, Contents
Preface ix
Acknowledgments xi
Part 1: What Is Diabetes? 1
Questions 1–10 introduce the basics of diabetes, including:
• Why and how did I get diabetes?
• What are the symptoms of diabetes?
• Is there such a thing as borderline diabetes? What is it?
Part 2: Can Diabetes Be Prevented? 13
Questions 11–20 describe ways to help reduce the chance of developing diabetes,
such as:
• Does regular exercise help to prevent type 2 diabetes?
• Is there a particular type of diet that will reduce my chance of type 2 diabetes?
• Are there any natural herbs, minerals, or other remedies that prevent
diabetes?
Part 3: How Do I Know I Have Diabetes? 25
Questions 21–28 review the symptoms of diabetes and the tests that a doctor will
use to make the diagnosis:
• How does my doctor confirm the diagnosis of diabetes?
• My doctor says I have hypoglycemia. Isn’t that the opposite of diabetes?
• I have a strong family history of diabetes. How often should I be
checked for it?
Part 4: What Are the Consequences of Diabetes? 35
Questions 29–38 cover the risks of not properly treating diabetes:
• What can happen if my diabetes is not properly treated and controlled?
• What is diabetic neuropathy?
• I hear a lot about footwear and foot care for diabetes. Why is this
so important?
, 1 0 0 Q U E S T I O N S & A N S W E R S A B O U T D I A B E T E S
Part 5: Treatments for Diabetes 49
Questions 39–54 detail ways in which diabetes can be controlled, including exercise,
diet, and medications:
• What should I eat and what should I avoid? Please be specific!
• Who should take pills and who should take insulin?
• Are there any medications prescribed for other conditions that can improve or
worsen my diabetes?
Part 6: Monitoring and Living with Diabetes 73
Questions 55–69 offer help with the daily management of diabetes and how to live
with the disease:
• What information should I bring to my doctor to help him or her manage my
diabetes with me?
• How accurate are glucose monitors?
• How will my diabetes affect my work? Are there any jobs I cannot do?
Part 7: Diabetes and Special Situations 97
Questions 70–79 describe how to handle diabetes in special circumstances, such as
pregnancy and travel:
• I have diabetes and want to get pregnant. What should I do?
• I will be traveling. How do I handle the time changes with my insulin shots?
• My child has diabetes and is about to start school. What steps should I take and
how will the school help to ensure that things go well?
Part 8: Resources for People with Diabetes 111
Questions 80–89 provide useful sources for diabetes patients for information about
the disease, diabetes research, advocacy, and more:
• I am interested in participating in research studies on new treatments for
diabetes. How do I go about it?
• How can I find and join a diabetes support group in my area?
• How do I find out about the latest developments for treatment and monitoring
of diabetes?
Part 9: When a Family Member or Loved One Has Diabetes 125
Questions 90–95 cover ways to help a loved one who has diabetes:
• What should a parent, spouse, partner, or caregiver know about diabetes in
order to provide support to a loved one?
• My child has diabetes. What can I do when he or she is sick to help prevent the
diabetes from going out of control?
• My spouse/partner has diabetes and we are planning a family. What is the risk
that our children will develop diabetes?
vi
, 1 0 0 Q U E S T I O N S & A N S W E R S A B O U T D I A B E T E S
Part 10: What Does the Future Hold for People with Diabetes? 135
Questions 96–100 discuss the potential for prevention and a cure for diabetes in the
future:
• What is the likelihood of a cure for type 2 diabetes? What form will it take and
Contents
when will it be available?
• When and how will we be able to prevent type 1 diabetes?
• How can we stop the dramatic increase in diabetes presently occurring
throughout the world?
Glossary 143
Index 147
vii
Preface ix
Acknowledgments xi
Part 1: What Is Diabetes? 1
Questions 1–10 introduce the basics of diabetes, including:
• Why and how did I get diabetes?
• What are the symptoms of diabetes?
• Is there such a thing as borderline diabetes? What is it?
Part 2: Can Diabetes Be Prevented? 13
Questions 11–20 describe ways to help reduce the chance of developing diabetes,
such as:
• Does regular exercise help to prevent type 2 diabetes?
• Is there a particular type of diet that will reduce my chance of type 2 diabetes?
• Are there any natural herbs, minerals, or other remedies that prevent
diabetes?
Part 3: How Do I Know I Have Diabetes? 25
Questions 21–28 review the symptoms of diabetes and the tests that a doctor will
use to make the diagnosis:
• How does my doctor confirm the diagnosis of diabetes?
• My doctor says I have hypoglycemia. Isn’t that the opposite of diabetes?
• I have a strong family history of diabetes. How often should I be
checked for it?
Part 4: What Are the Consequences of Diabetes? 35
Questions 29–38 cover the risks of not properly treating diabetes:
• What can happen if my diabetes is not properly treated and controlled?
• What is diabetic neuropathy?
• I hear a lot about footwear and foot care for diabetes. Why is this
so important?
, 1 0 0 Q U E S T I O N S & A N S W E R S A B O U T D I A B E T E S
Part 5: Treatments for Diabetes 49
Questions 39–54 detail ways in which diabetes can be controlled, including exercise,
diet, and medications:
• What should I eat and what should I avoid? Please be specific!
• Who should take pills and who should take insulin?
• Are there any medications prescribed for other conditions that can improve or
worsen my diabetes?
Part 6: Monitoring and Living with Diabetes 73
Questions 55–69 offer help with the daily management of diabetes and how to live
with the disease:
• What information should I bring to my doctor to help him or her manage my
diabetes with me?
• How accurate are glucose monitors?
• How will my diabetes affect my work? Are there any jobs I cannot do?
Part 7: Diabetes and Special Situations 97
Questions 70–79 describe how to handle diabetes in special circumstances, such as
pregnancy and travel:
• I have diabetes and want to get pregnant. What should I do?
• I will be traveling. How do I handle the time changes with my insulin shots?
• My child has diabetes and is about to start school. What steps should I take and
how will the school help to ensure that things go well?
Part 8: Resources for People with Diabetes 111
Questions 80–89 provide useful sources for diabetes patients for information about
the disease, diabetes research, advocacy, and more:
• I am interested in participating in research studies on new treatments for
diabetes. How do I go about it?
• How can I find and join a diabetes support group in my area?
• How do I find out about the latest developments for treatment and monitoring
of diabetes?
Part 9: When a Family Member or Loved One Has Diabetes 125
Questions 90–95 cover ways to help a loved one who has diabetes:
• What should a parent, spouse, partner, or caregiver know about diabetes in
order to provide support to a loved one?
• My child has diabetes. What can I do when he or she is sick to help prevent the
diabetes from going out of control?
• My spouse/partner has diabetes and we are planning a family. What is the risk
that our children will develop diabetes?
vi
, 1 0 0 Q U E S T I O N S & A N S W E R S A B O U T D I A B E T E S
Part 10: What Does the Future Hold for People with Diabetes? 135
Questions 96–100 discuss the potential for prevention and a cure for diabetes in the
future:
• What is the likelihood of a cure for type 2 diabetes? What form will it take and
Contents
when will it be available?
• When and how will we be able to prevent type 1 diabetes?
• How can we stop the dramatic increase in diabetes presently occurring
throughout the world?
Glossary 143
Index 147
vii
