Don’t Let Diabetes Become A Cog In Your Wheelhouse.
Take The High Road. Manage Your Diabetes.
Take the high road. Take control of your Type 2 diabetes.
Balancing the food you eat with exercise and medicine (if prescribed) will help you control your weight and can keep your blood glucose in the healthy range.
When you eat, your food is broken down into a sugar called glucose needed for energy. Your body makes insulin which unlocks cells so they can receive the glucose they need. With type 2 diabetes, your body does not make enough insulin or use it well.
This means the glucose stays in your blood. Too much blood glucose can lead to eye, kidney and nerve problems, and foot disorders as well as increased risk for high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke.
Signs & Symptoms
Watch For The Signs
Frequent voiding or passing of urine which is called polyuria.
Excessive thirst or drinking which is called polydipsia.
Excessive hunger also known as polyphagia.
It’s important to control your blood sugar levels today to avoid future health problems.
Other symptoms include fatigue, frequent infections, and delay in wound healing. It is possible to have diabetes and not know it because the symptoms are not always present. In such cases, the disease develops for a while before it is detected. Sometimes, it is detected too late when other complications have already developed.
Live Long and Healthy!
Carb Control and Balancing Your Blood Sugar
Does Carb Counting Scare You?
Of the three nutrients — protein, carbs and fat — carbs have the greatest impact on blood sugar control because the body breaks them down into glucose. The body needs insulin to control blood sugar. Diabetics are deficient in insulin or resistant to its effects. Eat too many carbs and your blood sugar goes up. It can rise dangerously unless medication is taken. How many carbs is the right amount?
This varies with the individual, but research shows that moderate carb restriction of 70 to 90 carbs per day, or 20% of calories from carbs is effective.
To figure out your ideal amount of carbs, you may want to measure your blood glucose with a meter before a meal and again 1 to 2 hours after eating.
As long as your blood sugar remains below 140 mg/dL (8 mmol/L), the point at which damage to nerves can occur, you can consume 6 grams, 10 grams or 25 grams of carbs per meal on a low-carb diet.
It all depends on your personal tolerance. Just remember that the general rule is the less carbs you eat, the less your blood sugar will rise.
Treat Yourself!
Choose wisely. Eating fewer carbs will control your blood sugar.
A healthy low-carb diet should include nutrient-dense, high-fiber carb sources like vegetables, berries, nuts and seeds. Starches and sugars raise blood sugar levels, but dietary fiber does not. Sugar alcohols like maltitol, xylitol and erythritol which are used to sweeten sugar free candy and other diet products may also raise blood sugar.
Good Low-carb Choices
Meats, poultry, seafood, eggs, cheese, non-starchy vegetables, avocados, olives, olive oil, coconut oil, butter, cream, sour cream and cream cheese.
Foods To Eat In Moderation
Berries, plain Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, nuts and peanuts, flaxseeds and chia seeds, dark chocolate, winter squash, red and white wine
Avoid These Foods
Breads, pasta, cereal, corn and other grains. Starchy vegetables like potatoes, sweet potatoes and yams, Legumes such a peas, lentils and beans, Milk, fruit, juice, soda, sweet tea, beer, desserts, baked goods, candy, ice cream
Talk to your doctor first! If you go on a low carb diet, you may need to have your insulin adjusted.
Taking Prescribed Medicine
Follow your doctor’s orders closely with regard to your diabetes medicine.
Keep an updated list of your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, dietary supplements including vitamins, and herbal remedies). Record important information about each medicine.
- Take all medicines exactly as prescribed.
- Use one pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions if possible.
- Keep medicines in a cool, dry place.
- Use a pill organizer.
- Use a reminder timer, an alarm clock, or your mobile phone alarm to remind you when to take medicine.
- Link pill-taking to something in your daily routine (for example, take your medicine right after you brush your teeth).
- Use a chart or dry erase board to keep track of your pill-taking
Get In Gear And Get Active
Physical Therapy and Diabetes
October is Physical Therapy Month
October is physical therapy month. Proper exercise is necessary to manage blood sugar.
Physical therapy improves your ability to move and perform daily activities and is good for overall health. A proper exercise program can help manage your blood sugar. Too much high impact, strenuous exercise, however, can put additional stress on your feet and may cause problems especially if you have an open sore or ulcer on your foot.
Experts with the American Physical Therapy Association emphasize that the safe range for Type 2 blood glucose during exercise is 100 to 300 mg/dl. Before exercise check your blood glucose. You may want to eat a small snack containing 15 to 30 grams of carbohydrates such as fruit juice, fruit, crackers or even glucose tablets before you begin your workout.
Take Control
If you have diabetes, you know it’s important to control glucose levels:
- Take your medicines as prescribed
- Make healthy food choices and get daily exercise
- Get your eyes and kidneys checked each year
- Care for teeth and gums and see the dentist twice each year
- Get the A1C test at least twice a year to check your average blood glucose levels
- Protect your skin, check your feet and watch your cholesterol and blood pressure
Other Things You Can Do
Healthy food choices and regular exercise can help keep blood sugar under control.
- Quit smoking
- Go to your medical appointments
- Learn all you can about diabetes
Tricks or Treats?
It can be tricky, but your diabetes can be managed with diet, exercise and medicine, if prescribed. The treat for you is better health.
Halloween Safety Tips
- What do you call a goblin who gets too close to a bonfire? A toasty ghosty! Don’t get burned. Try lighting your jack-o-lantern with a flashlight or holiday lights instead.
- Don’t wear yourself out! Get a relative or friend to help give out candy.
- If you drive, take extra caution and watch for ‘trick-or-treaters.”
- Leave porch lights on to guard against vandals.
- Keep pets in a quiet, safe place. All the noise and doorbell-ringing can be stressful for pets.
AW Can Help Manage Your Diabetes
Private Duty Services
Making healthy food and lifestyle choices is important for people with diabetes. AW can help you with proper meal planning and preparation, including a daily menu and shopping list. Because diabetes can cause complications, special care may be needed when dressing, bathing and caring for the feet. AW can provide this needed care.
Skilled Care
Live long and healthy! Take control of your blood sugar.
AW can also help you monitor your blood sugar with daily blood glucose checks and medication reminders. Some people take oral medications. Others require injections to manage their blood sugar. In either case, AW has skilled professionals who can provide these services.
Exercise is important too. AW skilled therapists can provide individualized exercise plans.
With treatment and healthy living, many people with diabetes are able to avoid serious complications such as vision loss, nerve damage and high blood pressure.
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