protein is present in your urine, treatment with a
medication called an ACE Inhibitor can help delay the development of kidney disease
Keep your eyes in check get your eyes examined regularly and you will see results
Routine eye exams are extremely important for people with diabetes, because if there is damage to the eye, it can be detected early and treated If you notice any of the following symptoms, tell your healthcare provider immediately Symptoms of eye problems: Blurred or double vision Narrowed field of vision Seeing dark spots Difficulty seeing in dim light Be sure to have a complete eye exam once a year, done by an eye specialist
Keep your feet healthy
High blood pressure puts a strain on your heart, blood vessels, and kidneys The constant strain can damage these parts of your body, leading to heart problems, strokes, kidney failure, and other complications By controlling your blood pressure, you can reduce the risk of such damage In fact, blood pressure control is as important as blood sugar control in reducing the risk of complications
People with diabetes are prone to foot problems Because you may have lost some feeling in your feet, you may injure your feet and not be aware of it Taking care of your feet
includes cleaning them each day, checking for cuts or sores and always wearing shoes that fit well People with diabetes should see a foot care specialist on a regular basis
Questions For My Healthcare Provider
What is the cholesterol and fat triglyceride level in my blood? What should it be? Do I need to improve it? If so, how? Are my kidneys okay? Have I had a test to check for protein in my urine? If I do have protein in my urine, am I being treated with an ACE Inhibitor medication? Should I be taking an aspirin every day? Ask yourself: Have I had my eyes checked in the last year? Ask your doctor: Have my eyes been damaged by diabetes? If so, what can I do about it?
Write your questions here:
The following are questions you can ask your doctor If you think of additional questions, write them in the space provided
How do I know if Im controlling my blood sugar? What is the result of my long-term sugar test glycosylated hemoglobin test? Is my test result too high? What should it be? If my glycosylated hemoglobin level is too high, what can I do to lower it? Am I controlling my diabetes well enough to minimize my risk for complications? Is my blood pressure controlled? What
should it be? Should my blood pressure get checked every time I go to the doctor?
P0003029C 2001 Pfizer Inc All rights reserved Printed in USA April 2001
Design: Pfizer Graphics, NY
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