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Diabetes Care

Diabetes occurs when the body is unable to produce or use insulin, resulting in high blood glucose (sugar) levels. If left unmanaged, diabetes can lead to other serious health issues or complications.

Aspirus providers, dieticians and diabetes educators work with patients of all ages and all types of diabetes. We know having diabetes greatly impacts your life and can be difficult to manage, but we work with you as a team to manage your condition and prevent complications from occurring.

If you have diabetes or pre-diabetes, talk to your provider about a referral to one of our Aspirus Diabetes Education Centers. We can help you with nutrition, exercise, medications, blood glucose monitoring, insulin pump therapy, intensive insulin management, avoiding complications and problem solving.

Why Care for your Diabetes?

Uncontrolled diabetes is the leading cause of blindness, non-traumatic amputation and kidney failure in America.

However, the important thing to remember is that controlled diabetes along with managing the other risk factors that cause blood vessel problems is what prevents these scary complications. Simply having diabetes does not automatically lead to complications.

Managing diabetes is difficult and takes a team to be successful. Your team includes you, your doctors, diabetes educators and support people.

What are the complications?

Diabetes is a blood vessel disease; the high blood sugar is the symptom. Diabetes can lead to:

  • Eye problems that can lead to blindness
  • Heart attack
  • Kidney failure
  • Nerve damage
  • Sexual dysfunction
  • Stroke
  • Wounds that don’t heal that can lead to amputation

What are the risk factors for blood vessel complications?

Your risk for blood vessel and nerve damage increases if you have unmanaged risk factors like:

  • Diabetes
  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol
  • Lack of exercise
  • Overweight
  • Stress

What can you do to prevent complications?

  • See your doctor regularly to monitor the risk factors and treat if needed.
  • Stop smoking if you smoke.
  • Get some exercise daily. Any amount is beneficial.
  • Strive to eat healthy most days. That means low fat meats and dairy,  fruits and vegetables and reasonable portions.

Diabetes Nutrition Video Resources

 Steaming
 
 Knife Skills
 
 Grilling
 
 Roasting