Understanding the Different Types of Diabetes: A Comprehensive Guide
Diabetes is a chronic medical condition characterized by elevated blood sugar levels. It results from either the body's inability to produce insulin (Type 1 diabetes) or inefficient use of insulin by the body (Type 2 diabetes). Here's a brief overview of the causes, symptoms, and treatments for the two main types of diabetes: Type 1 Diabetes: Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that typically develops during childhood or adolescence, but it can occur at any age. In this condition, the immune system...
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Exercise more
Ways to Increase Activity Exercise is good for everyone, but for people with diabetes, it can make a big difference in keeping your blood sugar level under control. Not only that, but staying active allows your cells to process insulin more efficiently, improving your overall A1C levels. The many benefits to staying active Exercise is one of the cornerstones of managing your diabetes, because the list of benefits for people with diabetes is long. Exercise can:1 Improve insulin sensitivity for people with type 12 Decrease the glucose in your...
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Preparing for Pregnancy
Preparing for pregnancy—good reasons to start today Let's think into the future. Imagine sitting in a rocking chair playing with ten brand-new, tiny toes. That's the image you can remember every time you check your blood glucose, visit your doctor or say no to a glass of wine. And it's absolutely worth it. Not ready for parenthood yet? Here's what you can do now. There are several things you can do to prepare for pregnancy well before you're ready to conceive. Read about it—just not too much. When you understand the risks, you...
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At the heart of the matter
Everyone thinks of February as the month of Valentine’s Day, but let’s not forget it’s also Heart Month! A few quick facts Half of the people living with diabetes are unaware of their risk of heart disease. Adults with diabetes are two to four times more likely to suffer from heart disease or a stroke compared to non-diabetic adults. Two-thirds of adults living with diabetes have high blood pressure, which is a risk factor for heart disease, heart attacks and strokes. When blood sugar is too high, it can damage blood vessels and...
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How to Talk to Your Doctor
How to Talk to Your Doctor Whether you’ve been living with diabetes for years or you’re newly diagnosed, communicating with your healthcare team is one of the best things you can do. If you’re nervous about opening up to your doctor or pharmacist, there are some good reasons to conquer these fears. Less communication leads to measurable increases in your stress, anxiety, and possible depression. It also leads, inevitably, to less frequent and less successful diabetes management.1 Since communicating with your healthcare providers is proven to be good for your health, here are some...
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Managing Sick Days
Feeling fine? It's the perfect day to create a sick day plan. When you're feeling ill, you'd like nothing more than to lie in bed with a good book or movie. Yet that's when you need to focus even more on diabetes self-care. The key to sick days with diabetes is doing all of the thinking ahead of time. That way, when you don't feel like concentrating, you can simply follow the plan. What to include in your plan Involve your diabetes care healthcare team in developing your sick day plan—ask them when you should call for help, how often you should...
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The Future of Diabetes Treatment
High-tech to zero-tech: The future of diabetes treatment Diabetes care has come a long way in just a few decades—after all, the first insulin pump was introduced in 1963, and fingerprick tests for personal blood glucose monitoring have only been around since the mid-1980s. So what's next? In development: Automating insulin delivery—the artificial pancreas Taking insulin pumping to the next level, an artificial pancreas is being tested that combines a continuous glucose monitor, insulin pump and glucagon pump (should blood glucose go too low), all managed by an app on...
Read More
Get a Good Night’s Sleep
Why sleep is important for people with diabetes When you are getting enough sleep, you may find that you have an easier time controlling your blood sugar. You’ll be more alert during the day, have more energy, less stress, and an overall better mindset for monitoring and managing your diabetes. Consider what happens when you don’t get enough sleep. In addition to other things that may interfere with your sleep like schedule changes or stress, people with diabetes can have potential complications with sleep. Both high and low blood sugar levels can interrupt your sleep. People with type 2 diabetes who don’t get a good...
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Turning a Down Day Around
Turning a Down Day Around Everyone with diabetes has good and bad days, days with in-range blood sugar levels and days when things just don’t work out right. When the bad day seems to be taking over, here’s how to turn it around. Perspective is everything Change your mind, change your life. When you look at your diabetes as something you can effect, as an opportunity to learn about your own health, you’ve already taken the most important step to a better day and a healthier life. Don’t forget to laugh! Humor helps you see everyday things from a new perspective. That’...
Read More Exercise more
Ways to Increase Activity Exercise is good for everyone, but for people with diabetes, it can make a big difference in keeping your blood sugar level under control. Not only that, but staying active allows your cells to process insulin more efficiently, improving your overall A1C levels. The many benefits to staying active Exercise is one of the cornerstones of managing your diabetes, because the list of benefits for people with diabetes is long. Exercise can:1 Improve insulin sensitivity for people with type 12 Decrease the glucose in your...
Read More Preparing for Pregnancy
Preparing for pregnancy—good reasons to start today Let's think into the future. Imagine sitting in a rocking chair playing with ten brand-new, tiny toes. That's the image you can remember every time you check your blood glucose, visit your doctor or say no to a glass of wine. And it's absolutely worth it. Not ready for parenthood yet? Here's what you can do now. There are several things you can do to prepare for pregnancy well before you're ready to conceive. Read about it—just not too much. When you understand the risks, you...
Read More At the heart of the matter
Everyone thinks of February as the month of Valentine’s Day, but let’s not forget it’s also Heart Month! A few quick facts Half of the people living with diabetes are unaware of their risk of heart disease. Adults with diabetes are two to four times more likely to suffer from heart disease or a stroke compared to non-diabetic adults. Two-thirds of adults living with diabetes have high blood pressure, which is a risk factor for heart disease, heart attacks and strokes. When blood sugar is too high, it can damage blood vessels and...
Read More How to Talk to Your Doctor
How to Talk to Your Doctor Whether you’ve been living with diabetes for years or you’re newly diagnosed, communicating with your healthcare team is one of the best things you can do. If you’re nervous about opening up to your doctor or pharmacist, there are some good reasons to conquer these fears. Less communication leads to measurable increases in your stress, anxiety, and possible depression. It also leads, inevitably, to less frequent and less successful diabetes management.1 Since communicating with your healthcare providers is proven to be good for your health, here are some...
Read More Managing Sick Days
Feeling fine? It's the perfect day to create a sick day plan. When you're feeling ill, you'd like nothing more than to lie in bed with a good book or movie. Yet that's when you need to focus even more on diabetes self-care. The key to sick days with diabetes is doing all of the thinking ahead of time. That way, when you don't feel like concentrating, you can simply follow the plan. What to include in your plan Involve your diabetes care healthcare team in developing your sick day plan—ask them when you should call for help, how often you should...
Read More The Future of Diabetes Treatment
High-tech to zero-tech: The future of diabetes treatment Diabetes care has come a long way in just a few decades—after all, the first insulin pump was introduced in 1963, and fingerprick tests for personal blood glucose monitoring have only been around since the mid-1980s. So what's next? In development: Automating insulin delivery—the artificial pancreas Taking insulin pumping to the next level, an artificial pancreas is being tested that combines a continuous glucose monitor, insulin pump and glucagon pump (should blood glucose go too low), all managed by an app on...
Read More Get a Good Night’s Sleep
Why sleep is important for people with diabetes When you are getting enough sleep, you may find that you have an easier time controlling your blood sugar. You’ll be more alert during the day, have more energy, less stress, and an overall better mindset for monitoring and managing your diabetes. Consider what happens when you don’t get enough sleep. In addition to other things that may interfere with your sleep like schedule changes or stress, people with diabetes can have potential complications with sleep. Both high and low blood sugar levels can interrupt your sleep. People with type 2 diabetes who don’t get a good...
Read More Turning a Down Day Around
Turning a Down Day Around Everyone with diabetes has good and bad days, days with in-range blood sugar levels and days when things just don’t work out right. When the bad day seems to be taking over, here’s how to turn it around. Perspective is everything Change your mind, change your life. When you look at your diabetes as something you can effect, as an opportunity to learn about your own health, you’ve already taken the most important step to a better day and a healthier life. Don’t forget to laugh! Humor helps you see everyday things from a new perspective. That’...
Read More