Managing diabetes in women

The goal of all diabetes treatment plans is to obtain near-normal blood sugar control with the ultimate benefits of improving overall quality of life and lowering risk of complications and death

By: Geralyn Karpiscak, MSN, RN
   Diabetes is a chronic disease that can lead to serious complications, including heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, blindness and nerve damage. It is currently the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.
   In 1971, The Centers for Disease Control initiated an ambitious study that would look at the mortality rates from the disease over a period of almost three decades, ending in 2000. Just last month, the CDC released the results, which uncovered a startling gender disparity: While death rates
for men with diabetes fell sharply, the death rate for women did not decline at all.
   The study collected data from 20,000 people ages 35-74. Among men with diabetes, deaths from all causes fell from about 43 to 24 deaths per 1,000 over a 1-year period. The death rate from cardiovascular disease, the most common cause of death in people with diabetes, fell from about 26 to 13 deaths per 1,000 over the same period. However, the death rate for women did not decline.
   The study did not look at the reasons for this disparity, although that is the next step for researchers. One explanation that has been
suggested is that women tend to receive less aggressive care for heart disease, one of the most common complications stemming from diabetes.
   In the United States, some 20.8 million children and adults, about 7 percent of the population, have diabetes. That number is growing. There has been extensive media coverage recently about the alarming rise in diabetes across the country, fueled by the boom in obesity and poor nutrition. In 2005 there were 1.5 million new cases of diabetes diagnosed in people age 20 years or older. One in 3 Americans born in 2000 will develop diabetes in their lifetime. For minorities, the outlook is even more grim: 1 in 2 will develop diabetes in his or her lifetime.
   The cost to treat diabetes is staggering. One out of every 10 health care dollars spent in the United States is spent on treating diabetes.
   The good news is that diabetes and its possible complications are manageable, regardless of gender or age.
   Management of diabetes always includes education, healthy eating, blood glucose monitoring and physical activity. In addition, some diabetics may require the use of oral medication and/or insulin to achieve optimal control of their blood sugar levels.
   The goal of all diabetes treatment plans is to obtain near-normal blood sugar control with the ultimate benefits of improving overall quality
of life and lowering risk of complications and death. Members of the diabetes care team should include the patient, the physician, specially trained nurses
and dietitians, as well as other health care professionals who can teach strategies and techniques to live with the disease day-to-day.
   Those who have diabetes may take advantage of the benefits of participating in University Medical Center at Princeton’s Diabetes Management Program, which is recognized by the American Diabetes Association as a quality diabetes self-management education program. This award is based on a rigorous clinical review process to assure that high national standards are met.
   Patients receive care on an outpatient basis from a multidisciplinary team of diabetes specialists who work under the guidance of the Medical Director, a board-certified endocrinologist. The team includes registered nurses and registered dietitians, all of whom are certified diabetes educators. They work together to deliver a comprehensive approach to diabetes management with a high level of care and personal concern.
   The Diabetes Management Program at University Medical Center at Princeton offers:

  • One-on-one and group diabetes education sessions;
  • Medication management;
  • Training in home blood glucose monitoring;
  • Insulin pump training;
  • Screening programs for foot and eye health;
  • Diabetes care and management during pregnancy;
  • Nutrition guidance and comprehensive meal planning;
  • Weight management;
  • Stress management and wellness programs, and
  • Individual and family diabetes support groups.

   Participation in the Diabetes Management Program requires a referral from a physician. Medicaid, Medicare and most third-party insurances are accepted.
   Management of diabetes is a life-long commitment. Your diabetes care team at UMCP is there to help beyond your initial training. Many insurance companies including Medicare will cover followup visits on an annual basis with a physician’s referral. Working together with a diabetes care team can help an individual who has diabetes make and sustain the changes necessary to reduce his or her overall risk of complications.
   For more information about diabetes, visit www.diabetes.org.
For more information about the Diabetes Management Program at University Medical Center at Princeton, call (888) 742-7496.