Managing Your Diabetes
Diabetes is a complicated disease. It can affect many areas of your body as well as many areas of your life. What you eat, when you eat, treatments and medications, testing your blood glucose, exercising... all these play a role in successful management of diabetes. Your goal is to live a happy, healthy life with diabetes. My goal is to give you the resources to achieve your goal.
Type 2 Diabetes in the Real World
Hearing about living with type 2 diabetes from people with type 2 diabetes themselves can help you better understand the disease. Meet Jim, a 61-year-old registered nurse who was recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Hearing about living with type 2 diabetes from people with type 2 diabetes themselves can help you better understand the disease. Meet Jim, a 61-year-old registered nurse who was recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 Diabetes Toolbox
If you've been diagnosed with diabetes, then you know how overwhelming it can feel at first. There's a lot to do and a lot to learn. This toolbox will provide you with a good place to start as you learn about managing your diabetes.
If you've been diagnosed with diabetes, then you know how overwhelming it can feel at first. There's a lot to do and a lot to learn. This toolbox will provide you with a good place to start as you learn about managing your diabetes.
What Should My Diabetes Goals Be?
People with diabetes or prediabetes are responsible for much of their care, which can be a daunting process. However, self-care can be made easier by setting diabetes goals for blood sugar levels, weight loss, exercise and for control of other health risks.
People with diabetes or prediabetes are responsible for much of their care, which can be a daunting process. However, self-care can be made easier by setting diabetes goals for blood sugar levels, weight loss, exercise and for control of other health risks.
Using a Checklist to Manage Diabetes
Checklists are useful tools that help people with diabetes effectively manage their disease by keeping track of test results, general health goals, questions to ask a doctor and more.
Checklists are useful tools that help people with diabetes effectively manage their disease by keeping track of test results, general health goals, questions to ask a doctor and more.
Adjusting Your Insulin
Tight blood glucose control is essential to good diabetes management. The two basic tools for this goal are checking and recording a patient’s blood glucose levels, and then adjusting his or her insulin accordingly. These adjustments require knowledge and some expertise.
Tight blood glucose control is essential to good diabetes management. The two basic tools for this goal are checking and recording a patient’s blood glucose levels, and then adjusting his or her insulin accordingly. These adjustments require knowledge and some expertise.
Insulin: Who Needs It and Who Doesn’t?
People with type 1 diabetes require supplemental insulin because their bodies can no longer produce insulin themselves. However, type 2 diabetes is different. Less than one third of those with type 2 diabetes take insulin. The CDC puts the number at about 28%.
People with type 1 diabetes require supplemental insulin because their bodies can no longer produce insulin themselves. However, type 2 diabetes is different. Less than one third of those with type 2 diabetes take insulin. The CDC puts the number at about 28%.
Assembling Your Own Personal Healthcare Team
Diabetes is a disease with many faces. Diet and exercise, eye care and foot care, keeping track of blood glucose levels, medications and insulin: all of this has to be juggled by one person - you. Having a team of professionals to help you can make the whole thing a lot easier. Who do you need on your team?
Diabetes is a disease with many faces. Diet and exercise, eye care and foot care, keeping track of blood glucose levels, medications and insulin: all of this has to be juggled by one person - you. Having a team of professionals to help you can make the whole thing a lot easier. Who do you need on your team?
5 Good Reasons To Check Your Blood Sugar
Managing diabetes is all about balance. People with diabetes have to balance food, medication and exercise to keep blood sugar levels in an acceptable range because their bodies can no longer do it for them. Regular self-monitoring of blood glucose levels (SMBG) gives you a handle on where your blood sugar levels are.
Managing diabetes is all about balance. People with diabetes have to balance food, medication and exercise to keep blood sugar levels in an acceptable range because their bodies can no longer do it for them. Regular self-monitoring of blood glucose levels (SMBG) gives you a handle on where your blood sugar levels are.
What To Do When You're Sick
When you're sick with a stomach bug or flu, it's hard to keep a good schedule for eating and taking medications, especially when you can't keep anything down. What's the best way to handle a sick day?
When you're sick with a stomach bug or flu, it's hard to keep a good schedule for eating and taking medications, especially when you can't keep anything down. What's the best way to handle a sick day?
How Does Your Doctor Diagnose Type 2 Diabetes?
How do you find out that you have Type 2 diabetes? Often, because there may not be noticeable symptoms, the diagnosis is made during an annual physical or checkup.
How do you find out that you have Type 2 diabetes? Often, because there may not be noticeable symptoms, the diagnosis is made during an annual physical or checkup.
What’s the Big Deal? Denying a Diagnosis of Diabetes
It’s not unusual for someone who has been diagnosed with diabetes or any chronic health condition to go through a period of denial. Psychologists say denial is a way for people to cope with something when they’re not quite ready to face it.
It’s not unusual for someone who has been diagnosed with diabetes or any chronic health condition to go through a period of denial. Psychologists say denial is a way for people to cope with something when they’re not quite ready to face it.
Don't Forget Your Diabetes Check-ups
Even if your diabetes is in total control, you can still have complications that may go unnoticed. That's why regular medical check-ups are imperative.
Even if your diabetes is in total control, you can still have complications that may go unnoticed. That's why regular medical check-ups are imperative.
For Diabetics, Honesty is the Best Policy
People who lie to their health care providers do so for many reasons. Some patients lie so they’ll appear to be “good” patients. Some lie to avoid being judged. Some lie because they don’t want to admit a bad habit to themselves, let alone to their health care providers. Regardless of their motive, diabetics sometime forget that honesty and health go hand in hand.
People who lie to their health care providers do so for many reasons. Some patients lie so they’ll appear to be “good” patients. Some lie to avoid being judged. Some lie because they don’t want to admit a bad habit to themselves, let alone to their health care providers. Regardless of their motive, diabetics sometime forget that honesty and health go hand in hand.
Summer Time Tips and Diabetes
Summer is the time of year to enjoy being outdoors, but when summer arrives, so do high temperatures and humidity. People with chronic conditions have to be even more careful in the heat than usual, especially with diabetes.
Summer is the time of year to enjoy being outdoors, but when summer arrives, so do high temperatures and humidity. People with chronic conditions have to be even more careful in the heat than usual, especially with diabetes.
Top 10 Foot Care Tips
People with diabetes have an increased risk for infections, expecially in their feet. Decreased circulation and changes in the blood vessels in the extremities can cause healing to be delayed. Complications can be devastating,
People with diabetes have an increased risk for infections, expecially in their feet. Decreased circulation and changes in the blood vessels in the extremities can cause healing to be delayed. Complications can be devastating,
To Control Diabetes, Turn Off the TV
Diabetes risk increases 14% for every 2 hours a day spent watching TV, according to a 2003 study of women published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Diabetes risk increases 14% for every 2 hours a day spent watching TV, according to a 2003 study of women published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Smoking Cessation and Diabetes
Smoking-related cardiovascular problems include high blood pressure, heart attack, high cholesterol, and peripheral vascular disease (claudication). Smoking also causes insulin resistance in both diabetic and nondiabetic people.
Smoking-related cardiovascular problems include high blood pressure, heart attack, high cholesterol, and peripheral vascular disease (claudication). Smoking also causes insulin resistance in both diabetic and nondiabetic people.
Holiday Eating and Type 2 Diabetes
The holidays are here, and with their arrival comes a virtual onslaught of sugary, high calorie temptation. Thanksgiving Day can feel like the start of a horse race. The starter pistol fires and off we go, racing through an obstacle course of side dishes, gravies, sauces, pies, cookies, and candy. It's How can you keep your blood glucose levels out of the stratosphere and stay on your eating plan?
The holidays are here, and with their arrival comes a virtual onslaught of sugary, high calorie temptation. Thanksgiving Day can feel like the start of a horse race. The starter pistol fires and off we go, racing through an obstacle course of side dishes, gravies, sauces, pies, cookies, and candy. It's How can you keep your blood glucose levels out of the stratosphere and stay on your eating plan?
Alternative Treatments for Diabetes
People throughout the world have used indigenous plants and herbs to treat conditions like diabetes for centuries. Many of these remedies are now being scientifically tested to determine if they are, in fact, useful in treating diabetes.
People throughout the world have used indigenous plants and herbs to treat conditions like diabetes for centuries. Many of these remedies are now being scientifically tested to determine if they are, in fact, useful in treating diabetes.
Cross-Training for Diabetes
Cross-training is just a fancy term for adding variety to an exercise plan by doing different activities on different days. And people who have diabetes really can’t exercise just once in a while. To control blood sugar and reduce the risk of diabetes complications, people managing diabetes make exercise a regular part of their lifestyles.
Cross-training is just a fancy term for adding variety to an exercise plan by doing different activities on different days. And people who have diabetes really can’t exercise just once in a while. To control blood sugar and reduce the risk of diabetes complications, people managing diabetes make exercise a regular part of their lifestyles.
Muffin Nation - Expanding Portion Sizes in America
Food is getting bigger. Americans are getting bigger, too, according to recent statistics. Is there a correlation? It seems like it to me. Back when I was a kid, a muffin was a smallish treat, usually home baked. A homemade blueberry muffin is about 100 calories and 6 grams of fat, depending on the recipe. Today's purchased muffins are twice or three times that size. Why is everything getting bigger?
Food is getting bigger. Americans are getting bigger, too, according to recent statistics. Is there a correlation? It seems like it to me. Back when I was a kid, a muffin was a smallish treat, usually home baked. A homemade blueberry muffin is about 100 calories and 6 grams of fat, depending on the recipe. Today's purchased muffins are twice or three times that size. Why is everything getting bigger?
Christopher Thomas, the Diabetic Rockstar
Christopher Thomas was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in May 2007. Since then, he's completely changed his life and started diabeticrockstar.com, a website for people with diabetes geared toward raising funds for those who can't afford their diabetes medication and supplies.
Christopher Thomas was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in May 2007. Since then, he's completely changed his life and started diabeticrockstar.com, a website for people with diabetes geared toward raising funds for those who can't afford their diabetes medication and supplies.
Can I Deduct My Medical Expenses?
Medical bills for a chronic disease like diabetes can really add up. What can you do if your bills are more than your insurance will cover? If your bills are more than 7.5% of your adjusted gross income, you can deduct many of your medical expenses off your taxes. Both medical and dental deductions are allowed.
Medical bills for a chronic disease like diabetes can really add up. What can you do if your bills are more than your insurance will cover? If your bills are more than 7.5% of your adjusted gross income, you can deduct many of your medical expenses off your taxes. Both medical and dental deductions are allowed.
Navigating the Buffet Line
Maintaining a healthy weight is a cornerstone of diabetes management. Weight loss is also the number one defense against insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. Diets are one thing, but what if you want to eat out? It's not so easy to control what you eat in a restaurant.
Maintaining a healthy weight is a cornerstone of diabetes management. Weight loss is also the number one defense against insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. Diets are one thing, but what if you want to eat out? It's not so easy to control what you eat in a restaurant.
HIPAA and Your Private Medical Information
HIPAA is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). It means that your private health information is protected by federal law. You have rights regarding your personal information and it provides specific rules and regulations on who may have access to it.
HIPAA is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). It means that your private health information is protected by federal law. You have rights regarding your personal information and it provides specific rules and regulations on who may have access to it.
The ADA asks, "Who's On Your Health Team?"
The American Diabetes Association helps diabetes patients assemble the best healthcare team possible to help manage the many aspects of their disease.
The American Diabetes Association helps diabetes patients assemble the best healthcare team possible to help manage the many aspects of their disease.
Making Sure You Get Quality Healthcare
How do you navigate the choppy waters of health insurance without going under? The Joslin Diabetes Center has great ideas to help you understand the changing healthcare scene.
How do you navigate the choppy waters of health insurance without going under? The Joslin Diabetes Center has great ideas to help you understand the changing healthcare scene.