Diabetes & Endocrinology

ADA's 2-pg fact sheet explains how insulin resistance arises, how it can lead to pre-diabetes and diabetes, and how to recognize the risk factors for all three conditions. Includes a comprehensive checklist of strategies focused on eating less and increasing physical activity to help prevent and reverse insulin resistance.

ADA's 2-pg fact sheet focuses on ways to prevent, manage, and reverse pre-diabetes, the silent disease that can often lead to type 2 diabetes and heart disease.  Includes checklists of risk factors for pre-diabetes and diabetes as well as diet, weight loss, and lifestyle strategies for delaying and preventing pre-diabetes.

NIA's 4-pg guide to diabetes in older persons provides an overview of type 1 and type 2 diabetes and their causes, including how insulin affects blood glucose levels. The guide focuses on recognizing the symptoms of and managing type 2 diabetes and its precursor pre-diabetes to prevent related dangerous health problems such as heart attack or stroke. Includes tips for staying healthy such as having yearly eye exams and twice-a-year A1c testing.

The American Diabetes Association's 2-pg guide to managing type 2 diabetes emphasizes the 3 areas of daily care of diabetes: healthy eating, daily physical activity, and taking medicines (if needed) to help reach blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol goals. Steps for healthy eating include counting carbs, choosing foods low in saturated fats, eating smaller portion sizes, and increasing fiber intake.

This 2-pg handout from ADA describes peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and how people with diabetes are at higher risk. Warning signs and diagnosis of PAD are discussed, as well as decreasing one’s risk of PAD and treating PAD while lowering one’s risk for heart attack and stroke. A story about a person with type 2 diabetes and PAD is included.

This 1-pg information sheet from the American Diabetes Association explains how people with diabetes are at risk for heart attacks and how heart attack signs can be different for people with diabetes. Patients learn what happens during a heart attack and why they should call 9-1-1 right away. A story about a person with type 2 diabetes who had a heart attack is included.

The Endocrine Society and the Hormone Foundation's 2-pg guide helps patients identify whether they are at metabolic risk and, if so, how they can reduce their likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Primary prevention strategies are given for both diseases.

The American Diabetes Association's 2-pg guide explains how people w/ diabetes can lower their risk of coronary artery disease, a heart attack or a stroke through smarter food choices, physical activity, and medicine. Includes personalized charts that help readers track their critical risk "ABCs" - A1C, blood pressure, and cholesterol targets against ADA-recommended targets. Specific action steps for reaching ABC targets are provided in a checklist format.

ADA's 2-pg fact sheet focuses on ways to prevent, manage, and reverse pre-diabetes, the silent disease that can often lead to type 2 diabetes and heart disease.  Includes checklists of risk factors for pre-diabetes and diabetes as well as diet, weight loss, and lifestyle strategies for delaying and preventing pre-diabetes.

The NIA's 4-pg guide to practicing good foot care for older persons provides tips for preventing foot problems and explains that foot problems may be signs of more serious medical conditions. Outlines strategies for managing common foot problems such as fungal infections, corns and calluses, bunions, ingrown toenails, neuromas, hammertoe and swollen feet. Includes instructions on how to make sure shoes fit properly.

ADA's 2-pg fact sheet on understanding and managing cholesterol explains how the different lipids (LDL, HDL & triglycerides) affect one's risk for heart disease, heart attack or stroke. It recommends lifestyle changes that individuals can make to improve their cholesterol and describes various medicines to help control blood lipids such as statins, fibrates, and niacin. Includes a chart for pts to record their blood lipid results next to ADA recommended targets.

ADA's 2-pg guide encourages individuals to understand and read the different components of food labels including serving size and nutrition facts, nutrition content claims, and ingredients lists.  Includes definitions for various food claims for fat content and daily fat-intake recommendations for men and women.

ADA's 2-pg, illustrated, heart-healthy guide provides sample menu ideas for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks that are low in saturated fat but high in fiber. Menus can be mixed and matched. Includes tips for cutting additional calories beyond the average 1,600-calorie daily menus that are highlighted.

This FDA/OWH booklet designed for women describes diabetes medication options, how they work, and their side effects, as well as the signs, causes and treatment of high and low blood sugars.

This FDA 12-pg, illustrated booklet covers the use of insulin and insulin devices for type 1 and 2 diabetes as well as gestational diabetes. It describes how often insulin should be used, the various types of insulin, and even lists various brands of insulin by insulin activity onset. Includes a section on the warning signs of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia.

This AHRQ evidence-based booklet summarizes the benefits and possible side effects of type 2 diabetes medications. It includes information for recently-diagnosed patients including blood sugar level concerns and tests, effects on cholesterol and triglycerides, and a guide to medication costs.

This 16-pg AHRQ guide compares the benefits, efficacy, side effects and costs of newer, premixed insulin with other kinds of insulin and pills for type 2 diabetes. The guide also describes blood sugar tests and explains the different kinds of insulin (long-acting and short-acting).

AHA's 2-pg handout provides tips on lifestyle choices that can promote cardiovascular health including quitting smoking, changing eating habits to reduce saturated fat, trans fat, sugar and salt, limiting alcohol intake, increasing physical activity and suggestions for calming and relaxing the mind.

The ADA's 2-pg, personalized guide to physical activity is designed to help readers, even those who have never exercised before, to commit to a new routine for daily physical activity. It explains the health benefits of physical activity for people with diabetes such as helping to keep blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels on target. Covers general physical activity, aerobic exercise, strength training, and flexibility exercises.

This 1-pg printer-friendly handout discusses Graves disease and other causes of hyperthyroidism. It lists the symptoms of the condition and includes a drawing of a patient with a goiter. Blood tests and scans used for diagnosis are described. Treatment is briefly discussed.

This 1-pg, printer-friendly, handout focuses on the autoimmune and other causes of hypothyroidism. It lists both physical and psychological symptoms of the condition. Diagnosis and treatment are briefly addressed. A drawing showing the location of the thyroid gland is included.