What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the body doesn’t produce any or enough insulin — a hormone that regulates the movement of sugar into your cells — or cannot effectively use the insulin it produces.
What is type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease resulting from the body’s ineffective use of insulin. With type 2 diabetes, your body either resists the effects of insulin or doesn't produce enough insulin to maintain normal glucose levels. While some people can control their blood sugar levels with healthy eating and exercise, others may need medication to manage it.
What are the signs of type 2 diabetes?
Signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes often develop slowly. In fact, you can have type 2 diabetes for years and not know it. Frequent symptoms are increased thirst or hunger, frequent urination, unintended weight loss or fatigue.
What causes type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes is often linked to being overweight or inactive, or having a family history of type 2 diabetes. You can get type 2 diabetes at any age, but you are at a higher risk if you are older.
Prediabetes, does it mean I have a disease?
‘Prediabetes' is a term increasingly used for people with impaired glucose tolerance and/or impaired fasting glucose. It signifies a risk of future development of type 2 diabetes and diabetes-related complications.
Can I prevent or cure type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes can be effectively managed through education, support and adoption of healthy lifestyles, combined with medication and glucose monitoring as required. Evidence shows that type 2 diabetes can be prevented and can be put into remission.
Can I prevent or cure prediabetes?
Lifestyle changes like exercising and weight loss can return glucose levels to a normal range and prevent progression to type 2 diabetes.
What is HbA1c?
This is a blood test, usually performed in the laboratory, which provides you with a picture of your average blood sugar level over the past two to three months. The higher the levels, the greater your risk of developing diabetes complications. The general target should be less than 7% (53 mmol/mol). Lower HbA1c targets are desirable. Values above 8% (64 mmol/mol) are generally unacceptable.
Is HbA1c test enough to control my diabetes?
HbA1c provides only an approximate measure of glucose control. It does not address when glucose fluctuations occur during the day and overtime. Glucose profiles along with HbA1c will show you the whole picture.
Why do HbA1c values matter?
Higher HbA1c values are associated with increased risk of healthcare complications. Each 1% reduction in HbA1c is associated with reductions in risk of 14% for myocardial infarction, 21% for deaths related to diabetes and 37% for microvascular complications such as retinopathy or renal failure.
What is self-management in diabetes?
Self-management is the set of knowledge, skills, attitudes and lifestyles that allow you to manage your condition to obtain optimal metabolic control according to your needs, resources and capabilities.
How important is monitoring my glucose as part of diabetes self-management?
Glucose monitoring helps you evaluate your body’s response to foods, medications, and physical activity. You may drive your diabetes management and have more meaningful conversations with your diabetes team.
Frequent glucose monitoring helps you reduce the risk of complications
What are the recommendations for good glucose levels?
Glucose targets will be always defined based on individual patient considerations. As a general reference, some guidelines propose:
- Blood glucose before a meal: 4.4-7.2 mmol/L (80–130 mg/dL)
- Blood glucose (1-2 hours) after a meal : ≤10 mmol/L (≤180 mg/dL).
How frequently should I check my glucose levels?
Structured glucose monitoring is the primary tool you have to find out if your blood glucose levels are within the target range you have discussed and agreed with your healthcare professionals. They will help you define the right number of glucose profiles you should test to make appropriate pharmacologic and/or lifestyle adjustments.
Does frequent glucose monitoring have an impact on my HbA1c?
Clinical studies have proven that the more frequent people monitor their glucose levels, the higher chance to reach their HbA1c objective. This is applicable to all types of diabetes and treatments.
How would glucose monitoring affect my quality of life?
Frequent glucose monitoring is associated with decreased diabetes complications in type 2 diabetes and therefore with a better quality of life.
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