Education
Related Questions |
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Q: What is the
difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes? |
| Type 1 diabetes, formerly called juvenile-onset diabetes, is an autoimmune
disease in which the body makes little or no insulin. People with type 1 diabetes are
required to take insulin in order to avoid ketoacidosis and death. Type 2 diabetes is a
metabolic disorder which is typically diagnosed in people over the age of 30. Most people
with type 2 are also overweight. People with type 2 diabetes may control their blood
sugars with diet, exercise, oral medication or insulin if needed. |
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Q: What are the signs
of diabetes? |
| People with type 1 diabetes usually present with significant weight loss,
increased thirst, and increased urination, very high blood sugars, and sometimes
ketoacidosis. People with type 2 diabetes often have no symptoms at all or may notice
fatigue, increased thirst and increased urination. |
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Q: Why is
"HbA1c" important? |
| An HbA1c is a blood test used to determine a person's average blood sugar
over the previous 2-3 months. It gives a good indication of overall blood sugar control.
The American Diabetes Association recommends HbA1c testing be done at least twice a year
in patients who are meeting treatment goals and more frequently (quarterly) in patients
whose therapy has changed or who are not reaching treatment goals. |
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Q: What are the risk
factors for diabetes? |
| Risk factors for diabetes include: family history, age, sex, obesity, and
ethnic background. (Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, and American Indians all have a greater
incidence of diabetes compared to Caucasians). |
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Q: What is a
good blood sugar level? |
| When taken fasting or before meals, your blood sugar should be between
80-120 mg/dl. Two hours after a meal, it should be less than 150 mg/dl. Before bedtime,
your blood sugar should be between 100-140 mg/dl. |
|
Q: Do I have
to check my blood sugars? |
| Anyone who has been diagnosed with diabetes needs to monitor their blood
sugar. Monitoring is a tool to determine the effectiveness of therapy or the need to
adjust medication. We recommend if you are taking an oral hypoglycemic agent, you should
check your blood sugars twice a day, 2 to 3 times a week. If you take insulin, the number
of times you should check depends on when and how much insulin you take. You may check
your blood sugar only twice or up to 5 times a day. Check with your physician or diabetes
educator to determine the right number for you. |
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Q: What can I eat? |
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A commonly held belief is that sugar is "illegal" for those with
diabetes. However, the most recent research shows that consistency in the total amount of
carbohydrate in your diet is more important than the type of carbohydrate you eat. Sugar
is only one form of carbohydrate and can be included in an otherwise healthy diet as long
as the carbohydrate provided by the sugar is accounted for. For example, you may want to
have 1/2 cup of regular ice cream with dinner. As long as you substitute it for something
with the same amount of carbohydrate, like a piece of bread or fruit, it should affect
your blood sugar the same way. At the Diabetes Self-Management Training Center, we are
committed to providing the most up-to-date, comprehensive, and individualized education to
all people with diabetes. We believe the most informed patients make the most successful
patients. |
Research
Related Questions |
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Q: Where is the
Diabetes and Glandular Disease Clinic and Research Center? What are the telephone, fax and
email for DGD? |
| DGD is located at 5107 Medical Dr., San Antonio, TX
78229-3894. Click here for map.
Our phone numbers are 210-692-1150 or 800-373-4021. Our fax number is
210-614-7385. Email is
info@dgdclinic.com
and our website URL is
http://www.dgdclinic.com. |
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Q: What is a
research study? How am I protected? |
Pharmaceutical companies sponsor trials with medications and medical
devices approved by the Food & Drug Administration, FDA, with physicians that have a
specialty in the area which the medication or device will be used. They must submit
an application for a new drug to the FDA. The application outlines any research
(animal studies) completed, the expected outcomes of the medication, and proposals for
human research. You are protected by the code of regulations of the FDA, good
clinical practices, the informed consent (which outlines the goals, benefits, and risks of
the study), and the institutional review board, IRB. The IRB is made up of doctors,
pharmacists, clergy and law people. |
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Q: Do I get
paid to be a research volunteer? What is a stipend? |
| A stipend is a fixed amount of money paid periodically for services or to
defray expenses. Sometimes a stipend is provided by a research study to cover some
of the expenses associated with being in a study. |
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Q: Am I guinea
pig? Why would I want to be in a research study? |
| No. These medications or devices have been tested for effectiveness
and safety before they are ever used on human subjects. Often times being in a
research study provides very expensive study related lab tests, physical exams, EKGs,
dietary counseling, etc. which are free of charge. People who participate in these
studies are taking an active role in their disease process. Also, by participating
in a research study you may be helping others who have the same disease. |
|
Q: What is a
placebo? What does double-blind mean? |
| A placebo is a tablet or capsule with no active ingredients made to look
like the medication being tested. Double-blind means that you and the doctor
concluding the research study do not know who is receiving the study drug and who is
receiving placebo. This is done so that the doctor cannot influence your reaction to
the study substance and to determine the safety and effectiveness of the study drug |
| Q: Who
do you call to get into a research study? |
| Call the Diabetes & Glandular Disease Research Center at
(210)
692-1150 or 1 (800) 373-4021 |
|
Q: What if you
don't have any programs for me? |
| You may want to call the clinic or complete the questionnaire
anyway. New studies start often and we will contact people on file who may qualify. |
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Q: What should
I tell my family doctor? |
| Please discuss any research study with your family doctor. You
may want to discuss the informed consent with your doctor. |
|
Q: How long
are the visits? |
| The visits can last from a few minutes to several days. However,
most visits take about an hour and can sometimes be scheduled very early in the morning or
late in the afternoon. Please contact the study coordinator for more information. |
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Q: Will the drug be
available after the study has ended? |
| Sometimes. Often, open-label (everyone in the study is on the study
drug) extensions follow a research study. |
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Q: What are
the side effects? |
| The possible side effects are listed in the informed consent. Please
discuss any apprehension you may feel with the study coordinator or study doctor. |
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Q: Can I continue my
medication? |
| That depends. Usually you can continue medications for conditions
not related to the study. |
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Q: What do I
do if I'm sick or my doctor wants me to start a new medication? |
| If you are in a research study and you are sick or your family doctor
wants you to start a new medication, please contact the study coordinator or study doctor. |
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Q: Do you have
studies for people who are not diabetics? |
| Yes. Please see the brief study descriptions or call the clinic. |
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Q: If I
participate in a study do I have to give up my family doctor? |
| No. |
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Q: What if I change
my mind and want to quit the study? |
| You can. |
| Q: Can I do more than one study? |
| One at a time. |
