Getting support when you have diabetes makes living with it easier. It’s still not easy, but it definitely helps. Here’s how you can get support, plus an inspiring story of how a child diagnosed with diabetes now makes it her mission to support others. Christina was a typical kid who loved to dance and socialize with her friends. At 13 years old, she was diagnosed with type-one diabetes. Here’s how she described it. “It was a scary and confusing experience. I started to feel sick at school that morning to the point that I was lightheaded and nauseous. I was taken by ambulance to the … [Read more...]
What Exercise Can and Cannot Do When You Have Diabetes
Today I am sharing the exercise experiences of two people with diabetes as examples of what exercise can and cannot do when you have diabetes. Both used physical activity as a tool to bring their glucose into target but each had a different result. It is a reminder that diabetes is unique in its effect on each individual. First let me introduce you to Evelyn. She had a long history living with diabetes. She maintained regular checkups with her doctor and at each visit was told to lose weight and exercise. She didn’t have a plan for losing weight, and frankly, she was satisfied with her … [Read more...]
What is a CDCES and Why Does It Matter in Diabetes Education?
People who work with a CDCES do better. Research shows that people who have received (competent and professional) diabetes education: Use primary care and preventive services more often than resorting to the emergency room and hospital. (Resulting in savings to the patient and the hospital); Are more likely to take medications as prescribed (thus reducing complications from diabetes and (again) incurring greater health care costs to both the patient and the health care system ); and Are better at controlling their glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels (again reducing … [Read more...]
The Quickest Way to Feel Better After a Low Blood Sugar
I hope you never have a low blood sugar, but if you do I want you to know the absolute best action steps to take. This information is not commonly known, so please read on. Not once in my 25 years of helping people with diabetes have I met a person who feels okay when their blood sugar drops too low. People hate that awful and scary feeling of losing control. Today I will share the fastest way to handle a low blood sugar. Better yet, I will show you how to prevent it from happening in the first place. First the FACTS: The Best Way to Treat a Low Blood Sugar and Other Hypoglycemia … [Read more...]
Three Things to be Alert For on Diabetes Alert Day
March 27 is American Diabetes Association Diabetes Alert Day, the day set aside to focus on the importance of diabetes, especially when left undiagnosed or untreated. Here's why you should get checked for diabetes: Over 30 million Americans have diabetes. Another 84 million have pre-diabetes and are at risk for developing it. 1 in 4 people with diabetes, and 9 in 10 with pre-diabetes, don't know they have it. Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in the US. Healthcare costs for people with diabetes is 2.3 times that of people without diabetes. Notice I said, … [Read more...]
