In this free Medical Spanish lesson you will learn how to cover the main details about anticipatory guidance in diabetes – and doing it in Spanish: Orientación temprana para diabetes.
In this free medical Spanish lesson you will learn how to give anticipatory guidance in diabetes and discuss the following:
- How to talk about the risk for diabetes in Spanish
- Signs and symptoms of high blood sugar in Spanish
- Signs and symptoms of low blood sugar in Spanish
- How to talk about diet and examples of good diet in Spanish
- Meals to limit and / or avoid
- How to talk about exercising in Spanish
- Explaining A1C in Spanish – What is it? What is the goal?
- Diabetic feet, shoes and other complications of not controlling blood sugar
- Treatments for diabetes in Spanish
Here is the Spanish Anticipatory Guidance in Diabetes lesson that I taught to the Facebook group:
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You are at risk for diabetes if / Usted tiene riesgo para diabetes si
Let’s start the lesson talking about the risk factors for diabetes and how to explain them to your patients
| Spanish | English |
| Si tiene azúcar más alto que normal (pre-diabetes) | You have blood sugar that is higher than normal (pre-diabetes) |
| Tiene sobrepeso (es obeso) | You are overweight (obese) |
Si tiene 45 años o más  | You are 45 years old or older |
| Tiene familiares con diabetes | You have family members with diabetes |
| Si tiene presión alta | You have high blood pressure |
| Ha tenido diabetes en el embarazo | You have had diabetes during any pregnancy |
| Si ha dado luz a un bebé que pesa 9 o más libras | You have given birth to a baby that spend 9 pounds or heavier |
| Tiene estilo de vida inactivo | You have an inactive lifestyle |
| Si tiene enfermedad del corazón | You have heart disease |
| Tiene depresión | You have depression |
| Si tiene síndrome del ovario poliquístico | You have polycystic ovary syndrome |
| Fuma | You smoke |
Signs and Symptoms of High Blood Sugar – Signos y Síntomas de azúcar alto
It is important to contact your doctor / provider if you feel any of these symptoms regularly or if you notice a change.
Es importante comunicarse con su doctor si siente algunos de estos síntomas regularmente o si nota un cambio.
| Spanish | English |
| Fatiga | Fatigue |
| Dolores de cabeza | Headaches |
| Visión borrosa | Blurry vision |
| Frecuencia para orinar | Frequency to urinate |
| Sed excesiva y boca seca | Excessive thirst and dry mouth |
| Dificultad para concentrar | Difficulty concentrating |
| Tener más hambre | To be more hungrier |
| Confusión | Confusion |
| Falta de aire | Shortness of breath |
| Dolor de abdomen | Abdominal pain |
Signs and Symptoms of Low Sugar – Signos y Síntomas de azúcar bajo
Low blood sugar can have severe consequences. It is very important to drink a juice, a normal soda or eat something sweet.
Azúcar bajo puede tener consecuencias severas / graves. Es muy importante tomar un jugo, un refresco normal o comer algo dulce.
| Spanish | English |
| Ritmo cardíaco irregular | Irregular heartbeat |
| Fatiga | Fatigue |
| Palor / piel pálida | Pale / pale skin |
| Temblores | Tremors |
| Ansiedad | Anxiety |
| Sudores / piel húmeda | Sweat / wet skin |
| Hambre | Hungry |
| Irritabilidad | Irritability |
| Hormigueo en la boca | Tingling in the mouth |
| Llanto mientras duerme | Crying out during your sleep |
| Confusión | Confusion |
| Visión alterada (visión borrosa) | Altered vision (blurred vision) |
| Convulsiones y pérdida de conocimiento | Seizures and poss of consciousness |
Related Lesson: How to Discuss Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes in Spanish
Let’s Talk About Diet – Hablando de Dieta
A balanced diet can prevent diabetes and help control sugar.
Una dieta balanceada puede prevenir la diabetes y ayudar a controlar el azúcar.
| Spanish | English |
| En general, es importante: | In general, it is important: |
| • Tomar más agua | • Drink more water |
| • Comer porciones pequeñas | • Eat small portions |
| • Comer comidas altas en fibra | • Eat high fiber foods |
| • Comer grasas buenas | • Eat good fats |
| • Comer comidas con un índice glucémico bajo | • Eat foods with a low glycemic index |
Related Lesson: Explaining the 5 2 1 0 Diet in Spanish
Examples of a Good Diet – Ejemplos de buena dieta
You can share these examples of good diet food to your patients so they could choose better options for eating:
| Spanish | English |
| Comidas altas en fibra: | High fiber meals: |
| • Vegetales | • Vegetables |
| • Almendras | • Almonds |
| • Avena | • Oatmeal |
| • Garbanzos | • Garbanzos |
| • Lentejas | • Lentils |
| • Manzanas | • Apples |
| Grasas buenas: | Good fats: |
| • Aguacate | • Avocado |
| • Aceite de oliva o canola | • Olive or canola oil |
| Comidas con un índice glucémico bajo no elevan el azúcar tanto: | Low glycemic index foods do not elevate sugar so much: |
| • Arroz integral en vez de arroz blanco | • Brown rice instead of white rice |
| • Pan integral en vez de pan blanco | • Whole grain bread instead of white bread |
| • Tortillas y pastas de trigo integral | • Tortillas and whole wheat pasta |
| • Avena en vez de otros cereales | • Oatmeal instead of other cereals |
| • Frutas y verduras crudas | • Raw fruits and vegetables |
| • Frijoles, ejotes y lentejas | • Beans, green beans and lentils |
Meals to limit and / or avoid – Comidas para limitar y/o evitar
At this point, it is also a good idea to let them know what type of food is better to avoid or, at least, to limit from their daily meals.
| Spanish | English |
| Grasas Saturadas: | Saturated fats: |
| • Mantequilla | • Butter |
| • Carne de res | • Beef |
| • Salchichas y chorizos | • Sausages |
| • Tocino | • Bacon |
| Grasas Trans: | Trans fat: |
| • Meriendas procesadas | • Processed snacks |
| • Mantecas | • Animal fats |
| • Comidas rápidas | • Fast foods |
| • Pan dulce | • Sweet bread |
| Colesterol: | Cholesterol: |
| • Carnes grasosas | • fatty meats |
| • Yemas de huevos | • Egg yolks |
| • Hígado y otras carnes de órganos | • Liver and other organ meats |
| Sodio: | Sodium: |
| • Usar menos sal en la preparación de comida | • Using less salt in food preparation |
| • No echarle sal en la mesa | • Do add salt to the food at the table |
Talking About Exercise – Hablando de Ejercicio
Regular physical activity is important for maintaining good sugar levels. It helps your body use the sugar in your blood. Your goal is 30 minutes of activity 5 days per week. All physical activity helps you. It is important to do something that you like:
Actividad física regular es importante para mantener buenos niveles de azúcar. Ayuda a su cuerpo usar el azúcar en la sangre. Su meta es 30 minutos de actividad 5 días por semana. Toda actividad física le ayuda. Es importante hacer algo que le guste:
| Spanish | English |
| Caminar rápido | Walking fast |
| Correr | Run |
| Andar bicicleta | Riding a bike |
| Levantar pesas | Weightlifting |
| Bailar | Dance |
| Jugar fútbol | Playing soccer |
| Nadar | Swimming |
Note: “Actividad física” (Physical activity) is maybe a better term than “Ejercicio” (Exercise) when talking to your Latino patients. This could be because the term “Ejercicio” is more related to gymnasiums or some type of activities that require resources in order to do, whereas “actividad física” could be any other things.
A1C – What is it? What is the goal? / ¿Qué es? ¿Cuál es la meta?
The A1C test is a blood test. It measures the glucose on the hemoglobin. It tells us the average reading of your sugar levels for 2-3 months. We use the test to:
La prueba A1C es un análisis de sangre. Mide la glucosa en la hemoglobina. Nos dice el promedio de sus niveles de azúcar por 2-3 meses. Usamos la prueba para:
| Spanish | English |
| Identificar pre-diabetes | Identify pre-diabetes |
| Diagnosticar diabetes | Diagnose diabetes |
| Evaluar su control de diabetes | Evaluating your diabetes control |
| Un A1C menos de 5.7 por ciento es normal | An A1C less than 5.7 percent is normal |
| A1C entre 5.7 y 6.4 por ciento es pre-diabetes | An A1C between 5.7 and 6.4 percent is pre-diabetes |
| Un A1C mayor de 6.5 por ciento es diabetes | An A1C greater than 6.5 percent is diabetes |
It is important to keep the A1C between 6.5 and 8 percent.
Es importante mantener el A1C entre 6.5 y 8 por ciento.
Related lesson: Explaining A1C Tests and results in Spanish
Diabetic Feet and Shoes – Pies Diabéticos y Zapatos
With diabetes there is less blood flow in your feet. You may also lose feeling in your feet (Neuropathy). This can result in wounds in the feet that do not heal. It is important:
Con diabetes hay menos flujo sanguíneo en los pies. También puede perder sensación en los pies (Neuropatía) Puede resultar en heridas en los pies que no se sanan. Es importante:
| Spanish | English |
| Siempre usar zapatos con calcetines limpios y secos | Always use shoes with clean and dry socks |
| Revisar los pies todos los días para cortadas, lesiones, ampollas, hinchazón, problemas con las uñas | Check your feet every day for cuts, injuries, blisters, swelling, nail problems |
| Limpie los pies en agua tibia – no use agua caliente. No olvide secar entre los dedos del pie | Check your feet every day for cuts, injuries, blisters, swelling, nail problems |
| Use cremas en los pies pero no entre los dedos del pie | Use creams on the feet but not between the toes |
| Tenga cuidado cuando corta las uñas | Be careful when you cut your toenails |
Complications for not controlling sugar – Complicaciones de no controlar el azúcar
It is very important to take seriously your diabetes management. Diabetes can affect:
Es muy importante tomar en serio su control de diabetes. Diabetes puede afectar:
| Spanish | English |
| El corazón y los vasos sanguíneos. Puede causar: | The heart and blood vessels. May cause: |
| • Ataque del corazón y Derrame cerebral | • Heart attack and Stroke |
| • Amputación de dedos del pie y de los pies | • Amputation of toes and feet |
| Los ojos. Puede causar: | The eyes. May cause: |
| • Glaucoma, cataratas, pérdida de visión | • Glaucoma, cataracts, loss of vision |
| Los riñones. Puede causar: | The kidneys. May cause: |
| • Insuficiencia renal | • Kidney failure |
| Los nervios. Puede causar: | The nerves. May cause: |
| • Pérdida de sensación en los pies, las manos y otras partes | • Loss of sensation in the feet, hands and other parts |
| Los dientes y las encías. Puede causar: | The teeth and gums. May cause: |
| • Enfermedad periodontal: inflamación y sangrado de las encías | • Periodontal disease: inflammation and bleeding in your gums |
Treatments – Tratamientos
Now it’s time to explain the different treatments your patients can take to control their diabetes:
| Spanish | English |
| Necesitamos llevar buen control de su azúcar: | We need to keep good control of your sugar: |
| • Empezamos despacio con sus medicamentos y ajustamos como sea necesario | • We start slowly with your medications and adjust as necessary |
| • La diabetes es una condición progresiva – con tiempo los tratamientos van a cambiar (aumentar) | • Diabetes is a progressive condition – with time the treatments will change (increase) |
| También es importante llevar buen control de: | It is also important to keep good control of: |
| • La presión | • The pressure |
| • La función renal | • Renal function |
| • El colesterol | • Cholesterol |
| Es muy importante para usted tomar en serio su: | It is very important for you to take your: |
| • Dieta | • Diet |
| • Actividad física | • Physical activity |
| • Autocuidado de los pies, etc | • Self-care of the feet, etc. |
¡Gracias POR aprender español conmigo!
Now it’s your turn! I packaged all of this vocabulary in Spanish into some flashcards for you to study.
I packaged all of this into easily downloadable .pdf notes–Get your copy for free today!
Keep up the good work speaking responsible Spanish to your patients!
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