Women and Diabetes

• In the U.S., 9.1 million women have
diabetes and 3 million of them don't
even know it.
• Women who have diabetes are more
likely to have a miscarriage or a baby
with birth defects.
• Women with diabetes are more likely
to be poor which makes it harder to
manage the disease.

Heart Disease
and Stroke
• Women with diabetes are more likely
to have a heart attack and have it at a
younger age.
• Most people with diabetes die from
heart attack or stroke.

Are You at Risk for Diabetes?
Are you overweight?
Do you get little or no exercise?
Do you have high blood pressure
(130/80 or higher)?
Do you have a brother or sister with
diabetes?
Do you have a parent with diabetes?
Are you a woman who had diabetes

when you were pregnant OR have you
had a baby who weighed more than 9
pounds at birth?

Warning Signs
Going to the bathroom a lot
Feeling hungry or thirsty all the time
Blurred vision
Lose weight without trying
Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal
Feeling tired all the time
Tingling/numbness in the hands or feet

Most people with diabetes do not notice any
signs.
thke Time To Care…
What is
Diabetes?
• Diabetes changes the way your body
uses food. In your body, the food you
eat turns to sugar.
• Your blood takes this sugar all over the
body. Insulin helps get sugar from the
blood into the body for energy.
• Your body does not get the fuel it
needs, and your blood sugar stays high.
• High blood sugar can cause heart and
kidney problems, blindness, stroke, the
loss of a foot or leg, or even kill you.
Fats
Protein
Cholesterol
Fiber (fruits, vegetables, beans, breads,
and cereals)
• Be active at least 30 minutes a day
most days of the week.
• Exercise helps your body's insulin work
better. It also lowers your blood sugar,
blood pressure and cholesterol.

Use Medicines
Wisely
• Sometimes people with diabetes need to
take pills or take a shot (insulin). Be sure
to follow the directions.
• Ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist
what your medicines do, when to take
them, and if they have any side effects.



Check Your Blood
Sugar and Know Your
ABCs
• Help prevent heart disease and stroke
by controlling your blood sugar, blood
pressure, and cholesterol.
• Make a plan with your doctor, nurse or
pharmacist.
• Check your blood sugar using a meter
(home testing kit). This tells what your
blood sugar is so you can make wise
choices.
• Ask your doctor for an A-1-C (A-onesee)
blood test. It measures blood
sugar levels over 2-3 months.
• Talk to your health team about your
ABC's:
A - 1 - C
Blood pressure
Cholesterol

Types of Diabetes
• Type 1 - The body does not produce any
insulin. People with type 1 diabetes must
take insulin every day to stay alive.
• Type 2 - The body does not make
enough, or use insulin well. Most people
with diabetes have type 2.
• Some women get diabetes when they
are pregnant.

Watch What You Eat
and Get Exercise
• There is no one diet for people with
diabetes. Work with your team to come
up with a plan for you.
• You can eat the foods you love by
watching serving sizes. Carbohydrates
raise your blood sugar the most.
• The “Nutrition Facts” label on foods can
help. Many packaged foods contain
more than 1 serving.
• The foods we eat are made up of:
Carbohydrates (fruits, vegetables, breads,
juices, milk, cereals and desserts)

The Good
News…You Can
Manage Diabetes
Watch what you eat and get
exercise, use medicines wisely
and check your blood sugar.