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August 18, 2000

Behavior

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Question from Lexington, Virginia, USA:

What advice would you give a 17 year old male who has had diabetes since the age of five and whose HbA1C levels have been 12-13% for the last three years? What about the effects of consuming alcohol and smoking or chewing? He needs to hear this from another professional.

Answer:

From: DTeam Staff

For starters, alcohol can mask the symptoms of low blood sugar and he may be in danger from that fact alone. The dangers of tobacco and diabetes have to do with increasing poor circulation and the threat of future complications as a result. Chewing is connected with oral cancer.

Most of all it sounds like this young man is taking a “what the hell” attitude that will only serve to create disasters for him long term. Counseling is recommended.

CMB