FAIRHOPE, Ala. — Getting a diagnosis of diabetes can be devastating. It means that a lot of changes have to be made, from your diet to the amount of exercise you do to the shoes you wear. The disease, which means that the body is not using glucose, a form of sugar that is needed for energy properly, means a lot of little (and not so little) changes in daily routine. Some control their blood sugar levels with diet, some with diet and exercise, and some do have to give themselves regular injections of insulin or take medication.

Still, a diagnosis of diabetes is not the end of the world.

“We manage to take care of it,” said John Demeo of Foley. Both he and his wife of 46 years, Audrey, have the disease. He has had diabetes for 20 to 25 years, and Audrey developed the disease a little over eight years ago. Both have “type 2” diabetes. He manages his illness with diet, and regular exercise, she with diet alone. Both use injections of insulin to manage their disease.

“I don’t exercise,” says Audrey. According to the American Diabetes Association Web site, “In type 2 diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin. Insulin is necessary for the body to be able to use glucose for energy.”

Left untreated, diabetes can rob a person of sight, limbs, and life.

Floyd and Caire Jackson of Bay Minette are still learning about the disease. Floyd, a former chief technician for International Paper, learned he was diabetic during the summer of last year. He controls his disease with a combination of diet and exercise.

“I had been having spells where I was getting weak and dizzy,” said Floyd.

Both the Jacksons and the Demeos are getting help from Thomas Hospital’s Diabetes Support Group. The Demeos have been going for almost a decade, and this month was the Jackson’s first meeting. The group usually meets on the first Tuesday of the month, holidays excluded.

“We always walk away with something new,” said John Demeo.

Registered nurses Dian Mangus and Renee B. Davis along with registered dietitian Becky Senkbeil are diabetes educators, and are as of right now, leading the support group. Davis also leads a support group for young people 13 to 18 years of age.

The goal of both groups, the nurses and Senkbeil say, is to give patients interesting information in a fun setting that will allow them to help themselves.

“We serve persons with diabetes,” said Mangus. “People have mixed feelings about this disease. The job (of a diabetes educator) most resembles that of a salesman - sometimes it’s a hard sell,” continued Mangus.

“There’s a lot of denial, especially if they haven’t had diabetes in the family before,” said Senkbeil.

Alabama, Davis says, has an especially big problem with diabetes.

“We’re third in the country with our percentage of obesity,” said Davis. “We have the highest incidence of stroke, and we have about 9.7 percent of the population with diabetes.”

Senkbeil added that the national average for people with diabetes is about seven percent, and that about 20 percent of people over the age of 60 have the disease.

Sometimes, it’s a trip to the eye doctor that puts a patient on the road to a diagnosis of diabetes.

“A lot of times, patients go to the eye doctor (because of blurry vision)” said Senkbeil. “The doctor refers them back to their family doctor to have the situation checked out.”

More often, the nurses say, it’s a routine test during a routine physical that picks up the problem.

“Your doctor may order a fasting blood sugar test,” said Mangus. This is a test that measures blood glucose levels six to eight hours after the last meal. An abnormally high reading is a ticket to a repeat test and a possible diagnosis of diabetes.

However, there are a few symptoms that will tip a person (and their physician) that diabetes might be in the picture.

“If someone is making frequent trips to the bathroom, has increased thirst, fatigue, and perhaps blurry vision, we suspect diabetes,” said Mangus, ticking off the major symptoms of the disease.

While the schedules and diets involved in treating diabetes look formidable, all three say that most people make a good adjustment.

“It is scary,” said Senkbeil. “People are afraid it is going to change the way they live. They are afraid of being on a schedule. The good thing is that we know exactly how to manage it (diabetes) and we know what works.”

The rewards for managing diabetes is huge.

“There is a good payoff to managing your diabetes,” said Davis. “Your health will improve. You will feel better.”

And for those thinking that a diagnosis of diabetes means that they will never enjoy a piece of birthday cake or a sweet again, listen to Senkbeil.

“Certainly, if it’s somebody’s birthday, we expect them to have a small piece of cake. We teach carb (carbohydrate) counting at each meal. You have to learn to make tradeoffs,” said Senkbeil.

Learning about tradeoffs and how to make those adjustments is what the diabetes support group is all about.

“We know that the attendees want education, and they want guest speakers,” said Mangus.

At last Tuesday’s meeting Dr. Bradford Egly, a podiatrist, showed the group a slide presentation just what could go wrong with the feet, especially feet that have impaired circulation from diabetes.

“The best (form of exercise) is walking,” said Egly. “Just get on a regular walking routine, even if it’s only two blocks, it will help.”

Egly also advised that there should be “nothing tight around the leg,” but his real ire was saved for tobacco.

“Tobacco is the worst thing of all,” he said. “Being diabetic is bad enough but add tobacco to the situation and it gets worse.”

Controlling diabetes is the best way to make sure the feet remain healthy, Egly said.

“The best way (to control diabetes) is to check blood sugar often and keep it level. A lot of people damage their nerves with high sugar levels. …get in the routine of checking your feet. Put a cream on your feet, and look at the bottom of your foot. Check your socks for bleeding.”

Any changes or anything that concerns you, Egly said, should be brought to the attention of a health care professional.

Medicare covers routine care of diabetic feet, and for the treatment of other conditions, Egly said.

The diabetes support group meets on the first Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at the Diabetes Center, 750 Morphy Ave. For more information, call (251) 990-1712.