Type 2 Diabetes in Teens

Jean Betschart-Roemer

Description

Get a handle on your diabetes and get on with your life!

If you're a teenager who has Type 2 diabetes, you're not alone. More and more people your age are being diagnosed with Type 2-and most of them also struggle with their diabetes treatment. The first book of its kind, Type 2 Diabetes in Teens was written to help you better understand and manage your diabetes. It's very important that you take care of yourself and follow your treatment-and this book gives you information on living well, including:

How to keep blood sugar in control * What to do when you get cravings * How to manage your diabetes in school * What to say to your friends and your dates * How to balance exercise and food when you take insulin * Where to find help when you need it * Ways to eat healthier * How to be patient with yourself and enjoy life

A special section of tips and suggestions for parents will help your family support you as you manage your diabetes. You're not alone in this-and Type 2 Diabetes in Teens will show you and your family how to deal with the disease and have a positive outlook on life.

"Highly recommended for teens living with Type 2 diabetes and their parents."
-Richard R. Rubin, Ph.D., C.D.E., Associate Professor
Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics
The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Acknowledgments.

Introduction.

Chapter 1. What's Happening to Me?

Chapter 2. How to Control Diabetes--and Feel Great! Seven Steps

Chapter 3. Taking Charge.

Chapter 4. Preventing Complications.

Chapter 5. Dating...and Other Stuff.

Chapter 6.Making Choices: For Now, for the Future.

Chapter 7. Finding Help when You Need It.

Chapter 8. Real Thoughts from Real Teens.

Chapter 9. For Parents: What your Teen Wishes You Understood.

Chapter 10. Parting Thoughts.

Glossary.

Index.

Sujets

• Santé et bien-être
• Santé du quotidien
• Vie de famille
• Adolescence et Vie de Famille
• Santé au quotidien
• Santé au quotidien
• Diseases
• Health
• Diabetes
• Fitness
• Adolescence

Informations

• Publié par: Turner Publishing Company
• Date de parution: 24 août 2007
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780470255483
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

Type 2 Diabetes in Teens
T YPE 2 D IABETES IN T EENS
Secrets for Success
_______________________
Jean Betschart-Roemer, MN, MSN, CPNP, CDE


John Wiley Sons, Inc.
Copyright 2002 by Jean Betschart-Roemer. All rights reserved
Published by John Wiley Sons, Inc., New York Published simultaneously in Canada
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, [phone], fax [phone]. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley Sons, Inc., 605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158-0012, [phone], fax [phone], email: [e-mail]
This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering professional services. If professional advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.
ISBN 978-1-62045-708-5
Printed in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter 1: What s Happening to Me?
Diabetes Is on the Rise!
Inside Workings
How Diabetes Affects Your Body
What Are the Types of Diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes
Other types of diabetes
What Happens Next?
Chapter 2: How to Control Diabetes-and Feel Great! Seven Steps
Treating Type 2 Diabetes
Step #1-Understand What Type 2 Diabetes Is
Step #2-Find a Doctor or Health Care Team Who Is Experienced in Treating Teens with Diabetes
Step #3-Learn to Test Your Blood Sugar, and Do It Often
Step #4-Take Medication Regularly, and On Time, if You Need To
Step #5-Watch for Signs of Low Blood Sugar
Step #6-Eat Healthy and Maintain a Healthy Weight
Step #7-Exercise!
Chapter 3: Taking Charge
Tip #1 for Better Control: Learn as Much as You Can
Tip #2 for Better Control: Teach Others about It
Tip #3 for Better Control: Look for Patterns
Tip #4 for Better Control: Play the Hand You ve been Dealt
Tip #5 for Better Control: Unglue Yourself
Tip #6 for Better Control: Enjoy Life
Tip #7 for Better Control: Have a Positive Outlook
Tip #8 for Better Control: Be Patient with Yourself
Tip #9 for Better Control: Learn from your Choices
Tip #10 for Better Control: Start Acting in New Ways
Chapter 4: Preventing Complications
Know How Well You re Doing
Understanding Diabetes Complications
An Associated Illness: Thyroid Disease
Chapter 5: Dating and Other Stuff Sexuality
Sexuality, Self-Esteem, and Diabetes
Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD)
Female Sexual Issues
Male Sexual Issues
When It Comes to Friends and Dating
Telling a Friend About Your Diabetes
Telling Your Date About Your Diabetes
When It Comes to Partying
Overnighters
Safe Driving
Taking Trips
Avoiding Substance Abuse (In General)
Chapter 6: Making Choices: For Now, for the Future
Managing Your Diabetes in High School
Sample Plan of Care for the Student with Diabetes
Medication Management in School
Missing School
Thinking About a Career or Job
A Time of New Responsibility
Wearing Medical ID
Adult Choice: Connecting with a New Health Care Team
Getting the Most Out of Your Health Care Visits
Hanging in There with Your Diabetes Program
Chapter 7: Finding Help when You Need It
Knowing When to Call for Help
Guidelines for When to Call Your Doctor
Resources
Chapter 8: Real Thoughts from Real Teens
Chapter 9: For Parents: What your Teen Wishes You Understood
Parenting a Teenager: What a Job!
Advice for Raising a Teen with Diabetes
Chapter 10: Parting Thoughts

Glossary
Index
Acknowledgments
I wish to thank my friends and colleagues at the Children s Hospital of Pittsburgh Diabetes Center who supported and encouraged the writing of this book. I also give special thanks to the teens who took time to participate by sharing their thoughts, feelings, and helpful ideas so that others can benefit.
Family and friends are precious to me, and the writing of this work has cost me time away from them. I thank Bill, and my family and friends, for encouragement and understanding of time spent on this project. And finally, I thank God for His constant blessings and the privileges given to me, such as this opportunity to write.
Love,
Introduction
Five or ten years ago, there would have been a very limited market for this book. Things have changed in a very short period of time!
Part of the reason for this change is due to the tremendous effort in diabetes research promoted by both the American Diabetes Association and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, International. Substantial amounts of money are being donated to diabetes research efforts, which are both clarifying and complicating the diagnosis of diabetes. As it turns out, some children and teens who have been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes over the years may in fact have type 2 diabetes! Of course, the treatment for both is to keep blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible, but the understanding and strategy for doing that might be somewhat different. The increase of type 2 diabetes in children and teens is partially due to the fact that it is being recognized and diagnosed more readily, and also to the increasing incidence of type 2 diabetes in the general population.
Families and health professionals alike often confuse the course and treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, leaving a teen not knowing where to begin to ask questions. Sometimes teens, parents, and others are told that they have a touch of diabetes or borderline diabetes. What this usually means is that there are few, if any, obvious symptoms of high blood sugar but that blood sugar may at times run higher than normal. They do not have overt clinical diabetes, but may have abnormal blood glucose or insulin levels produced in response to food. The test that measures this is called a glucose tolerance test . When tested, a person is given an exact amount of something sweet to drink and blood sugar and insulin levels are then measured at specific times and compared to normal. It is possible to have abnormal glucose regulation, yet not have any clinical or subclinical signs of diabetes.
Teens with type 2 diabetes may not fully understand the seriousness of diabetes, the importance of treatment, and/or how to care for themselves. Often a teen is told to lose weight but given little help on exactly how to do it. Family members may not have a clear understanding of the issues or may have misinformation about what is required. In particular, teens who have type 2 diabetes may not take their disease seriously. This concerns me a great deal as this contributes to poor diabetes control, and, ultimately, unnecessary complications of diabetes.
As a nurse practitioner and diabetes educator who works daily with children and teens with diabetes, I personally know that there is a need for educational materials designed just to help a teen with type 2 diabetes. Of the flyers, booklets, books, and leaflets on diabetes available for people with type 2 diabetes, none of them, as of this writing, specifically address the special needs and situations of a teenager. Most of what is written for children and teens with diabetes is intended for those with type 1 diabetes, and although some of the information can be applied to both kinds of diabetes, there are distinct differences between the two types. Other materials written for people with type 2 diabetes are focused on adult issues.
As an educator and health care professional who has specialized in development and health promotion, my job is to teach children, teens, their families, and their friends what they need to know to take good care of themselves. As there are few resources to allow a teen with type 2 to reinforce her learning and keep her motivated, I wanted to provide a book that is positive, sympathetic, informative, and motivational. I wanted to offer a book that explains diabetes care in terms that a teen can understand and that talks about issues such as drinking, driving, substance abuse, sexuality, pregnancy, college, sports, dating, depression, complications, and other issues as they relate to type 2 diabetes.
I know a lot about the subject from both personal and professional experiences. I was diagnosed with type 1 at the age of 19. Additionally, I grew up as an overweight child and teen, and have been battling to control my weight all my life. I know what it feels like to be overweight and sedentary. I know what it feels like to have high and low blood glucose levels, monitor blood glucose, and do all of the things that someone with type 2 diabetes must do. Although I cannot relate to growing up with type 2 diabetes, I have personal experience with many of the issues. Most of what I have learned about dealing with type 2 diabetes, however, comes from talks with teens, who never fail to teach me.
As a teen with diabetes, you should have an understanding of what is going on in your body and what can be done about it. You need to feel as though you can do what you need to do to live a long and healthy life. Knowledge is key to your treatment. Then comes the hard part of translating what you know into the health practices that you do every day. I hope that this book does all of that, and helps to motivate you to love and take care of yourself. Take care, and good luck!
I put the finishing touches on this book September 11, 2001. As a nurse practitioner, I have dedicat