Dear LWT2D Program Member, It’s hard to believe 2014 is quickly coming to a close. This is a good time to think about all you’ve accomplished over these last 12 months. Learning how to live well with diabetes can be hard and you should be proud of all you’ve done to take care of yourself. As we look toward a new year, think about one small change you want to make in 2015 to improve your health. It might be to get a pedometer to see how much you walk each day. It might be to replace one soft drink with water each day. Or it might be to get to bed 30 minutes earlier each night. Find one that works for you! Small changes add up to make a big difference. Here’s to a happy and healthy new year! Calendar Reminders As you flip your calendar to 2015, remember to set up your regular check-ups and exams. • A1C — twice a year. At a minimum, check your A1C twice a year. Some doctors have their patients check more often. The A1C measures the average blood glucose level for the past three months and is a vital tool in keeping blood glucose at target levels. Your doctor will tell you what a healthy range is for you. • Blood pressure — every appointment. Because diabetes and high blood pressure are closely linked, be sure your blood pressure is checked at every doctor’s visit. • Foot exam — every appointment. Your feet should be examined at every doctor’s appointment. Diabetes can damage the nerves and blood vessels in your feet. This can make foot injuries — even small cuts and blisters — hard to feel and slow to heal. You should also check your feet at home every day. • Eye exam — once a year. You should see an optometrist or ophthalmologist once a year for a dilated eye exam. This checkup looks for possible diabetes-related damage to the retina, which is at the back of the eye. • Annual physical exam — once a year. Most people with diabetes will see their physicians more than once a year. Make sure one of those visits includes an annual physical exam. ________________________________________ Looking for a way to keep track of all your diabetes information? Diabetes 24/7 is online personal health record that lets you manage your diabetes and share your health information with your health care team. Diabetes 24/7 gives users tools to help manage their diabetes and to track data such as: • Blood glucose • A1C • Blood pressure • Cholesterol • Physical activity • Weight • Medications Let Diabetes 24/7 help you manage your diabetes. Get started today. ________________________________________ Food for the Holidays Check out some of our favorite seasonal and holiday foods. Bring one of these tasty and simple recipes to your table this holiday season! Get more tips to make your holiday season healthy and enjoyable. Looking for a holiday meal plan? Visit Recipes for Healthy Living. Join today to get more ways to eat healthy during the holidays and every day. ________________________________________ Diabetes Care at Your Fingertips Are you looking for a new way to manage type 2 diabetes? There’s an App for that! Care4life is like a personal coach wherever you go. You also receive text messages with: • Healthy recipes & nutrition tips • Appointment & medication reminders • Diabetes education & support Download it today—its free! ________________________________________ Oral Health Corner How long have you been using that toothbrush? If you’ve had it for more than 3-4 months, it’s time for a new one! Older brushes don’t clean as well as new brushes. When looking for a new brush, look for soft bristles. Hard bristles can wear down on the enamel covering your teeth. Learn more about oral health and hygiene. ________________________________________ Share Your Warm Wishes This Holiday Season Celebrate the season with customizable greeting cards. These beautiful cards, featuring elegant holiday and seasonal scenes, are the perfect way to share your wishes for health and happiness. Browse our full selection of greeting cards and shop for holiday gifts that give hope to children living with type 1 diabetes every day. Every purchase supports diabetes research, advocacy, awareness, and education programs. ________________________________________ Ask the Expert Q: Does Diabetes Cause Glaucoma? Can it be shown that diabetes frequently causes glaucoma? If so, what is the connection? — George Kolesar, Lutz, Florida Read what Janis McWilliams, RN, MSN, CDE, BC-ADM, says about diabetes and glaucoma. ________________________________________ End-of-Year Donations Looking for a way to make a difference and get a nice tax deduction? Consider making an end-of-year donation to the American Diabetes Association! Your support will go to help fund research and programs to help people live better with diabetes. Your donation will be tax-deductible. Go to diabetes.org/donate. ________________________________________ In Your Own Words How has the Living With Type 2 Diabetes program helped you? We want to hear from you! Tell us what you like about this program. E-mail us at [email protected]. ________________________________________ Diabetes Talk I’ve always dealt with dry skin but it’s especially bad right now. So bad, in fact, that my intensive therapy hand cream just sits on top of the skin and takes forever to be absorbed. This is causing problems with getting a drop of blood on my fingertip because the blood spreads into cracks. Also, it means my fingers are bruising more easily. Any suggestions? Read more and add your own comments. ________________________________________ Connect with Others Join the conversation in our online community! Post your questions, comment on others’ posts and meet others living with diabetes. Meet others living with diabetes in our online community! Find Your Local Office The American Diabetes Association may have a local office in your community. Call 1-888-DIABETES or click here.
Posted on: Thu, 11 Dec 2014 14:19:25 +0000
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