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For Healthcare Professionals

This section contains information specifically for healthcare professionals that have an interest in Diabetes. To access this area you must be registered on this site and be logged in.

Services for Professionals

Under 18?

This section is for under 18's and contains a great interactive tool to help you and your family learn more about diabetes.

Managing Diabetes

- The interactive web tool for children and families. It may be helpful to look at this section with your parents at first.

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Managing Diabetes Complications

father and daughter at computer

As you may already know, controlling your blood glucose is important for avoiding hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia—blood glucose lows and highs.

By keeping your blood glucose level in your target range, you may delay or prevent long-term complications. High blood glucose levels can damage many parts of your body, including your eyes, heart and toes. The good news is that you, along with your healthcare professional, may be able to lessen the impact of diabetes complications on your life.

This section list some of the more common diabetes-related complications, their symptoms and treatments, and some steps your healthcare professional may recommend to help reduce your risk.

Heart Disease

Child on man's shoulders

Diabetes increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. Heart or blood-vessel disease accounts for about 75% of all deaths for people with diabetes.1

High blood glucose levels can damage blood vessels, leading to cardiovascular complications, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and hardening of the arteries. In addition to risk factors you cannot control—such as heredity, age and gender—you can be at greater risk of heart problems from the following:1

  • High levels of blood fats, such as cholesterol and triglycerides
  • High blood pressure
  • Lack of physical activity
  • Being overweight
  • Stress
  • Too much alcohol
  • Smoking

Heart Disease Symptoms

Any one of the following symptoms could be a sign of heart disease, stroke or other heart problems. If you experience any of these symptoms, talk to your healthcare professional:

  • Chest pain or discomfort
  • Dizzy spells
  • Jaw, back, arm, neck or stomach pain
  • Slow-healing cuts and sores
  • Numbness or weakness on one side of the body
  • Leg pain, which may go away with rest
  • Shortness of breath
  • Sweating or light-headedness

Reducing the Risks of Heart Disease

One of the most important things to do to reduce the risk of heart disease is to meet with your doctor and/or credentialed Diabetes Educator to discuss your individual risk factors and how to reduce them. In general terms you can reduce the risk by:

  • Managing blood glucose levels in the range recommended by your healthcare professional
  • Keeping your blood pressure within a healthy range
  • Control cholesterol and triglycerides through a healthy meal plan
  • Stop smoking
  • Get physical activity every day
  • Lose weight, if you are above a recommended range
  • Talk to your healthcare professional about any concerns

If lifestyle changes are not enough, your healthcare team may recommend medication or surgery. The most common form of treatment is aspirin therapy, which helps reduce your risk of blood clots. Other options include:

  • Beta-blockers to decrease heart rate and blood pressure
  • ACE inhibitors to enlarge blood vessels
  • Statins to help reduce cholesterol levels

1 American Heart Association. Risk factors and coronary heart disease. Available at: http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4726. Accessed October 16, 2008.

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Accu-Chek ComboThe New Accu-Chek Combo

Imagine Complete Diabetes Management that Fits in the Palm of Your Hand. A state-of-the-art system that partners a “smart” blood glucose meter with a reliable insulin pump to bring you a new level of freedom and flexibility.
 The Accu-Chek Support Kitchen Corner

Hungry to learn more about food and nutrition that’s just right for you? We have loads of great recipes, meal planning options to suit your needs and your everyday eating plan. Ask our “Expert”!

Are you ready to pump?

Adults and children alike are realizing the benefits of insulin pump therapy. Use this interactive tool to discover what pump therapy can do for you.

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This website contains information on products which are targeted to a wide range of audiences and could contain product details or information otherwise not accessible or valid in your country. Please be aware that we do not take any responsibility for accessing such information which may not comply with any valid legal process, regulation, registration or usage in the country of your origin. For people with diabetes. Use only as directed. See your healthcare professional for medical advice.