Diabetes

Diabetes is a serious medical condition that can affect your entire body. Nearly 24 million children and adults in the U.S. have been diagnosed with diabetes according to the American Diabetes Association.

The good news is you can avoid problems by seeing your health care provider regularly and learning more about it. When you care for your diabetes, you will have more energy, be less tired and less thirsty.

Types of Diabetes

There are two types of the disease:

• Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults. It is caused when the body doesn't produce enough insulin, a hormone that converts sugars into energy
   
• Type 2 diabetes is the most common. It is caused when your body doesn't produce enough insulin or your cells ignore insulin. Some groups are at a higher risk for developing Type 2 diabetes such as African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asian Americans and other Pacific Islanders, and native Hawaiians. Older adults are also at risk.

Children's Community Health Plan provides tools to help you control your diabetes.

The ABCs of Diabetes:

• A is for A1C test - a blood test that shows how well your blood sugar has been managed over the past three months. Your doctor should check your A1C at least twice a year. If your blood sugar is too high you can have problems with your heart, kidneys, feet and eyes.
• B is for blood pressure - if your blood pressure is high, your heart works too hard causing a heart attack, stroke or kidney problems
• C is for cholesterol - LDL is the "bad" cholesterol in your blood, if your LDL is high it can cause a heart attack or stroke

To speak with our Health Program team, please call 414-266-3173.

• Learn to manage your diabetes.