Bolujem od dijabetesa tip 2
I have type 2 diabetes
Questions and answers
Pitanja i odgovori
What does having diabetes mean?
When you find out that you have diabetes, it iscompletely natural to
react with many differentkinds of emotions. We hope that this brochure
can help you in someway.
Diabetes is diagnosed when your blood sugar in the morn-ing, before you eat, is
more than 7.0 mmol/l*, on two different occasions.
People who do not have diabetes have blood sugar in the morning of between
3-5 mmol/l. After a meal, this level can rise to 8-10 mmol/l.
There are different types of diabetes. The most common are type 1 and type 2.
In Sweden, around 4-5% of the population have diabetes, and of these around
85-90% have type 2 diabetes.
* mmol/l - blood sugar measurement
What is the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes?
Insulin is a hormone that regulates the level of sugar in your blood.
Type 1 diabetes
People with type 1 diabetes lack the ability to produce insulin, so they have to
receive insulin from the time that they are diagnosed.
Type 2 diabetes
People with type 2 diabetes still produce their own insulin. However, their bodies
do not produce enough insulin, their insulin is less effective and/or they have low
insulin sensitivity.
Why do we need insulin?
Your muscle cells, for example, need energy to work properly. Some of the food
that you eat is converted in your stomach and intestines into sugar - energy that
is then absorbed in the blood.
Insulin opens up the cells to allow the sugar to flow in, which means that the
sugar content in your blood falls. Without insulin, the sugar would remain in the
blood and your blood sugar would rise.
Your blood sugar can also rise because your liver produces sugar if your insulin
level is low or if you have low insulin sensitivity.
What are the symptoms of high and low blood sugar?
High blood sugar (hyperglycaemia)
• Fatigue
• Thirst
• Frequent urination
• Calf cramps
• Blurred vision
• Dry mouth
• ……………………………………
• ……………………………………
• ……………………………………
Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia)
• Heart palpitations
• Cold sweating
• Trembling
• Hunger
• Headache
• Dizziness
• ……………………………………
• ……………………………………
• ……………………………………
How is diabetes treated?
Treatment aims at maintaining blood sugar levels be-tween 5-10 mmol/l
throughout the day.
Diabetes is a lifelong illness and the basic treatment for type2 diabetesis diet and
exercise. Eating correctly and exercis-ing can have a positive effect on your blood
sugar levels.
Over time you will produce less insulin and the effective-ness of your insulin will
get worse. When diet and exer-cise are not enough by themselves, you will start
beingtreated with tablets.
Some tablets increase insulin production
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Others increase insulin sensitivity
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Some tablets delay sugar absorption from your intestines
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Gradually, the majority of people who suffer from diabetesneed to be treated
with insulin injections, often in combina-tion with tablets. In acute cases, insulin
treatment may needto be started as soon as the condition has been diagnosed.
How should I eat?
The plate model shows a good balance of the food that you should eat. Divide the
food over the day and remember that the portion sizes must be adapted to each
person!
How should I eat?
The plate model shows a good
balance of the food that you
RICE
should
eat. VEGETABLES
PASTA
ROOT VEGEPOTATOES
BREAD
TABLES
FRUIT
BERRIES
Divide the food over the day
and remember that the portion sizes FISH
must be adapted to
MEAT
each person!
EGGS
Lunch
RICE
PASTA
POTATOES
BREAD
VEGETABLES
ROOT VEGETABLES
FRUIT
BERRIES
FISH
MEAT
EGGS
Snack
Snack
Breakfast
Dinner
Supper
®
key
symbol that
shows
alterThe key symbolThe
shows
alter-natives
are low
in fat andrich in fibre.
natives that are low in fat and
rich in fibre.
8
What is exercise?
You can improve your well-being and fitness by doingregular exercise. When you
exercise, you use energy, youburn up more sugar and your blood sugar falls.
Exercise should be fun! It is important that you adapt theactivity to what you
yourself can manage.
Remember!
Walking, cleaning and gardening are also forms of exercise.
Make exercise part of your daily routine!
When and why should I testmy blood sugar?
It is importantthat you learn to test your blood sugarand that you can interpret the
results. This helps you tounderstand what can affect your blood sugar.
If you would like to know how a meal affects your bloodsugar, take a reading
before a meal and 1-2 hours after ameal. If your blood sugar rises considerably,
this could bedue to:
• what you have eaten
• how much you have eaten
• what you drank with your meal.
You can also do the same when you are exercising. Take your blood sugar reading
before you go out for your daily walk and then again when you come home. You
will then see what effect the exercise has had. By increasing your knowledge, you
will be able to control your diabetes and your life!
How is your diabetes followed up?
The national guidelines drawn up by the National Boardof Health and Welfare in
Sweden mean that you haveaccess to a good standard of diabetes care. When
youvisit your doctor or diabetes nurse, you will have the fol-lowing tests and
examinations, which will be followed upregularly.
• HbA1c*
• Microalbuminuria**
• Blood fats
• Blood pressure
• Weight check
• Foot status
• Eye test
2-4 times a year
Once a year
Once a year
Once/twice a year
Every visit
Once a year
Every two years
*a measurement of your blood sugar level over the past6-8 weeks.
**microscopic albumin in your urine.
Questions and thoughts
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If you have any questions, please contact
Hospital/healthcare centretel:
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Diabetes nursetel:
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Diabetes doctortel:
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GRØSET 11.13.B.SE
Bayer AB
Diabetes Care
Box 606
169 26 Solna
Kundsupport: 020-83 00 84
E-mail: [email protected]