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