Edwin Lee, M.D.,F.A.C.E

This year, more than 213,000 people will die from diabetes and its related complications.  Unfortunately being a diabetic puts you at a higher risk of dying early with heart disease. More than 65% of people with diabetes will die of heart disease or stroke, and they are likely to die younger than people who do not have diabetes. According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetics are 2 to 4 times more likely to have heart disease (more than 77,000 deaths due to heart disease annually) and 2 to 4 times more likely to suffer a stroke. Heart disease death rates are also 2 to 4 times as high as adults without diabetes.

There are approximately 18 million Americans with diabetes and 1/3 of them do not know that they have this disease.  The prevalence increases with age and half of all diabetes cases occur in people older than 55 years of age.  About 9 million Americans over age 60 have diabetes.  

The symptoms of diabetes include excessive thirst, urination, weight loss, tiredness, blurry vision and irritability.  A blood test is required to diagnose diabetes. If a fasting blood test shows that glucose is between 100 mg/dl and 125 mg/dl  you have pre diabetes and if it is over 125 mg/dl  then you have diabetes.  Diabetes can also be diagnosed if the non-fasting blood glucose is over 200mg/dl.

To prevent the complications of diabetes which include heart disease, stroke, vision loss/blindness, amputations and kidney disease, one needs to do many things.  The most important tool in treating diabetes is education and you can learn more about diabetes with a *10 hour education class at Winter Haven Hospital. One needs also to have a blood test every 3 to 4 months to check  his/her HbgA1c (or A1C)  which represents a 3 month glucose “average” .  The goal is an A1C of  6.5% or less.  Self monitoring  blood glucose at home, keeping a log book  and taking the log book to the  physician are also important tools in managing diabetes. Medicare will reimburse for a glucose meter  and test strips when prescribed by a physician. Goals for blood sugars at home are a fasting  of less than 120mg/dl and 2 hours after eating less than 160mg/dl.  

Other  important issues to prevent heart disease are to have your cholesterol checked and the goal is to have the LDL Cholesterol (bad) less than 100 and the HDL cholesterol (good) over 40 and the triglycerides (other type of cholesterol) less than 150.  Blood pressure should be less than 130/80 at the doctor’s office and a urine microalbumin needs to done at least once a year to screen for kidney disease.  Also a yearly dilated eye exam is imperative to screen for eye disease, since the most common cause of blindness in the US is from diabetes.  One last piece of advice is to try to exercise daily and to keep your weight down.  I have a 90 year old woman that walks  1 mile every day and also enjoys riding her stationary bicycle.  (It should be noted of course that before starting any exercise program, one must first check with his/her physician.)  Best of luck in getting your A1C to less than 6.5%.