Diabetes is more than just a problem with blood sugar or the body’s inability to And make no mistake diabetes is a predator willing to take your eyesight …
Beat diabetes - manage it
By Ralph Monteagudo, DO, North Basin Medical Clinics
I balance my checkbook My finances are important to me, so I keep track
of where I spend my money and on what Although I take my finances very
seriously, as I know you do too, there is something money cant buy that
takes top priority in my life - my health
Health, even more so than money, needs to be managed - especially by
people with diabetes
Diabetes is more than just a problem with blood sugar or the bodys
inability to make or use insulin properly It is a full-on assault on your
body No system is safe from this predator and the complications it brings
And make no mistake - diabetes is a predator willing to take your eyesight
diabetic retinopathy, your mental capacity stroke, your kidneys kidney
disease or your mobility loss of limbs It will take your very life
heart disease or stroke, but only if you let it
As a healthcare provider, Ive seen many people who dont take diabetes
seriously enough To beat this disease you must manage it How? With our
new C-DEMS Diabetes Management program and these simple steps
1 Know your enemy
Many diabetics underestimate diabetes and its effects
They take their
medication, and as long as theyre feeling good, diabetes is no problem
This attitude is the problem Youre not fighting Youre living with the
enemy and giving it room to move and grow Take back the upper hand
Research diabetes and understand it When you understand your enemy, you
can come up with strategies to defeat it
2 Plan your defensive strategy
Defense is easy Its following your healthcare providers directions
Take your medications exactly as prescribed I cant stress how important
it is to keep to a strict regimen on insulin or other medications that
control your diabetes Even medications for related problems like high
blood pressure should be taken regularly Dont skip Dont take it when
its convenient Take it when youre supposed to
Follow your dietary plan I know this can get very difficult, especially
when it comes to shopping and eating out Learning about exchanges,
diabetic friendly foods and portion sizes is a huge step toward victory If
you find the dietary side of diabetes hard to grasp, talk to your
healthcare provider We can set you up with our staff dietitian, a diabetic
educator or special classes to help you learn what to eat and how to
shop
Exercise The possibilities range from swimming and cycling, to lifting
weights and gardening However, my favorite is walking Walking is not only
easy and inexpensive, but very effective in bringing down blood sugar
levels, lowering high blood pressure and burning calories If you walk one
mile today, try to walk a little further tomorrow Keep building as every
step will bring you closer to better health
And the last but not least important step in defense is to stop
smoking Smoking causes a host of complications If you need help with
this, contact your doctor or the Lincoln County Public Health Department at
509 725-1001 for ideas on how to kick the habit
3 Design your offense
This is where management comes in With the help of your provider, make
a schedule of appointments and tests you need throughout the year and track
your results This includes
Glucose monitoring
A1-C testing every three months to check long-term glucose levels
Vision exam, annually
Full lipid profile including cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides and
kidney function
Diabetic foot extremity exam
Blood pressure check on a schedule directed by your provider
Comprehensive exam
To make this easier for our patients, the providers at North Basin
Medical Clinics have implemented a comprehensive diabetes management
program It uses a computer program, The Chronic Disease Electronic
Management System C-DEMS to track these tests and appointments, and
chart their outcome Not only does your doctor have all your diabetes-
related information on one piece of paper, but you the patient have that
same information in an easy to read and understand format Knowing your
numbers and keeping track of progress is half the battle, and through this
computer program, we can not only be proactive against diabetes, we can win
by living a complication-free life
Ralph Monteagudo, DO is a Board Certified Family Practitioner at Lincoln
Hospital and North Basin Medical Clinics, to find out more about him or our
new Diabetes Management Program, call 509 725-7501 or log on to
wwwlincolnhospitalorg
Source:lincolnhospital.org
