November is Diabetes Month

November 25, 2016

November is indeed Diabetes Month. 

As the winter months set in, the Mobile Diabetes Telemedicine Clinic will begin its ‘circuit’ of CSFS communities. CSFS communities represent 11 of the approximately 50 communities the clinic visits on a yearly basis. CSFS is lucky to have a group of experienced Diabetes Nurses willing to work with those looking to attain better control of their health, and gain access to important check-ups and education. This month the mobile diabetes clinic begins with visits to the Burns Lake Band, Stellaquo, and WFN – please contact CHR or Community Health Nurse in these communities to book an appointment. Since November is Diabetes month, we thought we would touch upon 3 common thoughts/questions people ask. Some people believe they are TRUE some people believe they are FALSE. Let’s get to them:

1.  Bad Diabetes is the kind where you have to take insulin?  True or False

False.   The only “bad diabetes” is diabetes that is uncontrolled, and can become dangerous to your health. Uncontrolled diabetes means diabetes where blood sugars are consistently above the ‘safe range.’ For instance, 2 hours after eating, blood sugars should be less than 10, and before eating less than 7.    Does that mean we are going to die if blood sugars go above this? – NO. But, patterns of high blood sugars over a period of time can lead to the problems with one’s eyes, kidneys, heart, and feet. In fact, many people who take insulin or pills often have better control of their diabetes than those who do not.  Taking insulin or pills is certainly not a sign of “bad diabetes” since often medications are what help people gain control of their diabetes.   Medications are really TOOLS to help people with diabetes.

2. People with diabetes can’t eat Sugar?  True or False

False. Don’t let anyone ever tell you this! Without sugar, we could very well be dead, and there is very small amounts of sugar in most food groups. Sugar is our ‘fuel.’  The problem for people with diabetes is controlling the amount of sugar (fuel) in their blood so it remains at safe levels. For instance, between 4 – 8.  People with diabetes CAN eat sugar, and NEED sugar – its unavoidable.  Choosing when, and how much is what can become hard to do and often requires the help of others.

3.  You can have a ‘Touch of Diabetes.’ ? True or False

True. This may be a surprise to many.  We get this question a lot - a ‘touch of diabetes’ or ‘borderline diabetes’ or ‘Pre-Diabetes’ – they all point to the same thing, but the correct term is Pre-diabetes.  If someone tells you you have Prediabetes, it means you are much more likely to develop diabetes than someone with no diabetes.  It means, you have slightly more sugar in your blood day-to-day than someone without diabetes, but not enough to say you HAVE diabetes.  Make sense?  Some people have a greater likelihood of developing Pre-diabetes or Diabetes based on their family genetics, lifestyle (food / exercise options), stress factors, and access to the right information.  Some of these factors affect some people more strongly than others.  For instance, we meet many people with Pre-diabetes who live a healthy lifestyle but still develop diabetes because it runs strongly in their family, yet for others, changes to their lifestyle has helped them ‘fend off’ diabetes for many years.

Remember, Two of the MOST COMMON signs of uncontrolled or undiagnosed diabetes are:

• EXTREME pee:    Going pee more often that what is your normal (e.g., every half hour).

Why?   Because there is too much sugar in your blood, and your kidney’s work to get rid of it through your urine and takes the water in your blood with it!

• EXTREME thirst:   Many days of feeling thirsty more often than what is normal for you

Why?  Since you are peeing so much from the high sugar above, and also losing water, THIRST sets in to replace the water loss. 

Want to know about our Mobile Diabetes Program, or get info to schedule a screening, prevention and management event in your community? Check out the Mobile Diabetes page on our website.  

Return