If you’ve recently been diagnosed with diabetes, you are not alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 8 percent of Americans are affected by diabetes and an estimated 54,000 new cases are diagnosed in New Jersey each year.
Diabetes is a disorder of the endocrine system that causes the body’s blood-sugar levels to be consistently above normal. Type 1 diabetes results from the body’s inability to make insulin and Type 2 results when the body does not respond to the effects of insulin. Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, non-traumatic leg amputations and new cases of blindness among adults in the United States. It also is the major trigger for heart disease and stroke nationwide.
While diabetes and its complications pose serious health threats, there is a lot that you can do to manage your glucose levels and promote a long and healthy life. According to the American Diabetes Association, the first steps in managing the disease are understanding diabetes and building a support team. Your doctor, nurse and pharmacist can help you reach your target blood pressure, cholesterol and blood-sugar levels. A diabetes educator and dietician can help you understand the significant influence that your day-to-day decisions about diet and exercise have on your disease management. In fact, studies show that personalized diabetes education soon after diagnosis can dramatically improve blood-sugar levels.
Family and friends also can be important members of your support team, helping you balance your health and encouraging you along the journey to diabetes-friendly meal planning.
Taking Control of Your Health
Early diagnosis and good self-management can keep the disease in check. You have the power to promote your own good health by:
• Choosing what, how much and when to eat
• Being physically active
• Taking medicines as prescribed
• Checking your blood glucose
• Keeping appointments with the diabetes team
Barnabas Health offers diabetes education and treatment at its facilities across New Jersey. For a referral to an endocrinologist or a diabetes education center near you, call (888) 724-7123.
Common Diabetes Symptoms
• Urinating often
• Feeling very thirsty
• Feeling very hungry, even though you are eating
• Extreme fatigue
• Blurry vision
• Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal
• Weight loss, even though you are eating more (Type 1)
• Tingling, pain or numbness in the hands/feet (Type 2)
Source: American Diabetes Association
Belleville Senior Health Fair: Nov. 6; 9 a.m. to noon, Belleville Senior Center, 125 Franklin Ave. Anupama Adlakha, MD, Internal Medicine, Barnabas Health Medical Group, will discuss “Managing Your Diabetes.”
Meal Preparation and Diabetes - How to Manage Your Blood Sugar: Nov. 15; 10 a.m., Lyndhurst Health Department, 601 Riverside Ave. A Clara Maass Medical Center registered dietician will offer solutions to attendees’ dietary challenges and will increase their knowledge about glucose and insulin. Includes glucose screening.
Adult Diabetes Self-Management Series: Nov. 6, 13, 20; Dec 4; 6 p.m., Barnabas Health Ambulatory Care Center, 200 South Orange Ave., Livingston. Recognized by the American Diabetes Association, the series is fee-for-service and Medicare reimbursement also is accepted. For more information, call (973) 322-7007.