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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Eating Healthy with Diabetes
You don’t have to sacrifice your target blood sugar levels to enjoy some of your favorite foods. Here’s how to eat healthy with #diabetes, whether you’re cooking at home, or eating in a restaurant. Carbohydrates and your blood sugar Carbohydrates are sugars. They break down in the body creating glucose, a main source of energy. Counting the carbs you eat at every meal and pairing them with the correct dosage of insulin can keep your blood sugar level closer to normal range.1 It also allows you to eat a wider variety of foods. In fact, your diet can accommodate any food in...
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Creating a Circle of Support
No one can go it alone. Whether you have diabetes or you’re a caregiver, it’s important to have a few options for emotional support. Knowing who to turn to with specific questions will make life easier. Find other people with diabetes Few things are more comforting than talking with someone who understands you when you have diabetes, or if you are facing a type 1 or type 2 diagnosis. If you don’t already have a friend or family member with diabetes who can fill this role, seek out a diabetes support group near you. What have you got to lose? If you don’t like one group, look for...
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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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Insulin Injections: Breaking Down The Barrier
If insulin injections are part of your daily life, you know how essential they are to managing your diabetes and preventing complications. You also know that following your injection schedule is crucial. If your body doesn’t get enough insulin over the long term, you risk developing serious problems with your eyes, heart, nerves and kidneys. Getting too much insulin could lead to hypoglycemia—extreme cases of which can cause diabetic coma. Despite all this, according to a study conducted in the US, over half of people with insulin-dependent diabetes have deliberately skipped injections at some point. Around 20% do it...
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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...
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...
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How to Travel with Diabetes
How to Travel with Diabetes Having diabetes adds complexity to planning a well-deserved holiday. Changing your schedule, time zones, increased activity, eating on-the-go or new foods can affect your health. You’ll want to be ready for anything. But don’t stress! We’re here to make it easy, with a review of everything you’ll need for hitting the roads, skies, seas, or rails. Make a doctor’s appointment If your trip is going to last longer than a day or two, make an appointment with your doctor or pharmacist a few weeks before you leave. Let them know your travel plans...
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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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Eating Healthy with Diabetes
You don’t have to sacrifice your target blood sugar levels to enjoy some of your favorite foods. Here’s how to eat healthy with #diabetes, whether you’re cooking at home, or eating in a restaurant. Carbohydrates and your blood sugar Carbohydrates are sugars. They break down in the body creating glucose, a main source of energy. Counting the carbs you eat at every meal and pairing them with the correct dosage of insulin can keep your blood sugar level closer to normal range.1 It also allows you to eat a wider variety of foods. In fact, your diet can accommodate any food in...
Read More Creating a Circle of Support
No one can go it alone. Whether you have diabetes or you’re a caregiver, it’s important to have a few options for emotional support. Knowing who to turn to with specific questions will make life easier. Find other people with diabetes Few things are more comforting than talking with someone who understands you when you have diabetes, or if you are facing a type 1 or type 2 diagnosis. If you don’t already have a friend or family member with diabetes who can fill this role, seek out a diabetes support group near you. What have you got to lose? If you don’t like one group, look for...
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 Insulin Injections: Breaking Down The Barrier
If insulin injections are part of your daily life, you know how essential they are to managing your diabetes and preventing complications. You also know that following your injection schedule is crucial. If your body doesn’t get enough insulin over the long term, you risk developing serious problems with your eyes, heart, nerves and kidneys. Getting too much insulin could lead to hypoglycemia—extreme cases of which can cause diabetic coma. Despite all this, according to a study conducted in the US, over half of people with insulin-dependent diabetes have deliberately skipped injections at some point. Around 20% do it...
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 How to Travel with Diabetes
How to Travel with Diabetes Having diabetes adds complexity to planning a well-deserved holiday. Changing your schedule, time zones, increased activity, eating on-the-go or new foods can affect your health. You’ll want to be ready for anything. But don’t stress! We’re here to make it easy, with a review of everything you’ll need for hitting the roads, skies, seas, or rails. Make a doctor’s appointment If your trip is going to last longer than a day or two, make an appointment with your doctor or pharmacist a few weeks before you leave. Let them know your travel plans...
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