by: ARA


Diabetes is a complex disease that can be difficult to
understand and an even greater challenge to manage. The most
life-threatening complications of diabetes are heart disease and
stroke, which strike two out of three people with diabetes.
Alarmingly, most people who have diabetes are unaware of their
increased risk for heart disease and stroke. The good news is that
people with diabetes can help reduce these risks by understanding
and properly managing their disease.

First, managing the ABCs of diabetes -- A1C (a blood test which
provides a “big picture” of your average blood sugar), Blood
pressure and Cholesterol -- will help reduce the risk for heart
disease, stroke and other health problems. Beyond managing the ABCs,
successful diabetes care also means understanding the disease itself
and how it affects your body. Link for Life is an interactive,
online tool filled with practical tips and valuable information
about diabetes.

“Type Two Lou,” an animated character who hosts the program, takes
visitors into a virtual classroom, Diabetes 101. Link for Life
consists of four distinct “courses”:

1. What is diabetes?

2. Diabetes and related health problems

3. The ABCs of diabetes

4. Medications

Through colorful animation, Link for Life describes how diabetes
affects your body and describes the key components of diabetes care.
Special features include tips on meal planning, managing medicines,
diabetes self-care, and getting the most from visits with your
health care providers. Most importantly, the program shows that by
increasing knowledge and taking charge of diabetes, people with
diabetes can reduce their risk for heart disease, stroke and other
long-term health problems. To log onto Link for Life, visit
www.diabetes.org/makethelink and click on the Link for Life icon in
the center of the screen. To learn more about the link between
diabetes and cardiovascular disease, call (800) DIABETES (342-2383)

Courtesy of ARA Content






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Courtesy of ARA Content