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Diabetes
When someone gets a diagnosis of diabetes, it is often thought of as a condition where your body cannot control it’s sugar levels. This is correct, but patients are often left confused as to why we as doctors start worrying about a variety of issues, such as your blood pressure, cholesterol, your feet or your eyes.
Often I hear, “But my cholesterol is not very high, so why are you starting me on cholesterol medication, doc?” or “Why are you saying I need to worry about my blood pressure when there is a problem with my blood sugar?"
A better way to explain diabetes is that yes, your body cannot control your sugar levels very well, but it is the effect of the high blood sugar on your pipes that transport blood around your body, that is the problem. These pipes are in your eyes, feet, heart, kidneys….pretty much everywhere. The high blood sugar can damage those pipes resulting in those parts of the body not working very well. If you don’t control your blood sugar, then your eyes, feet, and kidneys become damaged. We worry about your blood pressure and cholesterol because if these are high, they can also damage those pipes, causing more damage and more chance that those parts of your body won’t work well.
So in this newsletter, we will discuss what we can do to prevent diabetes from becoming an issue in your lives. With a diagnosis of diabetes, we as your doctors need to see you regularly to ensure that your body is not starting to deteriorate as a result of the disease. If you haven't booked in for your regular check, please click on the link below.
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Learn About Diabetes
To prevent any illness taking over your life, it is important to understand what you are dealing with. If you can do this, then you are less likely to become a victim of the condition, more likely to "own" it and lead a fulfilling life. Click here for a useful site that gives you everything that you need to know about the condition.
What You Can Monitor At Home
As your doctors, we need to keep an eye on a variety of numbers that look at how your body is coping with diabetes. The 2 things that you can easily monitor at home are your blood pressure and weight. Bring in these readings when you see us and this will make your care much more effective.
Improve Your Diet
It is vital to know what to eat and what to avoid, now that you have a diagnosis of diabetes. Food tracking apps are of benefit, but some now come with a health coach that advise you remotely, about your diet. Whilst we do not endorse any particular app, please have a look at Glycoleap, (for Type 2 Diabetes), as an example of the type of service that is potentially available to you. Otherwise, book in with us to arrange a review with our dietician.
Help With Your Diabetes
With a diagnosis of diabetes, you are eligible to see a dietician and podiatrist, under Medicare, at subsidised rates. They will make up part of your team that will take care of you from now on, so it is important to stay in contact with them every year.
Your Mood
If you suffer from a long term condition, it can get you down. We would not be doing our job as your doctor, if we did not raise this point and offer you support, during those days when you are struggling. Medicare gives good access to psychologists if you feel that you need to speak to someone. Our in house psychologists are {Add your psychologist details here}. See one of our GPs about organising a review with our psychologists and other ways by which we can help your mood.
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With these newsletters, we aim to remain in contact with you, regularly to update you on things that may relate to your health. It is our way of staying in touch with you outside the clinic.
All content in the newsletters is for informative purposes only and does not serve as a substitute for medical advice. If in doubt please book in to see us.
All information in our newsletters has been reviewed by our clinical team. We work in conjunction with HealthAide who help provide content.