Podcast #7

Welcome to the 7th edition of Your Health, an audio program from Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, offering health information and suggestions to keep you and your loved ones healthy. I'm Neal Linkon, Aurora's manager of Web communications. If you have questions, comments, ways we can help or ideas for future editions, please let us know at internet@aurora.org. We really like hearing from you!

You might have heard about robotic surgery and wondered how the heck that works. Not to worry. There's still an expert surgeon involved in the process. As Dr. Daniel O'Hair, a cardiothorasic surgeon, tells us, there's a much smaller incision, meaning the patient has less blood loss, less pain and faster recovery. But as he explained when we recently got together, there are also benefits for the surgeon.

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Dr. O'Hair suggests if you think you might be a candidate for robotic surgery,  you should start with your primary care physician. And while Dr. O'Hair is an expert on using the technology on the heart, it's also proven very useful for things like prostate cancer. For more information on robotic surgery, go to www.Aurora.org/robot.

Going to the doctor can be a stressful experience for many of us, even if it's just a routine checkup. Lots of unfamiliar equipment and surroundings. And we know that many patients are concerned about taking up too much of the doctor's time. So it helps to have a game plan for your doctor's office visit.

A little planning ahead can help a lot. Before going to see the doctor, we suggest you do these things:

• Make a note of your symptoms, the order in which they appeared, and anything that makes them better or worse
• Also note the results of any home testing, such as your temperature
• Bring a list of any medicines you take, including prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, herbal products and vitamins
• Have a list of any allergies, especially concerning medicine or food Know your family and personal medical history, which includes surgeries, serious illnesses, etc. Family is defined as mother, father, your brothers and sisters, and grandparents.
• Think about your eating and drinking habits, and how well and much you sleep or exercise.
• Make a note of any other health concerns that you might want to talk to the doctor about.
• Bring along your pharmacist's phone and fax numbers.
• And finally, have a clear idea of what you would like the doctor to do for you.

While you are with the doctor, be sure to do these things:

• Tell the doctor about the information you prepared in advance
• Ask what he/she thinks the diagnosis or problem might be
• Ask what tests might be needed
• Be sure you understand what you need to do to treat the problem, and how you can prevent it from occurring again
• Find out if you are expected to see or call the doctor again
• Be sure you understand the possible side effects of any medicines the doctor prescribes

After your visit with the doctor, be sure to:

• Follow your doctor's advice
• Call the doctor's office if you don't understand any of the instructions
• Tell your doctor if you feel worse, have other problems or side effects from any medicines
• If you have an appointment for a return visit, be sure you keep the appointment

If you want a copy of these tips or want to share them with family or friends, please go to www.Aurora.org/prepare.

Our philosophy of care is called Care management.  In each edition of Your Health, we'll look at a Care Management initiative to give you a better idea of what this is all about. Most importantly, these segments will have meaningful and useful information to help you and your loved ones. In this edition, we'll look at diabetes.

Did you know that an estimated 21 million people have diabetes in the U.S., representing 7% of the population? And of those, more than 6 million cases are undiagnosed.

Let's see how much you know.

True or False? There is a blood test that can tell the average amount of sugar in your blood over the past three months.

True. It's called the A1C test, and it is the best way to know if your blood sugar is under good control.

True or false? Finding and treating diabetes early, along with receiving regular care, can decrease your chances of eye disease, kidney disease, nerve damage and other complications.

True. High blood sugar over a period of time can contribute to a number of complications. Keeping blood sugar as close to normal as possible helps to prevent these problems.

True or false? One session with a dietitian or diabetes educator should be enough to help you manage your diabetes for life.

False. Diabetes is a long-term condition and treatment measures change over time. It's best to see a diabetes educator or dietitian every 6-12 months.

True or false? It's not necessary for you to know your blood sugar levels as long as your health care provider knows them.

False. You need to play an active role in managing your diabetes. This includes keeping track of your numbers, so you know how well your treatment plan is working.

True or false? People with diabetes should have their feet, eyes and kidneys checked regularly.

True. Diabetes-related problems can be prevented or slowed if they are found and treated early.

So, what is diabetes?

It's a disease in which the body has trouble changing food into needed energy. As a result, the levels of sugar in the blood become higher than normal. Often diabetes goes undiagnosed because many of its symptoms seem so harmless. The symptoms of diabetes include:

• Frequent urination
• Excessive thirst
• Extreme hunger
• Unusual weight loss
• Increased fatigue
• Irritability
• Blurry vision

If you have one or more of these symptoms, see your doctor right away. Recent studies indicate the early detection of diabetes symptoms and treatment can decrease the chance of developing complications.

There's also something called pre-diabetes, which means that a person's blood sugar numbers are higher than normal but not high enough to be called diabetes. Millions of people have pre-diabetes but do not know it.

There are several types of diabetes:

• Type 1 diabetes – the body stops making insulin or makes only a very small amount. Insulin is needed for the body to turn food into energy. Type 1 diabetes needs to be treated lifelong with insulin, meal planning and exercise.
• Type 2 diabetes – the body does not make enough insulin and the cells are resistant to its effects. Muscle and fat cells in the body need insulin to take up sugar from the blood. Type 2 diabetes needs to be treated lifelong with meal planning, exercise, and possibly medication. Type 2 diabetes is the most common type – more than 90% of patients with diabetes have this form of the disease.
• Gestational diabetes – high blood sugar occurs during pregnancy, usually around the 24th week. It is often controlled with a special meal plan, and sometimes insulin is needed. Gestational diabetes usually goes away after the baby is born, but the woman is at risk for developing diabetes later in life.
• Secondary diabetes – high blood sugar occurs as a result of other diseases. If the primary disease can be resolved, often the diabetes will go away.

If you have diabetes, you already know how important it is to be an active partner in your health care. Managing diabetes well takes knowledge and effort on your part. What can you do to help control your diabetes? Here are some suggestions:

• Know your numbers. Set goals with your health care provider: What should your blood sugar and A1C numbers be? How often should you have these tests?
• Keep up with the latest information. If you have not seen a dietitian or diabetes educator within the past year, ask your health care provider to refer you to one.
• Talk with your health care provider about how often you need:
  • Blood pressure checks
  • Cholesterol levels
  • Dilated eye exam
  • Foot exam
  • Urine test for kidney function
• Be sure you understand and follow your treatment plan, which can include medications, your meal plan, activity program, proper foot care, etc. By doing so, you'll be helping yourself meet your blood sugar goals.
• Be a partner in your care. Work with your health care provider to develop a treatment plan that works for you. Keep track of your blood sugar and A1C numbers, your medications, appointments, and other key parts of your care. If you have questions or you think changes may be needed in your treatment plan, call your health care provider.

To learn more, go to www.Aurora.org/Diabetes. You also can sign up for our free email newsletter on diabetes by going to www.Aurora.org/enews. Or, to learn more about our Care Management initiatives, go to www.Aurora.org/CM.

That's it for this edition of Your Health. I'm Neal Linkon, and we'd really like to hear from you on how we can help you better navigate the world of health. Drop us a line at internet@aurora.org, and thanks for listening.

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Your Health, Edition 7 (9:50)

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