Diabetes Awareness Month
Diabetes is a chronic disease in which the body either cannot produce insulin or cannot properly use the insulin it produces. Do you know that more than 20 people in Canada are newly diagnosed with Diabetes every hour of every day? The odds are that everyone knows someone with this disease, so it important that everyone understand the facts.
Diabetes Myths and Facts
MYTH: When my blood sugars are at a good level, I can stop taking my diabetes medication
FACT: When blood glucose reaches the ranges that you and your health care team have agreed upon and you are not having low blood sugar reactions, you know the you are on the right amount of diabetes medication. In this situation, continue to take your medication as ordered. However, if you find that you are having low blood sugar reactions, you will need to contact your health care team to reduce your diabetes medication.
MYTH: Insulin causes complications like blindness
FACT: The only side effect insulin causes is low blood sugar or hypoglycemia, which occurs if you take too much insulin, eat less than usual or skip a meal or are much more active than usual. Many years ago, people with diabetes did not begin taking insulin until they had already developed complications. Today with improved blood glucose testing meters and newer insulins, people are placed on insulin much sooner so that complications can be prevented.
MYTH: Increasing the amount of diabetes medications or insulin I take to bring my blood sugars to a good level means my diabetes is getting worse
FACT: Diabetes is a chronic disease that you will have all your life. Over many years, the ability of the pancreas to secrete enough insulin to maintain good blood glucose control decreases. It often becomes necessary to add another diabetes pill or insulin to maintain good blood glucose control. Other factors can increase blood sugars and require you to increase your diabetes medications. When you have an illness or fever or take some medications such as prednisone for arthritis or asthma, you will see blood sugars go up. You may need to take additional diabetes medications or insulin temporarily during these times.
MYTH: Taking insulin means my diabetes is more serious than if I take diabetes pills
FACT: What is important for your health is to take the right medication for your diabetes so that you have good blood sugar control. Over time, the body is less able to keep your blood sugars at good levels. 50% of people with Type 2 diabetes will require insulin to maintain good blood glucose control. It does not mean your diabetes is more serious, just that you need additional medication to keep your blood sugars in control
At St. Joe’s King Campus and West 5th Campus, the Diabetes Clinic see patients daily to help them prevent the onset of diabetes and control their diabetes through counselling, education and awareness. You can learn more about the St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton’s Adult Diabetes Program here
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