Introduction 1
About This Book 1
Foolish Assumptions 2
Icons Used in This Book 3
Beyond the Book 3
Where to Go from Here 4
Part 1: Getting Started with Diabetes 5
Chapter 1: Type 2 Diabetes: The Basics 7
What Exactly Is Diabetes? 7
Getting the lowdown on blood glucose 8
The mighty hormone insulin 8
Don't forget glucagon 10
High blood glucose is not good 10
Paying attention to blood pressure 11
Different Types of Diabetes 11
Type 1 diabetes 12
Gestational diabetes 12
Other types of diabetes 13
Prediabetes 13
How Is Diabetes Diagnosed? 14
Understanding Risk Factors 15
Who Else Has Diabetes? 16
Chapter 2: Where Do I Begin? 17
Taking Care of Yourself 17
Feel better most days 18
Reduce the risk of complications 18
Healthy pregnancy, healthy baby 20
Managing Your Diabetes 20
Assembling a healthcare team 21
Taking medications 21
Checking blood glucose 21
Eating healthy and staying active 22
Finding support 22
Part 2: Your Healthcare Team and Medications 23
Chapter 3: Putting Together Your Healthcare Team 25
Starting with a Diabetes Care Provider 26
Choosing the right provider for you 27
Considering insurance coverage 28
Adding a Certified Diabetes Educator 29
Seeing Other Specialists 30
Dietitian: Helping you mind your meals 30
Ophthalmologist or optometrist: Keeping an eye on your eyes 31
Pharmacist: Filling you in on medication details 32
Dentist and dental hygienist: Keeping your mouth in tip-top shape 33
Exercise physiologist: Focusing on your fitness 33
Podiatrist: Standing up for your feet 34
Dermatologist: Helping your skin stay healthy 35
Mental health specialist: Minding your thoughts and emotions 35
Chapter 4: Your Checkups 37
What to Expect in a Checkup 37
Blood glucose roundup 38
Weight matters 39
Setting goals for food and exercise 39
Medication roundup 40
Targets for blood pressure and cholesterol 40
Kidney tests 41
Foot check 42
Vaccinations 42
Extra time for questions and concerns 43
Making Time for a Yearly Eye Exam 43
Your Checkup Schedule in a Nutshell 44
What to Bring with You 44
Communicating like a Pro 45
Chapter 5: Diabetes Education Classes 47
Getting Informed about Diabetes Education 48
When do I go? 48
Meeting the educator 49
Knowing What to Expect 50
Diabetes education at diagnosis 51
Keeping up with diabetes developments 52
Finding a class in your area 52
Investigating Insurance Coverage for the Cost of Classes 53
Chapter 6: Medications and Surgery 55
Why Do I Need to Take Medication? 56
Pills for Type 2 Diabetes 57
Biguanides 59
Sulfonylureas 59
Meglitinides 60
Dipeptidyl-peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors 60
Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors 60
Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors 61
Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) 61
Bile acid sequestrants 62
Dopamine-2 agonists 62
Combination pills for type 2 diabetes 62
Injected Medications for Type 2 Diabetes (Besides Insulin) 63
GLP-1 agonists 64
Amylin analogs 64
All About Insulin 65
Insulin 101 65
Types of insulin 66
Buying and storing insulin 69
Injecting insulin: Syringes, pens, and more 69
Tips for injecting insulin 71
Insulin pumps 72
Being Cautious with Other Medications 74
Medication to lower blood pressure 74
Medication to treat cholesterol 75
Aspirin and other medications 75
Surgery for Type 2 Diabetes 76
Part 3: Checking Blood Glucose and Reducing Complications 79
Chapter 7: Checking Your Blood Glucose 81
Why, When, and How to Check Your Blood Glucose Level 82
Knowing when to check your glucose level 82
Checking your blood glucose in a snap 83
Eyeing your blood glucose targets 83
Blood Glucose Meters and Accessories 84
Checking out types of meters 84
Being aware of meter accuracy 85
Considering a multitude of meter features 86
Minding money matters 87
Looking at lancets and test strips 88
Keeping Track of Data 89
Choosing a tracking method that works for you 89
Putting the numbers to use 90
Chapter 8: Keeping Complications in Check 91
Looking Out for Lows 92
Knowing the warning signs of lows 92
Treating lows with the Rule of 15 93
Having glucagon available 95
Heading Off Highs 95
Diabetic ketoacidosis 96
Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic syndrome 97
Maintaining a Healthy Heart and Brain 98
Hardening of your arteries 98
Heart attacks 99
Strokes 99
Feeling Good in Your Skin 100
Keeping Your Mouth in Tip-Top Shape 101
Focusing on Your Eyes 101
Putting Your Best Foot Forward 103
Getting a leg up on caring for your lower extremities 103
Peripheral artery disease 104
Healthy Nerves All Over Your Body 105
Nerves that sense things 105
Nerves that automatically do things 106
Taking Care of Your Kidneys 106
Coping with Burnout, Stress, and Depression 107
Acknowledging diabetes burnout and stress 107
Recognizing depression 108
Being mindful of your emotions 108
Tuning In to Your Sexual Health 109
Chapter 9: Women and Type 2 Diabetes 111
Being Mindful of Menstrual Cycles 112
Watching for erratic numbers 112
Taking back control 112
Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby 113
Planning for pregnancy 114
Taking care of yourself and your baby during pregnancy 114
Screening for gestational diabetes 116
Delivering the baby 117
Postpartum 117
Breastfeeding 118
Menopause Can Throw You for a Loop 118
Preparing for unusual numbers 119
Recognizing that mood swings are normal 119
Facing hot flashes and night sweats 120
Coping with yeast infections 120
Addressing sexual discomfort 121
What Every Woman with Diabetes Should Know 121
Focus on your heart 122
Know the signs 122
Chapter 10: Men and Type 2 Diabetes 123
Addressing Erectile Dysfunction 124
Considering the causes 124
Treating erectile dysfunction 125
Don't be embarrassed: Talking to your doctor 125
Tackling the Problem of Low Testosterone 126
Focusing on Emotional and Sexual Health 126
Paying Attention to Heart Health 127
Part 4: Eating Healthy and Staying Active 129
Chapter 11: Brushing Up on Nutrition and Food Basics 131
Knowing the Difference a Dietitian Can Make 132
What to look for in a dietitian 132
What dietitians do 133
When to see a dietitian 134
Paying for dietitian visits 135
Calories Count 135
Nutrients: Carbohydrates, Protein, and Fat 136
Carbohydrates 101 137
Types of carbohydrates 138
The lowdown on sugar 141
Artificial sweeteners 142
Proteins 101 143
Fats 101 144
Choosing healthy fats 144
Avoiding unhealthy fats 145
Finding Nutrition Facts on Food Labels 147
Paying attention to number of servings and serving size 147
Keeping track of calories 148
Nutrients up next 148
Listing ingredients: Most to least 150
Putting the information to work 150
A Little Salt Goes a Long Way 151
Satisfying Your Thirst 152
Drinking water, soda, and other beverages 152
Enjoying wine, beer, and spirits 153
Chapter 12: Planning Healthy Meals 155
Considering Your Goals 156
Eating a Variety of Wholesome, Nutritious Foods 157
Forget about a diabetes diet 157
Expanding the selection of foods you eat 157
Dishing Up Ideal Portions 159
Knowing what counts as one serving 160
Weighing and measuring food 160
Knowing how to create your plate 161
Meal Plans That Work for You 162
Forget about a diabetes meal plan 163
Turning to a dietitian for help 163
Coming up with your own meal plan 164
Intro to Carbohydrate Counting 167
Calling out carbohydrates 167
Portion matters 168
Reading food labels for carbohydrates 168
Planning, Shopping, and Cooking Smart 170
Planning smart 170
Shopping smart 171
Cooking smart 172
Tempting Your Taste Buds with Nutritious Nibbles 172
Eating Out with Confidence 174
Selecting restaurants with healthy choices 174
Ordering meals that mesh with your plan 175
Celebrating Holidays and Special Occasions 176
Chapter 13: Amping Up Your Exercise 177
1, 2, 3: Counting the Many Benefits of Exercise 178
First Steps to Physical Activity 179
Sitting less and moving more 180
Talking to your healthcare provider 181
Checking blood glucose during exercise 181
Thinking about your fitness goals 181
Considering Different Types of Exercise 182
Aerobic exercise: Getting the blood moving 183
Resistance exercise: Building strength 183
Flexibility and balance exercises: Improving range of motion 185
Completing a Well-Rounded Workout: Warm Up, Work Out, Cool Down 185
Warming up 186
Working out 186
Cooling down 187
Motivators to Keep You Going 187
Envisioning the health benefits 187
Getting help from a professional 188
Boosting your mood 188
Getting support from friends and family 189
Getting detailed feedback from fitness trackers and apps 189
Part 5: Finding Support 191
Chapter 14: Managing Your Emotions and Mental Health 193
Getting in Touch with How You Feel 194
Facing Feelings of Anger and Denial 195
Acknowledging feelings of anger 195
Dealing with feelings of denial 196
Managing Stress 196
Recognizing Diabetes Distress and Burnout 198
Looking at Depression and Anxiety Disorders 199
Knowing the symptoms of depression 200
Introduction to anxiety disorders 200
Treating depression and other mental health disorders 201
Reaching Out to Others 201
Joining a local support group 201
Connecting with others in online support groups 202
Being Kind to Yourself 202
Gaining education and empowerment 203
Taking time for yourself 203
Trying mindfulness and meditation 203
Chapter 15: Getting Support, Giving Support 205
Turning to Your Family for Support 206
Telling your friends and family about your diagnosis 206
Educating your family 206
Opening the lines of communication 207
Making healthy food choices together 208
Exercising together 209
Tips for Caregivers and Spouses 209
Educating yourself 209
Trying not to be pesky 210
Helping to build a diabetes care team 210
Seeking out your own support 211
Chapter 16: Raising Children and Teens with Type 2 Diabetes 213
Seeing How Type 2 Diabetes Is Different in Children and Teens 214
Helping Your Child or Teen Manage Her Condition 215
First steps 215
Family changes 216
Education and responsibility 217
Checkups 218
Acknowledging Challenges that Teens Face 218
Stress 219
Alcohol and tobacco 219
Sexual activity 220
Chapter 17: Debunking Diabetes Myths 221
Myth 1: Eating Too Much Sugar Causes Diabetes 222
Myth 2: People with Diabetes Can't Eat Sweets and Chocolate 222
Myth 3: People with Diabetes Should Eat Special Diabetic Foods 223
Myth 4: People with Diabetes Are More Likely to Get a Cold or the Flu 224
Myth 5: You've Failed If Your Doctor Says You Need to Start Taking Insulin 225
Myth 6: Diabetes Is Not That Serious of a Disease 226
Part 6: Standing Up for Yourself 227
Chapter 18: Navigating Health Insurance and Other Healthcare Scenarios 229
Protecting People with Diabetes 230
Understanding Health Insurance: Employer, Government, and Individual 231
Employer-based health insurance 231
Government-based health insurance 231
Individual health insurance 234
Asking the Right Questions 234
Questions to ask about diabetes coverage 235
General questions to ask about plans 235
Finding Help for People Who Don't Have Insurance 236
Primary and specialty care for the uninsured 236
Prescriptions for the uninsured 236
Diabetes supplies for the uninsured 237
Anticipating Other Healthcare Scenarios 237
ER visits and hospital stays 237
Home healthcare and long-term care 239
Chapter 19: Knowing Your Rights 241
Diabetes in the Workplace 242
Deciding whether to tell others 242
Knowing your rights 242
What are my protections? 243
Educating and communicating with others 244
Staying healthy on the job 244
Your Child with Diabetes at School 245
Knowing and advocating for your child's rights 245
Putting care plans in writing 246
Planning Ahead for Travel 247
Talking to your physician 247
Preparing for airport security 247
Considering snacks and meals out 248
Taking care of your feet and skin 248
Ensuring Safety while Driving 249
Part 7: The Part of Tens 251
Chapter 20: Ten Fun Ways to Work Out for People Who Hate to Exercise 253
Get a Buddy 254
Play like a Kid 254
Start Walking 255
There's an App (or Video) for That 255
Turn Up the Volume 256
Think Positive 256
Volunteer to Help Someone Else 257
Sign Up for a Walk to Raise Money 257
Set Realistic and Practical Goals 257
Just Dance 258
Chapter 21: Ten (Or So) Things to Do for Your Eyes 259
Keep Your Blood Glucose in Control 259
Lower Your Blood Pressure and Cholesterol 260
Stop Smoking or Never Start 261
Be Aware of Major Eye Diseases 261
Get Regular Dilated Eye Exams 262
Get the Treatment You Need 263
Consider Your Eyes during Pregnancy 263
Assess Your Risk Factors 264
Glossary 265
Index 291