I have type 2 diabetes

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1 Bolujem od dijabetesa tip 2 I have type 2 diabetes Questions and answers Pitanja i odgovori

2 What does having diabetes mean? When you find out that you have diabetes, it iscompletely natural to react with many differentkinds of emotions. We hope that this brochure can help you in someway. Diabetes is diagnosed when your blood sugar in the morn-ing, before you eat, is more than 7.0 mmol/l*, on two different occasions. People who do not have diabetes have blood sugar in the morning of between 3-5 mmol/l. After a meal, this level can rise to 8-10 mmol/l. There are different types of diabetes. The most common are type 1 and type 2. In Sweden, around 4-5% of the population have diabetes, and of these around 85-90% have type 2 diabetes. * mmol/l - blood sugar measurement

3 What is the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes? Insulin is a hormone that regulates the level of sugar in your blood. Type 1 diabetes People with type 1 diabetes lack the ability to produce insulin, so they have to receive insulin from the time that they are diagnosed. Type 2 diabetes People with type 2 diabetes still produce their own insulin. However, their bodies do not produce enough insulin, their insulin is less effective and/or they have low insulin sensitivity.

4 Why do we need insulin? Your muscle cells, for example, need energy to work properly. Some of the food that you eat is converted in your stomach and intestines into sugar - energy that is then absorbed in the blood. Insulin opens up the cells to allow the sugar to flow in, which means that the sugar content in your blood falls. Without insulin, the sugar would remain in the blood and your blood sugar would rise. Your blood sugar can also rise because your liver produces sugar if your insulin level is low or if you have low insulin sensitivity.

5 What are the symptoms of high and low blood sugar? High blood sugar (hyperglycaemia) Fatigue Thirst Frequent urination Calf cramps Blurred vision Dry mouth Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) Heart palpitations Cold sweating Trembling Hunger Headache Dizziness

6 How is diabetes treated? Treatment aims at maintaining blood sugar levels be-tween 5-10 mmol/l throughout the day. Diabetes is a lifelong illness and the basic treatment for type2 diabetesis diet and exercise. Eating correctly and exercis-ing can have a positive effect on your blood sugar levels. Over time you will produce less insulin and the effective-ness of your insulin will get worse. When diet and exer-cise are not enough by themselves, you will start beingtreated with tablets. Some tablets increase insulin production Others increase insulin sensitivity Some tablets delay sugar absorption from your intestines Gradually, the majority of people who suffer from diabetesneed to be treated with insulin injections, often in combina-tion with tablets. In acute cases, insulin treatment may needto be started as soon as the condition has been diagnosed.

7 How should I eat? The plate model shows a good balance of the food that you should eat. Divide the food over the day and remember that the portion sizes must be adapted to each person! How should I eat? The plate model shows a good balance of the food that you RICE should eat. PASTA POTATOES BREAD Divide the food BERRIES over the day and remember that the portion sizes FISH must be adapted to MEAT each person! EGGS VEGETABLES ROOT VEGE- TABLES FRUIT RICE PASTA POTATOES BREAD FISH MEAT EGGS VEGETABLES ROOT VEGE- TABLES FRUIT BERRIES Lunch Snack Snack Breakfast Dinner Supper The key symbol The shows key alter-natives symbol that shows are low alternatives that are low in fat and in fat andrich in fibre. rich in fibre. 8

8 What is exercise? You can improve your well-being and fitness by doingregular exercise. When you exercise, you use energy, youburn up more sugar and your blood sugar falls. Exercise should be fun! It is important that you adapt theactivity to what you yourself can manage. Remember! Walking, cleaning and gardening are also forms of exercise. Make exercise part of your daily routine!

9 When and why should I testmy blood sugar? It is importantthat you learn to test your blood sugarand that you can interpret the results. This helps you tounderstand what can affect your blood sugar. If you would like to know how a meal affects your bloodsugar, take a reading before a meal and 1-2 hours after ameal. If your blood sugar rises considerably, this could bedue to: what you have eaten how much you have eaten what you drank with your meal. You can also do the same when you are exercising. Take your blood sugar reading before you go out for your daily walk and then again when you come home. You will then see what effect the exercise has had. By increasing your knowledge, you will be able to control your diabetes and your life!

10 How is your diabetes followed up? The national guidelines drawn up by the National Boardof Health and Welfare in Sweden mean that you haveaccess to a good standard of diabetes care. When youvisit your doctor or diabetes nurse, you will have the fol-lowing tests and examinations, which will be followed upregularly. HbA 1c * Microalbuminuria** Blood fats Blood pressure Weight check Foot status Eye test 2-4 times a year Once a year Once a year Once/twice a year Every visit Once a year Every two years *a measurement of your blood sugar level over the past6-8 weeks. **microscopic albumin in your urine.

11 Questions and thoughts If you have any questions, please contact Hospital/healthcare centre tel: Diabetes nurse tel: Diabetes doctor tel:

12 Bayer AB Diabetes Care Box Solna Kundsupport: GRØSET B.SE