Everything you need to know about managing a diabetes diagnosis

Living with diabetes can be challenging to manage every day, but you don’t have to manage it alone. Here to talk about how your pharmacist can play an important and easily accessible partner is pharmacist-owner of The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy, Hugh Toner.

Type 1 diabetes

It occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks and kills the beta cells of the pancreas. No, or very little, insulin is released into the body. As a result, sugar builds up in the blood instead of being used as energy. About five to 10 per cent of people with diabetes have type 1 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes

It occurs when the body can’t properly use the insulin that is released (called insulin insensitivity) or does not make enough insulin. As a result, sugar builds up in the blood instead of being used as energy. About 90 per cent of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes more often develops in adults, but children can be affected.

Symptoms of diabetes 

• Unusual thirst
• Frequent urination
• Weight change (gain or loss)
• Extreme fatigue or lack of energy
• Blurred vision
• Frequent or recurring infections
• Cuts and bruises that are slow to heal
• Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet

If you have any of these symptoms, it is important to contact your health-care provider right away. Even if you don’t have symptoms, if you are 40 or older, you should still get checked at least every three years to annually. It's important to recognize, however, that many people who have type 2 diabetes may display no symptoms.

What are the things your pharmacist should help you correct?

Often physicians may not have time to coach you through the process and lifestyle changes one diagnosed which is where the pharmacist comes in. An increasing number of pharmacies can provide ongoing measurements such as hemoglobin A1C results for diabetics that previously were only available by going to a lab. Pharmacies are more and more capable to help patients monitor and control their condition to help ensure lifelong health and lower complications associated with diabetes.

For more information on The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy and to find a location nearest you, please visit www.medicineshoppe.ca