Well - Fall 2010 - (Page 6)

Managing Diabe N Patients are empowered to control their care, with support from physicians orth Carolina ranks 17th highest in the nation in diabetes prevalence, with the disease affecting nearly one in 10 adults in the state, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Although the rate of diabetes is on the rise, the good news is that treatment of the disease has improved dramatically in the last 15 years. “The management of diabetes requires a lifetime dedication,” says John Buse, MD, PhD, professor and chief of the division of endocrinology and metabolism in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine. Unlike other illnesses, diabetes is not a disease that once you get a diagnosis from your doctor, you have some form of treatment or medication and then you are cured. “Diabetes can be managed, but it very rarely goes away,” says Dr. Buse, who has been with the UNC Diabetes Center for 16 years and is a former president of the American Diabetes Association. “The ‘magic’ in diabetes care is working with patients to manage the disease for the rest of their lives in order to minimize the complications.” The primary role of the physician is to set the big picture for the patient and to screen for complications, Dr. Buse says. “The truth of the matter is that it’s the patient’s diabetes,” he says. “We simply provide care in a nonjudgmental environment.” Some patients have people around them who harass them about being overweight or not eating the way they should, which is not beneficial to the patient, Dr. Buse explains. “We try to explore what the barriers are to their not doing as well as we would like. “We believe the patient drives the care,” he continues. “Family is important, as are employers and others, but the key is that everyone needs to work with the patient to minimize risk for complications.” Do You Know Your Risk? Type 1 and type 2 diabetes both affect the body’s ability to use blood sugar to produce energy, and research suggests that there is a genetic element to developing both types of the disease. Type 1, in which the body does not produce insulin, typically is diagnosed in children and young adults and often appears suddenly. Type 2 is far more common and tends to affect people later in life. In type 2, either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin. Along with genetics, there are other risk factors to be aware of for type 2 diabetes. Take Control of Your Diabetes— Starting Today For more information about the UNC Diabetes Center, visit medicine. med.unc.edu/centers/ diabetes-care. FamilY hiSTorY. Having a parent or sibling with heart disease or diabetes 6 Fall 2010 Well http://medicine.med.unc.edu/centers/diabetes-care http://medicine.med.unc.edu/centers/diabetes-care http://medicine.med.unc.edu/centers/diabetes-care

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Well - Fall 2010

Well - Fall 2010
Contents
UNC Health Care News
Community
100 Years of Medical Advancement
Managing Diabetes for a Lifetime
Fixing His Failing Heart
Nutrition
Q&A
Calendar

Well - Fall 2010