DIABETES

Note: I prefer Jyutping over Yale

A: Hi. I ‘ve recently been diagnosed with diabetes. It was just 1 week ago.
nei5 hou2. ngo5 zeoi3gan6 bei6 can2dyun6 ceot1 waan6jau5 tong4niu6beng6. zau6hai6 zau1 cin4

Simpler:
nei5hou6. ngo5 zeoi3gan6 jau5 zo2 tong4niu6beng6. zing6hai6 jat1 go3 lei5baai3 cin4 diagnose.

can2dyun3= diagnose
waan6jau5 = to contract (an illness)
zau1 = week
Hanping cantonese = the dictionary app i use

B: Which hospital did you go to?

nei5 heoi3 zo2 bin1 gaan1 ji1 jyun2？

A. HKL. I have Type 2 diabetes. What is the difference between Type 1 and Type 2? I won’t ever
have to take insulin injections right? That is just for Type 1?
HKL. [ngo5]患[waan6]有[jau5]2 型[jing4]糖[tong4]尿[niu6]病[beng6]。 類[leoi6]型[jing4]1 同[tung4]
類[leoi6]型[jing4]2 有[jau5]咩[me1]區[keoi1]別[bit6]？ 我[ngo5]永[wing5]遠[jyun5]唔[m4]使[sai2]
注[zyu3]射[se6]胰[ji4]島[dou2]素[sou3]，係[hai6]唔[m4]係[hai6]？ 定[ding6]係[hai6] (or is it) jung6
(use) hai6 type 1 ?

Simpler:
HKL. ngo5 jau5 Type 2 tong4niu6beng6. Type 1 tung4 Type 2 jau5 me1 m4tung4? ngo5 wing5jyun5
m4sai2 daa2 insulin, hai6m4hai6? zing6hai6 Type 1 jiu3 daa2.

2 ying4 = (type 2) type for disease

leoi6jing4 = type
fan1bit = difference = m4 tung4
= inject = zyu3se6 = da2
jik6 miu4 = vaccine
[ji4]島[dou2]素[sou3] = insulin

B: Type 1 is when your body can’t produce its own insulin so yes, patients with Type 1 need insulin
injections. These patients are usually young people. For older people, Type 2 is more common.
1 型[jing4]係[hai6]當[dong1]你[nei5]嘅[ge3]身[san1]體[tai2]唔[m4]能[nang4]夠[gau3]產[caan2]生
[sang1]自[zi6]己[gei2]嘅[ge3]胰[ji4]島[dou2]素[sou3]，所[so2]以[ji5]係[hai6]嘅[ge3]，1 型[jing4]患
[waan6]者[ze2]需[seoi1]要[jiu3]注[zyu3]射[se6]胰[ji4]島[dou2]素[sou3]。 呢[ni1]啲[di1]患[waan6]
者[ze2]通[tung1]常[soeng4]係[hai6]後[hau6]生[saang1]仔[zai2]。 對[deoi3]於[jyu1]老[lou5]年[nin4]
人[jan4]，2 型[jing4]更[gang3 常[soeng4]見[gin3]。

Simpler:
Type 1 hai6 nei ge san1tai2 mou5 insulin, so2ji5 hai6 ngaam1, Type 1 jiu3 daa2 insulin. tung1 soeng4
hai6 hau6saang1. Lou5 jan4 gaa1 tung1 soeng4 hai6 type 2.

Type 2 is when your body does not respond well enough to your own insulin (insulin resistance). It
can be controlled with oral medications. However, some cases are so severe that they need insulin
injections too. What medication did your doctor prescribe you?
2 型[jing4]係[hai6]指[zi2]你[nei5]嘅[ge3]身[san1]體[tai2]對[deoi3]自[zi6]己[gei2]嘅[ge3]胰[ji4]島
[dou2]素[sou3]反[faan2]應[jing3]唔[m4]夠[gau3]好[hou2]。 它[taa1]可[ho2]以[ji5]透[tau3]過
[gwo3]口[hau2]服[fuk6]藥[joek6]物[mat6]嚟[lai4]控[hung3]制[zai3]。 但[daan6]係[hai6]，有[jau5]
啲[di1]病[beng6]例[lai6]非[fei1]常[soeng4]嚴[jim4]重[zung6]，佢[keoi5]哋[dei6]都[dou1]需[seoi1]
要[jiu3]注[zyu3]射[se6]胰[ji4]島[dou2]素[sou3]。 你[nei5]嘅[ge3]医[ji1]师[si1]畀[bei2]你[nei5]開
[hoi1]咗[zo2]乜[mat1]嘢[je5]藥[joek6]？

Simpler:
Type 2 zung6hai6 ho2ji5 sik6 joek6. daan6hai6, jau5 di1 jan4 hou2 jim4zung6 keoi dei jiu3 daa2
insulin. ji1sang1 bei2 nei sik6 me joek6?

A: Metformin.
B: How is it so far, any problems?
ji4gaa1 nei jau5mou5 me1 man6tai4?

A: I have some stomach discomfort. A lot of flatulence(wind).

ngo5 jau5 wai6tung3. hou2 do1 fung1.

B: Yeah that is a common side effect of this medicine that may improve over time.
hai6. waai6tung3 hai3 jat1 go soeng4gin3 (/jan4jan4 dou ho2nang4 jau5) ge man6tai4. Bei2 keoi
si4gaan3 wui3 jau5 ho2nang4 bin3hou2 ge.

fu3zok3jung6 =side effect

soeng4gin3 = common
Jan4jan4 dou ho2nang jau5 ge fu3zok3jung6 / soeng4 gin3 = common side effect
Zeon3 bou6 = jin4bu4 or become better = bin3 hou2 = improve

Usually, taking it with/after food should help but I’m sure you are doing that already. Other ways
to reduce flatulence is to eat smaller-sized meals several times a day instead of big meals. Smaller-
sized meals will prevent your stomach from being overloaded with food. When overloaded,
undigested food sits in the digestive system, expanding and creating gas. Another thing you can do
is to avoid spicy food and reduce fats intake. When large amounts of fats are ingested, digestion
rates are slowed to prevent large amounts of fat from being released into the blood. Slower
digestion rates lead to increase flatulence due to gas build-up. If this problem continues/persists
and you find it unbearable, you can go talk to your about it and he might consider starting at a
smaller dose, slowly building it up or simply changing your medication. There are other options for
you.

A: I sometimes forget to take my dose. What do I do if I miss my dose?

B: If you miss a dose, take the dose as soon as possible after realizing you missed it. However, if it’s
been more than a few hours since the missed dose and you’re getting close to the next dose, skip
the dose and take the next dose at its regular time. Don’t double the dose. Tips for remembering to
take you medication: use your phone to set a reminder, use a pill box and place it somewhere you
can see in plain sight, take medication at the same time each day, ask help from your family member
to remind you. Frequently missing doses can increase your risk for complications.
A: Are there any products or supplement I can take to control my blood glucose level?
B: Besides medication, there aren’t any products that can effectively or directly control your blood
glucose because we don’t want to interfere with the medication. Otherwise, your blood sugar levels
will be inconsistent/drop too low. So for blood glucose control, taking your medications on time,
eating a healthy diet (reduce processed meat, alcohol intake, sweet stuff, unhealthy food) and
exercising is enough. You can still take supplements for general health. In fact, since you are on
metformin, it is recommended that you take vitamin B12 because metformin can cause vitamin B12
deficiency as a side effect.
A: Ok. This brand compared to that brand, which is better?
B: Actually both are good, it just depends on your body and which suits you more. So it’s up to you
to try and see. The dose for this brand is slightly higher than the other and it is more expensive but
that doesn’t mean it is better/not necessarily better.
A: Ok. I want to check my blood glucose level.
B: Have you fasted for 8 hours? Can’t eat or drink any drink except water.
A: Yes.
B: Your blood glucose level is normal/under control. The target range for fasting blood glucose is
between 4.4-6.0. You can also check 2 hours after meal (post-prandial), the levels should be no more
than 8.5mmol/L.
A: I’m thinking of buying the glucometer device. Is it actually useful? Should I buy?
B: It’s useful because it is important to monitor your blood glucose levels. Do you know what kind of
complications uncontrolled diabetes can cause?
A: Yes I heard some people have to amputate their feet or leg. Some people become blind. How
does that happen?
B: High sugar levels in the blood causes a lot of stress on the blood vessels, damaging them.
Damaged blood vessels means poor blood flow to important organs like your eyes, heart and kidney.
Eventually the organs get damaged too which leads to complications such as blindness and kidney
failure. High blood sugar can also damage the nerves especially at our extremities such as the foot.
This leads to loss of sensation so some people injure their foot without realizing. To make matters
worst, wounds are very difficult to heal in people with diabetes, so without quick and proper
treatment, the infection becomes too severe and requires amputation so that it won’t spread to the
rest of the body.
A: That is really scary. There is another way to monitor blood glucose right? HbA1c?
B: Yes that test is a blood test. You would have to see the doctor to get that check once every 6
months. It measures your long-term blood glucose levels, whereas this device just measures short-
term.
A: Ok can you show me how to use the glucometer.
B: https://www.verywellhealth.com/how-to-use-a-glucometer-1087304#:~:text=How%20does%20a
%20glucometer%20work,then%20gives%20you%20a%20reading.

1. First, set/lay out all the supplies(things):

 Alcohol pad
 A lancing device (looks like a pen) with a fresh lancet (the needle) (used to draw blood)
 A test strip

2. Wash your hands or clean them with an alcohol pad. This helps prevent infection. Allow the skin
to dry completely. Don't blow on your skin to dry it, as that can introduce germs.
3. Insert the test strip to turn on the glucometer. The glucometer screen will tell you when it's time
to put blood on the strip.
4. Use the lancing device to pierce the side of your finger, next to the fingernail (or another
recommended location). This hurts less than lancing the pads of your fingers.
5. Squeeze your finger until it has produced a sufficient-size drop. Place the drop of blood on the
strip.
6. Blot/wipe your finger with the alcohol pad to stop the bleeding. Wait a few moments for the
glucometer to generate a reading.

If you often have trouble getting a good blood sample, warm your hands with running water or by
rubbing them briskly together. Be sure they are dry again before you prick yourself.
Dispose of lancets in a sharps container. (like a milo tin) Take the container to a hospital or pharmacy
with a disposal program.

Avoiding Common Problems:

You should:
-Keep extra glucometer batteries in case.
-Don't use expired test strips. They can give inaccurate results.
-Store strips in their container. Make sure the lid is tightly closed. Light or moisture/wet/water can
cause damage
-Clean your device at regularly. Run quality-control checks when prompted. (Check your manual for
how.)
-Some devices require larger blood samples. Be sure to use the blood sample size required by your
device.

Lancet Pain:
If lancing your finger is painful, you have a few options for making it hurt less:

-Use a fresh lancet (change the needle): repeated use dulls them and makes pokes more painful.
(blunt needle is more painful). Although it is a good idea to change it about once a day for hygiene
purposes, changing it once every 1-2 weeks is ok too. It just depends on you. As long as no one else
is using your pricker, there is no need to change it each and every time.
-Change the gauge (thickness) of your lancets (change to a thinner needle): The higher the number,
the thinner the lancet. A 30-gauge lancet, for example, may be more comfortable than a 21-gauge
one.
-Adjust the depth setting on your lancing device: This can make the poke less deep. Try a low setting,
such as 2 or 3, and then work your way up until you get a good sample with minimal pain.
-Alternate the finger, and which side of the finger, you use. That will give the spots time to heal
before you poke them again.

Some other words (bolded) I would like to know to say:

Setting up the lancing device:
1. Take the cap off the lancing device.
2. Insert a new lancet into the lancet device, as seen in the picture.
3. Twist off the blue safety cap on the tip of the lancet after you insert the needle into the device.
4. Replace the cap on the lancet
5. Twist the cap to set the lancet depth.
6. Twist the bottom until it clicks to (hear the click sound)
-replace the lancet cap
-twist the cap to set the lancet depth
-twist the bottom until it clicks to engage the lancet

Press the button and hold

Up and down button
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More diabetes conversation ideas:
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Why before food
Weight gain BMI measure waist circumference
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Hypoglycaemia
Symptoms
No stock Order supply
Combination pill

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Take only when heart pain,

Stopping chest pain during an angina attack

GTN tablets and spray are used under your tongue. The medicine is absorbed into your body very
quickly this way, so it can be used for fast relief of chest pain caused by angina.

It's a good idea to learn how to take your GTN tablets and spray as soon as you get them. You might
need to use them in a hurry if you get an angina attack.

Keep your tablets or spray with you all the time, so you can use them if you get chest pain.

Tablets – 1 tablet under your tongue as soon as possible. If you're still in pain after 5 minutes you
can have a second dose by putting 1 more tablet under your tongue. If you're still in pain after 5
minutes you can have a third and final dose. Should be on your way to the hospital when you take
the 3rd dose.

Preventing chest pain before exercise or physical effort

Tablets – put 1 tablet under your tongue before you start your activity. The tablets usually take 1 to
3 minutes to work.

How to take GTN tablets

Sit down.
Put a tablet under your tongue and close your mouth.
Allow the tablet to dissolve slowly – do not suck, chew or swallow it.
Close the container – this is important, so your tablets do not lose their strength.
Rest for a while, then stand up slowly.
It's a good idea to have a spare/extra, unopened bottle of tablets. It's important to not run out.

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