Proper Self-Care Helps to Reduce Risk for Complications from Diabetes

Thursday, November 14, 2002

ROCHESTER, Minn. — If you have diabetes, you know that treating your disease isn't a job that you can delegate solely to your physician. It takes teamwork. Your health-care team will provide you with helpful advice, information and care, but it's up to you to follow through. You are in the driver's seat when it comes to reducing your risk for complications related to diabetes.

It's important to remember you want to prevent complications rather than simply respond when they occur. In addition to your routine diabetes management, Mayo Clinic on Managing Diabetes provides the following tips to help maintain a regular treatment plan and reduce your risk for developing complications related to diabetes.

* Have yearly physicals — Beyond your regular checkups to monitor your diabetes treatment, have a thorough physical exam once a year.

* Have yearly eye exams — It's important to see an eye specialist annually to catch diabetes-related vision problems early, when they can still be treated. Make sure your eye specialist knows you have diabetes and you are being treated for it.

* See your dentist regularly — High blood sugar can impair your immune system from fighting off bacteria and viruses that cause infections. Your gums are a common site of infection.

* Keep your vaccinations up-to-date — You may be more prone to getting influenza and pneumonia because high blood sugar can weaken your immune system. You are also likely to experience more serious effects from these infections than people who don't have diabetes.

* Take care of your feet — Diabetes can cause two potentially dangerous threats to your feet: nerve damage and reduced blood flow. Nerve damage can decrease your pain sensation, and reduced blood flow can make it harder for sores to heal. Unnoticed sores on your feet can quickly develop into larger problems.

* Don't smoke — If you smoke and have diabetes, you are three times more likely to die of heart disease or stroke than nonsmokers with diabetes.

Diabetes is a serious and increasingly common illness. Today, more than ever, physicians are aware of what it takes to control diabetes to help you live a healthy and productive life. However, successful management of diabetes requires teamwork and a lifelong commitment.

Mayo Clinic Health Information is offering a free booklet with healthy recipes for people with diabetes. To receive your free copy of "20 Tasty Recipes for People with Diabetes," write to Mayo Clinic Communications 20 Tasty Recipes Booklet Offer — OE-6, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905. To order Mayo Clinic on Managing Diabetes for $14.95 and receive the booklet free with your order, call 800-291-1128 and mention order code 362. Mayo Clinic on Managing Diabetes was published as part of Mayo Clinic's commitment to providing quality health information. Revenues from this book help support Mayo Clinic's medical research and education programs.

Carol Lammers
507-284-5005 (days)
507-284-2511(evenings)
email:newsbureau@mayo.edu

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