If the answers above fit your profile, there is a risk that you have pre-diabetes or you are already a type 1 diabetic or type 2 diabetic!  If that is the case, you are not alone. There are nearly19 million people diagnosed with diabetes.  7 million people are not diagnosed because they are unaware.  If you wonder, “Am I a diabetic?” Don’t hesitate to see your doctor and get your blood sugar checked right away!

*2011 Statistics from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

1. Monitor your blood sugar  - keep your sugar levels controlled by testing your sugar levels several times through out the day keeping them within the normal range your doctor recommends.
2. Don’t panic – Stress and panic can raise sugar levels. Follow your Doctor’s advice and you will see good results. If you have  a high sugar level, use your doctor’s recommendation to bring the level down.
3. Eat healthy – Eating nutritious food provides the nutrition you and your baby need. A Dr. recommended diet will help stabilize your sugar levels to your target range.
4. Get physical – Exercise helps control diabetes and helps you stay in your target weight range.  Physical activity also helps your cardiovascular system which will also help your baby.
5. Keep a record and schedule Dr. appointments – Your doctor can help you controlling gestational diabetes by seeing you regularly.  They will review any of the food you eat and physical exercise you accomplish.Your doctor will help you assess and prevent further pregnancy complications!

Once your baby is born, most women who are controlling gestational diabetes will return back to normal sugar levels. You can also find out if you are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes after your pregnancy.

Take these 5 steps to help you and your baby have a healthy life!

How does a person grocery shop on a budget? Here are some simple rules to follow:

1. Buy only what is on sale (with the exception of the staple items like milk, fruit and veggies that most people need weekly.) If you regularly use an item and see it’s on sale, (preferably food you can freeze or put in the pantry) buy it. If it’s not on sale, don’t buy it. Many weeks we don’t buy cereal or ice cream because my family knows I only  get sale items. You can always grocery shop on a budget and find some type of breakfast, lunch and dinner food on sale.
2. Look for “buy 1 get 1 free” items and buy them.
3. Use coupons – I always use 2 coupons with “B1G1F” items!
4. Many items are less expensive if you buy the store brand.
5. Don’t buy “wants” unless you are within your allotted dollar amount. (Skip the snack aisle and snack on carrots or raisins or something less expensive and healthier for you!)
6. Be careful at dollar stores! Although there are great deals, you can spend more on items. Know your prices!
7. Don’t buy expensive cuts of meat. I usually purchase chicken and turkey. Occasionally when on sale, I’ll buy something else. Find a local grocery store that sells meat inexpensively.

This past month, I finally saved more then I spent at the grocery store. First time ever! I was thrilled that I finally reached my goal. I’ve come close, but this time I spent $82.07. and saved $82.43! I scanned my receipt so you can see it here! Click on the photo for full size!

If you are on a really tight budget, start by purchasing essential items only. Milk, veggies, fruit, meat, rice/pasta (very inexpensive) and bread. The first few times you might want to take a calculator to check your total and confirm you are not going over your budgeted amount. If you see you still have money to spare, you can continue to add food items to your cart. But never add something that is not on sale.Most items at the grocery store will go on sale within the month.

10 years ago I shopped for myself with $25 a week. I was single and had to be very frugal since I had medical bills and needed to purchase my diabetic supplies.

In these economic times, we should all be careful how we grocery shop. If you are a coupon queen, I’d love for you to share your grocery shop tips with all of us! If you are still unsure how to grocery shop on a budget, leave me a comment!  If you want more information on being frugal or living on a budget, contact me!

A:   With 25 million US diabetics and the cost of treating diabetes rising to $174 billion annually, shouldn’t we try and prevent diabetes? I think so! I have type 1 diabetes, but type 2 diabetes is usually preventable and we should all be working to stop these alarming figures! How? Read on and find out…

There are several ways to help prevent yourself from getting type 2 diabetes and possibly even reversing it! Take a look at this list and try to achieve each one…..step-by-step you can get there!

• Keep your daily calorie intake under 800.
• Begin an exercise program – something is always better then nothing!
• Eat whole grains, fruits and veggies along with plenty of water.

Don’t plan to conquer this overnight by crazy diets or outrageous exercise plans.  Take it a little at a time or you will get discouraged within a few days or weeks. If you are frowning at this recommendation, changing your attitude can also help a lot!

If you are overweight or have a fasting sugar level of over 100, you need to act now and know that type 2 diabetes is preventable! You don’t have to be skinny nor do you have to be a total health nut for this to work for you. Decreasing your body weight will improve your risk of getting type 2 diabetes. Increasing your physical exercise will help your muscles use glucose (sugar) better.

You will lose weight and have a much better chance of avoiding becoming a diabetic statistic! So, get moving and help change America’s future. We can do it, a little at a time!

High blood pressure kills many people and often causes heart attacks and strokes. If you are a diabetic, you need to attain goals!

A number of factors can raise your blood pressure. If you have a family history with high blood pressure or are African-American, you have a much higher risk of developing it. Diabetic can go through pain and emotional stress what can raise your blood pressure. What goals can you take to prevent serious problems?

What is a good blood pressure goal for diabetics?  The graph below is the standard for a normal healthy person. For a diabetic,  any systolic number over 160 is serious and needs to be addressed by your doctor.  My goal is to keep my blood pressure reading in the normal or high normal range. When my blood pressure is consistently higher for several weeks, I’ve called my doctor and discussed if my medication and dose needs adjustment.

A: In past decades, health recommendations were made to exercise each day. But not anymore! Why? Instead of looking at the daily amount of exercise, health officials are looking at your total volume. If you can’t take 30-60 minutes to exercise but you can take a 10 minute break and take a brisk walk you’ll get “credit” for the physical activity you did!

Health and exercise go hand-in-hand. Instead of looking at daily exercise, look at your total volume. If you get an opportunity to run up some steps, count that time! If you have a 15 minute break at work, take a brisk walk around the building and count the time! When you get home, run an errand by foot and count the time! Your weekly goal should be: 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise.

Getting exercise is especially good for diabetics. Why? Exercise can improve your health in many aspects! It can:

• Reduce your risk of heart problems
• Reduce your chance of getting type 2 diabetes
• Lowers blood pressure
• Process glucose better
• Reduces depression

How much exercise do I need a day? I try to exercise 30-45 minutes several times a week which equals the total recommended volume. I prefer vigorously riding my bicycle but sometimes my diabetes or health will slow me down.  I am glad I can walk fast-paced for 10-20 minutes and count that exercise in my total time. Just remember: If you can get any exercise, it is better then none at all!

Tandem Diabetes Care is a company working to make life better and more enjoyable for the lifestyle of diabetes! So let’s look at this insulin pump and you be the judge! What do you think of the Tandem insulin pump? Compare and decide for yourself.

The Tandem insulin pump has several features that makes it unique and special:

• It has a modern display – With a colorful touch screen, you can scroll and click through the screen as with an iPhone.
• It’s size – It’s the size of a credit card (like a smart phone) and will be the smallest insulin pump made. It’s reported to be 25% smaller then the average insulin pump! This insulin pump won’t look like a pager!
• It carries a 300 unit reservoir.
• It has a rechargeable battery –  It’s recharged with a universal USB cord similar to how you charge a cell phone.
• It has a web based data management system – It’s called the “t connect.”  (It’s PC and Mac compatible.)

It’s also important to point out the negative sides of the Tandem insulin pump:

• It’s not 100% waterproof. (But neither is my Medtronic Minimed insulin pump!)
• As of yet, it does not have a CGM system.
• It is not ADF approved for children under 12 years of age.
• Don’t expect an iPhone. (It’s not as flashy and as high tech.)

There are a number of new diabetic products on the market in 2012 and diabetic products are constantly being reviewed and improved.  Every year I look forward to the latest diabetic inventions and products being created to help those of us with diabetes. This year I look forward to trying out this new Tandem insulin pump!

Answer: Diabetes can not be cured, but for those who have type 2 diabetes, it can be reversed! Persons with type 1 diabetes, like myself, have a pancreas that does not produce insulin. There is no cure. But there has been a lot of research done and there are solutions to improve your lifestyle of diabetes!

With today’s technology, it is much easier to live with diabetes. There are insulin pumps that allow you to give insulin at any time for the amount of carbohydrates you want to consume. You can eat a hot fudge sundae if you know the carb count. You can be active or sedentary and adjust the insulin you give yourself. Today you can be a diabetic and do the things you want to do. Diabetes doesn’t need to stop you from accomplishing your goals!

Can diabetes be cured? I hope it will some day! In the meanwhile, get informed and find out the possible solutions for you. Everyone needs to learn to adjust to something in their life and a healthy lifestyle isn’t bad. I do enjoy ice cream floats or stuffed pizza but I don’t want to get fat from eating poorly and neither should you!

Until there is a cure for diabetes, I am going to live life and enjoy many more hobbies and activities. How about you? Are you enjoying life with diabetes or are you sitting around waiting for diabetes to be cured?

A: Hypoglycemia is when you have low blood sugar. Diabetics tend to struggle with too high or too low of glucose levels and are forever trying to stabilize our sugar levels! How do you know if you have hypoglycemia? There are symptoms that occur when the blood glucose levels are under 70. The lower the number, the greater the symptoms! It’s very common in diabetes if too much insulin is given or not enough food is eaten. Healthy adults can maintain a fasting glucose of about 72. If you don’t have diabetes, it’s not very common to experience severe hypoglycemia.

Here are some symptoms a person can have with hypoglycemia:

• Shakiness
• Sweating
• Blurred vision
• Tired
• Sweet Breath
• Confused or disoriented
• Frustration or anger

If you know someone who might be hypoglycemic, the best solution is to give them fruit or juice. Symptoms should improve within 30 minutes. Always contact a medical doctor if there is any uncertainty. Excessive hypoglycemia can result in a coma, unconsciousness, seizures, or brain damage.

Every year there are people who die from this medical problem. If you think you might be at risk, contact your Doctor or call 911 for immediate help!

Answer:
Because I have been a type one diabetic for over 30 years, I can say this answer comes from my own diabetic experiences!

If you have your diabetes controlled, (This means getting sleep, normal sugar levels and eating healthy foods) you will not be tired. There are plenty of diabetics who are athletes and they are very competitive and successful in sports! If you are interested, take a look at some diabetic athletes on my other web page.

I do know that I can get very tired from low blood sugars. This is one of the symptoms diabetes can have without regulating sugar in the blood stream. Unfortunately, numerous people have died after experiencing low glucose levels and falling asleep.

If a diabetic is tired, that’s a good sign their sugar level is too low and help is needed right away. Always give a diabetic a small 8 ounce glass of juice or a small fruit to help them! The diabetic should perk up and feel better within 30 minutes. If possible, test their blood sugar 30 minutes later and confirm their glucose number has risen above 70.

If you are experiencing fatigue symptoms or are tired and wondering if you are a diabetic, that is also a symptom for many other disorders and diseases. If you have been getting plenty of rest, contact your doctor so he can research your problem.

In all my years of having diabetes, I know that numerous times throughout the month I “feel tired” and need to eat something or adjust my insulin level. It’s no fun….and it is frustrating! But know that controlled diabetes will enable you to do normal activities that non-diabetics do every day. Don’t get discouraged! Keep working on your glucose numbers and enjoy the rest of your day!

A: Today there are a lot more food choices for diabetics then 25 years ago. But the suitable foods that I want to address are foods that are good for diabetics. Foods that are higher is calcium, fiber, potassium and vitamins A, C and E. Yes, you can get nutrition in supplements and multivitamins, but natural food are much better for our bodies!

My top 10 suitable foods for diabetics include:

1. Fat-free yogurt
2. Any type of berry (strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, etc…)
3. Nuts (preferably cashews, almonds or walnuts)
4. Skim Milk
5. Whole grains (note the ingredients and make sure the first ingredient states “whole” (like whole wheat)
6. Fish (high in Omega 3)
7. Beans (I like kidney and pinto!)
8. Dark leafy greens
9. Citrus fruit
10. Sweet Potato

Try to eat some of these foods on a daily basis. Not only are these foods suitable for diabetics but they are also good for anyone.  There is humor in that, don’t you think?  Eat healthier and choose better options to eat and you will see beneficial results in how you feel. Your health is important to you!

Do you know of other suitable foods for diabetics? Let me know your thoughts and write a comment to me today!

A huge complication of diabetes is called neuropathy, or nerve damage. Diabetics can easily lose sensations in their feet and not have the ability to feel pain. If you have poor blood circulation, this can be a dangerous combination for your feet! Neurpathy can result in hammer toes, callouses, bunions or foot infections. As a diabetic, it’s imperative to avoid these foot problems and stay clear from more serious problems such as amputation! That is why it is important to care for your feet and wear diabetic shoes.

What do diabetic shoes look like?

Footwear for a diabetic starts at home. Looking at your feet, cleaning them and drying them on a daily basis. This might sound way too obvious, but it’s not! Recently I noticed I had a foot problem and the side of my foot was sore. I assumed it was a bone growth but it ended up being in infection that was a result of a blister I got from swimming and putting my barefoot feet on the rough edge. Ouch! I’m glad I visited the Doctor and resolved the problem before it got any worse!

Purchasing appropriate footwear is also important.

1. Make sure your shoes fit well without any rubbing or pain that might create blisters. As I mentioned, my foot infections was a result of an unhealed blister!
2. Don’t wear shoes with a tight toe area. Make sure there is room for your toes with a wider base in the shoe.
3. Wear socks and don’t go barefoot. In recent years I created a good habit of always wearing shoes and using sport socks when I workout and exercise.
4. Make sure to allow your shoes or insoles to dry and air out each day. Your sweat glands can develop bacteria or fungus and your feet will suffer. Use powder in your shoes to help prevent sweating. Always take time to change your shoes if you are sweating!
5. Use common cushion pads (insoles) for heel or arch support. There are several brands you can find in your local store.

Having an insulin pump, I find that knowing my carbs in candy can be very helpful to keep my glucose levels stable. There are lots of desserts and recipe variations which complicate how much insulin a diabetic needs to give. A diabetic can have a hard time giving insulin without knowing how many carbs are in food. But an easy way to enjoy some sweet chocolate candy is simple and easy to do once you know the carbs in candy. Don’t you agree?

With the upcoming holidays in mind, I found a great table you might want to use for a quick reference. If you are like me, I try to keep my sugar levels stable and don’t have to think twice if I can just figure out the carbohydrates in the food I want to eat!

If you are a type 1 or type 2 diabetic, I’d like to hear how you handle these sweet holidays! Do you avoid  desserts and candy? Do you search for carb counts? Do you eat these high carb food and let your sugar levels get out of control? I’m curious how other diabetics handle this time of year. Comment and let me know!

This carbs in candy table has been provided by Insulin Pumpers. This carb list can be viewed on their site in addition to adding candy to the list by emailing the editor at: Editor@insulin-pumpers.org. 

Answer: Type 2 is the most common form of diabetes. It results from a decrease of insulin production in your body.

In the United States, diabetes is growing and becoming more common then in previous decades! Diabetes affects nearly 23 million Americans! In addition, certain ethnic groups (African Americans, Mexican Americans, Asian Americans and Native Americans) have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Unfortunately, people with diabetes can suffer unhealthy effects. If diabetes is not controlled to maintain good glucose levels. Common health problems include cardiovascular disease. Diabetics tend to have high blood pressure which in turn opens the door to risk factors such as strokes or heart failure. Diabetics do not do well after heart attacks compared to a non-diabetic person. High cholesterol is also a common problem with diabetes and needs to be maintained through balanced medication.

Although diabetes is common, type 2 diabetes can be controlled and reversed with proper lifestyle changes. For the most part, this means adding cardiovascular exercise and eating healthy on a regular basis. If you want to know more, contact an Endocrinologist doctor and read more about exercise and  healthy eating right here on Lifestyle of Diabetes!

Dawn Phenomenon is the increase of your blood sugar during the bedtime hours of 2am to 8am.  Regardless of what was eaten prior to bedtime, your glucose level rises from a stable sugar level over night to a high sugar level.  (This is due to a release of certain types of hormones.)

It’s normal for these hormones to release during the early morning hours to help us wake up, but they might raise your blood sugar, if you do not have a proper insulin amount during dawn hours.  I use an insulin pump and adjusted my basil insulin levels for my Dawn Phenomenon treatment.

Check your sugar levels in these early dawn hours  (between 2am – 3am) for several days. When you wake up, your breakfast helps shut off these hormones and your blood sugar will finally lower. Make sure you eat breakfast in the morning.

Talk with your Endocrinologist Doctor (Diabetic Doctor) to see if the Dawn Phenomenon effects you!

One of the hardest areas to control in diabetes is the rollercoaster from low and high blood sugar levels. Take special note that there are a number of common blood sugar situations that effect many type 1 and type 2 diabetics. This month we will look at two of the diabetic phenomenons that you should be aware of. You are not alone! There are solutions to these blood sugar problems. Contact your Endocynologist Doctor and let him/her know if you think you are suffering from the Somogyi Phenomenon.

I recently changed insurance coverage and thought everything was OK.  I wrote this post to help diabetics be aware of how insurance companies do not look out for your best interest. As we know, there is a lot of paperwork, rules and guidelines which tend to take first place before health or common sense!

My last insurance company, did not cover the continuous glucose monitoring system which works together with my insulin pump. They claimed my overall diabetes was already controlled and it wasn’t necessary. What a surprise, I thought. Isn’t it important to always improve your health?

My new insurance company,  covered an upgraded pump and continuous glucose monitoring system BUT they had a contract with another company for the glucose meter and test strips. I am presently appealing this decision.

Although I love my insulin pump, I thought I would give it up and go with a new pump which was connected to the glucose meter and testing supplies which were covered. At this point, I learned the facts.  Only certain insulin pumps are covered and certain glucose meters are covered. And the irony of this is that none are covered entirely with pump and meter.

Isn’t that like getting a Toyota car with Chevy doors or making a Devil’s Food cake but using  some ingredients from an  Angel Food cake? It doesn’t work correctly unless you use all the parts from the same manufacturer or the ingredients from the same recipe.

I share this with other diabetics for one purpose. When looking for insurance coverage, find out all the detail about coverage for your diabetic supplies, insulin pump or diabetic medications first….then sign on the dotted line!

A.  Beans are a great food to eat! Beans and lentils are edible seeds that grow in a pod on a plant. Lentils, kidney, pinto and navy beans all provide a great source of protein, fiber and lots of healthy vitamins!  Keeping your blood sugar stable for type one or type two diabetics can be hard to do.  Beans are a good carbohydrates that will help you keep your hunger down and not overeat. Beans are a much better choice of food then other side dishes such as pasta, rice or potatoes.

So how can you eat beans? Here are a few ways I like to eat beans!

• Beans alone–add a little salt and heat them up!
• Rice and Beans – watch the carb count with this dish!
• Chili
• Baked Beans
• Navy Bean Soup
• Tortillas with Re-fried Beans
• Taco Salad with Beans

Help your body out and eat smart!

Probiotics have a lot of benefits for the diabetic. You can say that probiotics are our friends! Here are just a few good reasons:

• Aids in digestion (many diabetics have digestion problems due to frayed intestines)
• Reduces bloating
• Prevents urinary tract infections (many diabetics are prone to this type of infection)
• Boosts the immune system
• Counteracts antibiotics (when people with diabetes get sick and need antibiotics, probiotics helps your body get re-aligned and balanced)
• Fights irritable bowl syndrome
• Alleviates lactose intolerance

Probiotics and diabetes are a good combination! So how do you add probiotics to your diet? The most common source is found in yogurt. I eat a 4-6 ounce serving every day and sometimes eat more if I have some of the above mentioned complications.

Make sure the yogurt has “live and active cultures.” The official words are called: Lactibacillus buulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus bacteria. You will see this written on yogurt containers.  (Some yogurts that may be heat-treated will actually kill the probiotics and not have the beneficial bacteria.)

Cottage cheese, Kefir, and sour cream are also some secondary options with probiotics/active culture .  Although some of these do have small amount of cholesterol or fat. Diabetes tends to produce high cholesterol. So cottage cheese is definately a secondary choice for probiotics and diabetes.

I am increasing my probiotics in my diet. It’s not an instant change but you will see benefits in your lab work after a minimum of 12 days eating yogurt. I also recommend eating yogurt that is low fat and low sugar for the sake of your diabetes. Find yogurts that have a low carb count. I recommend 25 carbs or less.   (If you do eat fruit with yogurt, make sure to add in those carbohydrates!)

Eat smart, exercise, and get your sleep. You too can live a good healthy life with probiotics and diabetes!

Probiotics do have some concerns for children, elderly and pregnant women.  People who need to compromise their immune systems must check with their Doctors before making any adjustments to their diet.

Answer: Yes and no. When people first find out I have diabetes, they think I have to avoid all sweets (such as chocolate) But that  isn’t the truth since I have an insulin pump to help me maintain my glucose (sugar) levels. Diabetics need to be careful of any food that has sugar in it. Whether it is chocolate or a banana! (And both of these foods have sugar/carbohydrates!)

For type 1 diabetics on insulin, we can adjust our insulin intake to what food we are eating. For those who have type 2 diabetes, and do not adjust their insulin levels manually, it would be better not to eat any food with sugar.

If you eat chocolate, you need to be able to adjust your insulin levels.

Diabetic Cartoon by Diabetes Health

Non-diabetics have islet cells that produce insulin in their pancreas. For type 1 diabetics like myself, we can adjust our insulin pump to take care of the additional sugar that chocolate or another dessert might contain. Type 2 persons do not have this option since they take a pill to help their pancreas produce insulin.

When you can balance your life with some sweets, exercise and carefully checking your sugar levels, chocolate and other wonderful foods can be added back into your diet. But, be careful and work hard to keep your sugar levels balanced and well controlled!

Answer: For a diabetic,  blueberry nutritional benefits are huge!! They are low in carbs compared to other fruit. A half a cup is only 10.5 carbs! But the nutritional benefits are even better! Blueberries have one of the highest antioxidant capacities among all fruits and vegetables!

• Berries in general are considered low in terms of their Glycemic Index. Glycemic Index is a common way of identifying the potential impact of a food on our blood sugar level once we’ve consumed and digested that food; for a diabetic, this is great news!! (Although in comparison to berries, blueberries have slightly higher levels then blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries)
• Eating blueberries (in the amount of 1-2 cups per day for several months) will reduce the total cholesterol, raise your HDL cholesterol, and lower your triglycerides.
• Blueberry intake  supports healthy blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure, blueberry intake significantly reduces both systolic and diastolic blood pressures . If you currently have health blood pressure, blueberry intake will help maintain healthy blood pressure.
• Daily blueberry intake can also help improve cognitive function; including memory!  This means you need to eat blueberry on a regular daily regimen.
• Blueberry also protects the retina from unwanted oxygen damage including damage from sunlight!
• For diabetics, blueberries (along with other berries) have a favorable impact on blood sugar regulation.

Blueberries are a very good source of vitamin C, vitamin E, manganese, and fiber. Blueberry nutritional benefits are fantastic for a diabetic or non diabetic person! Get your blueberry serving today!

Answer: Blood sugar goes up and down based off of food, medication and the physical activity we are involved in (running, jumping, walking, bicycle riding and even vacuuming!) If blood sugar drops too low diabetics can experience hypoglycemia. Some reasons your blood sugar can drop includes the following:

• Being more physical then my usual routine (and not adjusting accordingly)
• Drinking alcohol (it’s even more of a problem if you drink on an empty stomach!)
• Eating meals too far apart (especially if you take a long lasting insulin!)
• With certain medications and antibiotics, symptoms include low sugars
• Taking too much insulin or higher dosages of type 2 medication
• Not eating enough carbohydrates (especially in ratio to the amount of insulin given)

If you are having problems with your blood sugar dropping without any reason or you don’t find a cause, contact your Diabetic Doctor and ask for help.  Don’t let low blood sugars control your life!

Ring Pops are made in Pennsylvania; in the good ‘ol USA! Kids love them because the plastic ring offers tons of fun with your imagination. After I put the pink strawberry sugar-free ring pop on my finger, I became a princess with my beautiful ruby ring!

But if you are a Mom of a diabetic child, you might be wondering about the really important stuff ~ what’s it made of and is there sugar in it? So, here are the nitty-gritty facts:

Sugar Free Ring Pops are:

• Made with Splenda
• Fat free
• Cholesterol free
• Don’t promote tooth decay
• 30 calories per pop
• Diabetic friendly

NUTRITION FACTS: Serv Size: 1 piece (14g), Amount per Serving: Calories 30, Total Fat 0g (0% DV), Trans Fat 0g, Sodium 35mg (1% DV), Total carb. 13g (8% DV), Sugars 0g, Sugar Alcohol 13g, Protein 1g.

My sugar-free Ring Pops review:
With three sugar-free Ring Pop flavors, I chose the (pink) strawberry, my son chose the (blue) raspberry and my husband got the (green) watermelon.  The first thing we blurted out was that the strawberry and watermelon were weak in flavor and the raspberry was strong flavored and strong smelling. My son thought it was great but was disappointed that it was darker then what the package showed.  He got blue coloring all over his mouth! He finally decided to bite it in half (I think this was his goal at 11 years of age! lol)  My husband thought his did not taste like watermelon. Maybe this was because it was green?  What was most amazing thing was that we finished eating our Ring Pops after 30-45 minutes! My husband and son thought the Ring Pops were very tasty for being sugar-free.  I was a bit disappointed that my strawberry flavor was so weak.

From a diabetic perceptive and insulin pump user, I have more freedom with my food choice because I can eat whatever I want as long as I have a carb count. I have come to a conclusion that some sugar-free foods have nearly the same number of carbs as the regular version. In the case with sugar free Ring Pops, there is only one carb difference! If the regular version tastes better, I’d rather buy the full sugar candy and go with the extra carbs. But for type 2 diabetics, you need to watch your carb intake if you are on pills and not taking insulin. Sugar-free Ring Pops have 13 carbs which is not sugar-free in my book! I had to take insulin before I ate mine.

If you like eating this type of hard candy,  here are some creative  ways to enjoy sugar-free Ring Pops:

• Kids parties
• Family trips
• Kids sports events
• Occasional treats or rewards
• Wedding favors

If you are interested in Sugar-free Ring Pop or the regular Ring Pop, you can find them at Walmart or join the Ring Pop Facebook page for more information by clicking on the picture to the right!

Are sugar-free Ring Pops for you?

PS. While writing, I am still enjoying my sugar-free Ring Pop!

Ring Pop flavors include:

• Blue Raspberry
• Watermelon
• Strawberry

Some occasions to use the different Ring Pops flavors include:

• School parties
• Treats for good behavior (rewards)
• Family trips
• Wedding favors

Here is a Ring Pop ad I enjoyed watching.  Doesn’t it make you want to try one?

Stay tuned for my Sugar-free Ring Pop review in my next blog post and find out what I think about these different ring flavors!

The following Ring Pop Game is a simple game where you drive a car and the goal is to miss being hit by the a Ring Pop falling down on you. (All you need to do is use the arrow keys to move the car.)  Go ahead and try it!

Click on the button below to play one of the Ring Pop games,  ”Falling Ring Pop Game!!”

There is no sugar in Ring Pop Games! Want to learn more about my sugar-free Ring Pop review? Stay tuned in the next week for my Ring Pop  taste test!

Ring Pop games are products by Bazooka Joe.  (Bazooka Joe is a registered trademark of The Topps Company, Inc.)

So, what happens when you add diabetes into this equation?

Diabetic depression is very common. Why? Because when you have diabetes, you are forced to focus on your sugar level, medications, doctor visits and it never goes away. From my own expereince, I know this can get very discouraging! There have been times I did not participte in an activity because I didn’t want to deal with my insulin, medication,  figuring out how to handle carrying my insulin pump, or worrying about falling into the water and protecting my pump. How about you? Have you felt the same sometimes?

Anyone who has type one diabetes or type two diabetes can relate to this diabetic depression. Sometimes it can feel like such a burden that you can never put your diabetes into the drawer for a few days and ignore it. And if you do ignore it, you could end up in the hospital or face death itself!

How do I handle the times I get diabetic depression? Here are a few things I do:

1. I focus on the positive things in my life.
2. I focus on others who have worse physical situations that I have.
3. I pray and find comfort in knowing God and knowing my salvation is in Jesus. And one day there will be no more suffering, pain or disease. If you want to know more about a relationship with Jesus, visit this website An Online Bible Study for Beginners to help you on the pathway of life!

If you are a diabetic, don’t think you are alone.  There are millions of diabetics in the world and many who feel just like you! If you’d like to contact me, fill out the lifestyle of diabetes contact form and send me a message today!

If you are a parent and involved in grocery shopping, you can help decrease diabetes in teenagers! How? By creating healthier eating choices for your teenagers.

3 ways to help prevent diabetes in teenagers:

1. Make sure your teenagers are eating their five servings of fruits and vegetables every day.
2. Encourage them to get involved in sports or other activities after school instead of watching TV or playing video games.
3. Eat together as a family.  Teens who eat with the family also have healthier eating habits.

Families who have a history of type 2 diabetes or family members that have health conditions such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol are at greater risk.  If you have overweight middle schoolers or teenagers you should get your child tested for diabetes  every few years.

Don’t let pre-diabetes in teenagers worry or scare you. Take a step and steer your teenager back to health!

A.  A normal sugar range is dependent on several variables. Sometimes people want the “perfect” normal sugar number. I like to think it’s 100! But one number is not really accurate. Let’s look a little deeper at this number range.

A normal sugar range will vary dependent on your food intake. These two factors allow for two ranges. Fasting  and after eating. For a non-diabetic, the normal sugar range should look like this:

• Fasting  – 70 to 100

• After meals -  Below 140

For a pre-diabetic or type 1 or type 2 diabetic, a normal sugar range is slightly higher but still factors in the same two ranges for fasting and after eating. People who have diabetes should keep a diabetic normal sugar range that looks like this:

• Fasting  – 80 to 110

• After Meals – 125 to 180

If you are experiencing symptoms from low sugar levels or high sugar levels,  seek a Doctor. If you are a diabetic, contact your Endocrinologist to examine your blood sugar levels to determine adjustments in insulin, medication or your food intake to maintain a normal sugar range.

If your sugar level is over 140 you can permanently damage your body organs.

It’s very important for your body to be within a normal sugar range or you will begin to see side effects and more importantly, long term effects that can damage your body.  Your health is very important and it coincides with having normal sugar levels.  If you don’t own a sugar meter, ask your Doctor about getting one today!

Prevent a Sick Day

• Eat your fruit and veggies along with whole grain foods
• Exercise daily  (Cardio can minimize a sick day if you workout for at least 30 minutes.)
• Get sleep daily (Adults need 7-8 hours and anyone with diabetes should do more, if possible.)
• Wash your hands (Germs can live for up to 72 hours on doorknobs and other surfaces.)
• Avoid touching your face (Your hands are the primary culprit of spreading germs.)

Handling a Sick Day: Diabetes Management

• Check your sugar levels more frequently to help avoid ketones
• Drink plenty of water (make sure it is clear liquid)
• Avoid over-the counter-medication with high sugar levels

Any time you have a sick day, diabetic management is vital to your health! Watching your glucose levels is always important with diabetes, but you are at greater risk of ketones when you are sick. Ketones are produced when your body burns fat for energy instead of glucose. When you are sick, high levels of ketones can lead to diabetic coma or death! Contact your Doctor if you have a fever, throw up or any unusual pain in your chest.  A sick day is no fun but with diabetes management avoiding a hospital visit is possible!

A – Exercise and Type 1 diabetes is essential. Why? Because type 1 diabetics need all the help we can get to improve our health!  Exercise  helps you control diabetes and prevent long-term complications. Exercise helps you to have better circulation and will lower problems with your heart, (People with type 1 diabetes are susceptible to developing blocked arteries which can lead to a heart attack.) cholesterol, sugar levels, and stress (which can cause high blood pressure and a lot of other problems!)  Exercise helps keep you healthy and strong!

Exercise helps people with diabetes because it is an effective way to control blood sugar levels. Exercise counteracts elevated blood glucose levels that frequently occur after eating. Exercise benefits people with type 1 because it increases your insulin sensitivity. In other words, after exercise, your body doesn’t need as much insulin to process carbohydrates. With exercise, the amount of insulin injected for controlling blood glucose can be lowered in those with type 1 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes should exercise a minimum of three to four times per week from 20-60 minutes each time.  To lose weight, I exercised 45 minutes and for maintenance I have exercised for 30 minutes. But each person will need to adjust the time for their own metabolism. More importantly, cardiovascular is most important for type 1 diabetes.And it helps type 1 diabetics stay trim! The ADA recommends 150 minutes of moderate intense aerobic exercise a week. (30 minutes, five days a week.)

Some common aerobic exercises include the following:

• Walking
• Jogging/Running
• Swimming
• Biking
• Dancing
• Stair-stepper/elliptical machine
• Cross-country skiing

Don’t forget to  include weight lifting for strength building and strong and healthy bones. Do one to three  sets of 10 to 15 repetitions of each exercise. Work on all body part: arms, (biceps and triceps) legs, (quads and hamstings) chest and back. You can do this working out these muscles 10-20 minutes each day.

The biggest concern for exercise and type 1 diabetic is working out so hard you get low sugars or other complications. Yuck!! I hate it because it takes away from your workout time and fatigues you so you can’t do anything but rest and wait for the blood sugar to rise. First make sure to always take with you some glucose tablets or something like it.  (juice or fruit)  Also, wear a medical alert bracelet or necklace in case of emergency. Be prepared!!

To avoid this pitfall, I make sure to have my sugar level a little higher then normal. (I make sure my sugar is higher then 135.) But each type 1 diabetic is different and needs to consult their Doctor for the best course of action to take for their own body. You also need to avoid exercising if your sugar level is over 200.  Make sure to check your sugar level before, during and after each work out.

Set realistic goals if this is the first time you are exercising. Start small and work your way up little by little,  gradually increase the level of activity as you build endurance and stamina. (The goal is not to exercise to be an Olympic winner.) If you exercise and have type 1 diabetes, you will be a champion for life!

Since I’ve had type 1 diabetes for over 35+ years, I can remember when the only sugar free product was Tab soda! Saccharin was the sugar substitute and it tasted awful and isn’t good for you! Today I enjoy eating Sugar Free Dove Chocolate!

I have come to realize that almost any food (especially chocolate!) has some carbs! I’ve noticed that a lot of the “sugar free” chocolate have close to the same carbs as regular chocolate! One of my favorite chocolates is made by Dove. But even the sugar free chocolate is not carb free chocolate for the diabetic! The small dark chocolate bites have 4 carbs vs the regular Dove chocolate that has 5 carbs. Not much difference! So now what can you do if you are looking for carb free chocolate?

Here are some options for carb free chocolate:

1. Eat the regular low carb chocolate and give yourself insulin
2. Eat low carb chocolate pudding. (It has 6 carbs a serving.)
3. Try making a low carb chocolate dessert. (Here is one for you!)

Graham Cracker Chocolate Pudding Parfait

• 1 package instant low carb chocolate or vanilla pudding mix
• 1 1/2 cups low-fat milk
• 1 cup smashed graham cracker pieces (check package for carbs)
• 1 cup mixed berries (Strawberries or blueberries are my favorite!)

Prepare pudding with milk according to package directions. Place a thin layer of graham cracker crumbs in the bottom of three parfait cups and cover with a thin layer of berries then a layer of pudding. Complete parfaits by layering graham crackers, pudding, and berries until all ingredients are used. Put it in the refrigerator for one hour before serving.

Note: The amount of carbs in the fruit varies depending on what fruit you are adding to this pudding parfait

A. The guidelines for non-diabetes blood glucose typically should stay in this range:

• Normal glucose should never go over 140 mg/dL after eating
• Normal glucose fasting levels are 70 to 100 mg/dL

The definitions of “normal” glucose levels are usually made by committees of Diabetes experts, and they change occasionally. Not too long ago, it was decided that you’re considered a Diabetic if your fasting blood glucose level is 126 or higher, instead of 140.

Textbooks that plot blood glucose levels during the day in individuals often show the normal glucose levels range from 80 before meals to close to 100 after some meals and about 120 after the largest meal of the day.

However, with pregnancy, life doesn’t always correspond to the textbooks. Some people, especially young and fit persons, keep their blood glucose levels more stable. If you are trying to maintain normal blood glucose levels during pregnancy, use a home meter. (You can purchase one at your local drugstore or ask your Doctor if they have an extra meter you can use.)

It’s important to maintain normal glucose levels during pregnancy because high sugar levels can and will make a difference to the development of your baby. Don’t be fooled into thinking your glucose level doesn’t really matter. Your health and glucose levels during pregnancy is essential to you and your baby’s health!

A Doctor of Diabetes (Endocrinologist)  specializes in treating disorders of the endocrine system. When a Doctor of Diabetes takes care of you for Diabetes Mellitus they can also take care of other conditions that Diabetics tend to face.

Conditions include :

• diabetes
• hypothyroidism
• hypertension
• cholesterol disorders
• cancers of the endocrine glands

If you are in need of a Doctor that specialized in Diabetes, locate an Endocrinologist near you by visiting this website from American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists: Physician Finder

Here are 5 steps to prevent type 2 diabetes!

1. Get regular exercise. Choose things you enjoy and do them every day or at least 3-4 times a week.

2. Keep your weight in check. People don’t gain 20-50 pounds at once.  Lost the five pounds and don’t let the scale go any higher! If you are already overweight, begin now and start to eat smaller portions and avoid desserts.

3. Choose healthy fats in your foods. Canola oil and olive oil are better choices. The fats in avocados, nuts and seeds are good for you, as long as you eat them in moderation.

4. Focus on whole grain foods.  Whole grains can help lower the risk of diabetes and keep you feeling full.

5. Cut back on refined carbohydrates and sweet drinks. Refined carbohydrates include white bread, white rice, white pasta and potatoes. I know when I eat them my blood sugar can spike. I have doubled and tripled my insulin from the amount of carbohydrates in a single meal when I consume this kind of food.  Avoid soft drinks, fruit punch and fruit juice and replace with good old fashioned water! If you want to spurge occasionally, drink diet drinks that have zero carbohydrates!

Changing your lifestyle is not an overnight task! It does take discipline, hard work and effort. But the results can give you freedom. So what if you ignore it? If you become a type 2 diabetic, you have to change your lifestyle to avoid diabetic complications. Want more reason? Take a look at these long term complications of diabetes mellitus.

The American Diabetes Association recommends these A1C numbers to show you how your blood glucose testing results are likely to match up with your A1C results. As the chart shows, the higher your self-testing numbers are over a 3-month period, the higher your A1C result is going to be.

So, where are you at now? I remember many years ago having my A1C at 12! Yikes. If that is where you are at now, it is possible to bring your A1C numbers down. My last A1C was 5.8. Anything 7 and under is considered very good.

Have you had your A1C checked in the last year? Where are you on this chart? Perhaps your diabetic resolution in the new year could be to have better A1C numbers? If that sparks some interest, take a look at the rest of this website for more information to better control your lifestyle of diabetes!

Happy New Year!!

Being on an insulin pump makes eating sugary food easier…..IF you know the carb count. But once again, Christmas parties are filled with wonderful foods you have no clue what the carb count is. And now I have to guess. Sometimes I get close and other times I am too low.  But checking my sugar every hour for a few hours helps me get myself back to normal after the party is over.

I also try to drink water or diet soda pop if it is available. (At least those have zero carbs! ) If I am at a friend’s home, I might ask if she got any of the finger foods from a box that would tell me the carb count. But in the end, I enjoy the food and Christmas time fun and then get myself back on track as soon as possible.

How about yourself? How do you handle Christmas time and a lifestyle of diabetes? I’d love to hear from you if you are a type one or type two diabetic!! Enjoy this Christmas time and remember that Jesus is the reason for this season!!

A. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), is a blood test that requires no fasting  and gives you a snapshot of  your blood sugar levels from the previous three months.  In diabetes, it tells you how well your diabetes is being controlled.  It’s also recommended for people who haven’t been diagnosed with diabetes. Why? Because it’s very reliable!

Hemoglobin is in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout your body. When a diabetic’s blood sugar level is too high, sugar builds up in the blood and combines with the hemoglobin. The average amount of sugar in your blood can be determined by measuring a hemoglobin A1c level.

Many years ago my mother counseled diabetics at a hospital in Chicago. People who were screened for pre-diabetes were tested by a fasting blood test. The problem with this type of test is that most people will have a “normal” sugar level when there is no food in their system. Food elevates sugar levels. If your pancreas is not working properly, it is more difficult to see this in a fasting blood test without any food (sugar) in your body.  I thought drinking a glass of orange juice would tell the facts quickly!

Today, the number of Americans with diabetes has sky rocked to literally millions of people.  Ask your General Practitioner to be tested for pre-diabetes and mention that you want to be A1C screened. If you have diabetes (type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes) make sure to get your A1C test checked every three or four months by your Endocrinologist. Diabetics should have a A1C less then 7%.  (Non-diabetics should have 4% – 6%.) Be wise and win with your A1c test!

Being a type one diabetic adult, I agree with helping educate people or making sure people are aware how many people are effected by this disease in America.  So, let’s focus on those who could easily get type 2 diabetes and help people prevent themselves from getting it!

One point I want to make it not to be the “diabetes police.” When I was a child, that was the worse approach you could take with me. The “diabetes police” are usually well-meaning and usually nice. But nagging didn’t help. Why? Because most diabetics already know they need to watch their sugar levels and insulin amounts and adjust accordingly. In this situation, encouragement is the best choice. Support from family and friends can make all the difference in the world!

Since November is awareness month for diabetes, here are 3 ways to make a difference!

1. Support a non-profit organization and help find a cure for this dreaded disease! (If you are unaware of organizations, look on the left side of my diabetic blog and you’ll see some resources.)
2. Blog about diabetes this month or start a conversation with your neighbor and let’s get the word out.
3. Go encourage a diabetic today and let them know that you love them and are there for them!

Dead in Bed syndrome does occur with people who do not have diabetics. I am specifically looking at the diabetic and what we can do to prevent this type of death.

As a type one diabetic, I know that I have experienced many episodes with night-time low sugar levels. I saw the paramedics on many occasions while a young adult because my parents could not wake me up and they knew they needed to get glucose into my body.

So how does a diabetic avoid the night-time low sugar levels? Being in tight control of sugar levels and insulin levels can result in low blood sugars. When I got my insulin pump, I decreased the roller coaster insulin ride. I still have low sugars, but it tends to happen when I eat food and don’t know the carbohydrate count and give too much insulin. This occurs during the day and not while I am asleep. If you use insulin and don’t have a pump, you need to look into it!

The FDA approved the Medtronic continuous glucose monitoring system in March 2010! This device is added to the insulin pump and will give warning signals when your sugar level is too low or too high. Sounds wonderful doesn’t it? Let’s hope insurance companies realize the benefits to this wonderful device! The continuous glucose monitoring system could be a huge improvement to help diabetics and the future deaths from Dead in Bed syndrome!!

Medical Symptoms (Diabetic Warnings)

• Frequent urination
• Excessive thirst
• Unexplained weight loss
• Extreme hunger
• Blurred vision
• Tingling or numbness in hands or feet
• Fatigue or drowsiness
• Dry, itchy skin
• Sores that are slow to heal
• More infections than usual
• Nausea or vomiting
• Stomach pains

What do you see? Is your vision blurred?

These medical symptoms might be related to diabetes but there are other medical problems that have similar symptoms.  It could be a minor problem but it is better to know and minimize your medical issue then letting the condition get worse!! If you are experiencing several of these medical symptoms, see your Doctor.

If you aren’t being healthy and allow your diabetes to be out of control, you probably know the medical side effects you will have to face.  But how about the financial cost?

Take a look at this list. The more dollar signs after each item, ($) the higher the financial cost. And many insurance companies will not cover the expenses or will limit you on how much you can use!

Diabetes has a financial cost -

1. Medication for type 2 diabetes – $
2. Medication for blood pressure or cholesterol – $
3. Insulin  – $$
4. Endocrinologist Doctor visits – $$$
5. Eye Doctor visits – $$$
6. Meter and test strips – $$$
7. Insulin Pump   – $$$$
8. Glasses or Surgery for eye problems – $$$$
9. Lab work – $$$$
10. Kidney or Pancreas transplant  – $$$$$

I write this blog post about diabetes and the financial cost to help you realize there is a huge burden for diabetics and especially if a diabetic does not take care of their self.

If you are a diabetic with financial hardships, I’d love to hear from you and hear how you deal with it! Leave me a comment or contact me today.

I use an insulin pump and count carbs. the wizard in the pump does the math for me. And this does help control your diabetes with insulin. I love my insulin pump! But what about when you are eating at someone’s home and have no clue what ingredients are in the meal served? I love this cartoon. If you have insulin controlled diabetes, I know you can relate to it!

Diabetic Cartoon by Diabetes Health

It can also get a lot more complicated when you cook from scratch. I end up counting the carbs added to the entire recipe then dividing it by how many meals it will serve. Yuck!! Who wants to calculate that much math?!?

It’s a lot easier to find food prepackaged that states how many carbs are in each serving. But is it the healthiest choice? No, unfortunately it isn’t.

And what about controlling your diabetes when you exercise? I have learned that my exercise habits force me to stop my pump and raise my sugar levels because of the hard workouts I do. But not everyone is like me. So, each person who has to control their diabetes through insulin has to talk to their Doctor or practice and learn what works best for your lifestyle of diabetes and your exercise habits.

Determination, dedication, persistent and endurance comes from someone who learns what works best for their insulin controlled diabetes. You may need to be more disciplined then your friends, but isn’t that a good quality to have?

Just remember: Don’t give up!

• 1000 BC An Indian physician, Susruta, discovers diabetes.
• 100 BC Greek physician Aretaeus names the disease “diabetes” after the word diabainein.
• 1650 Thomas Willis describes the sugared taste of urine in people with diabetes.
• 1750 Scientist Cullen adds the word “mellitus” (Greek for honeysweet) to the term diabetes.
• 1869 Paul Langerhans describes the islet cells of the pancreas.
• 1901 Eugene Opie links diabetes with islet cells.
• 1901+ Charles Pybus attempted to graft pancreatic tissue to cure diabetes.
• 1920 R.D. Lawrence develops the dietary exchange system.
• 1921 Frederick Banting and Charles Best discover insulin.
• 1936 – 1952 Several long and short acting insulin(s) are developed.
• 1956 Oral medication is developed for people with type 2 diabetes.
• 1961 Single-use syringe is marketed.
• 1967 – 1977 Islet Cell Experimental Studies and Research being conducted worldwide.
• 1969 First portable blood glucose meter.
• 1970′s Paul Lacy studies the development of islet cell transplantation.
• 1976 Islet cells are successfully transplanted into rats with diabetes.
• 1979 The Hemoglobin A1c test is created.
• 1983 Humulin insulin is invented.
• 1984 Islet cells are transplanted into a dog with diabetes.
• 1985 Clinical trials with human transplant of islet cells.
• Past and Present Continued research and experimental testing of islet cells at the Diabetic Research Institute. For detailed information go to DRI timeline.

Don’t you wonder what the diabetes timeline will look like in another 20 years? Hopefully there will be in end to it by finding a cure for diabetes!!

Human Islet Cell Transplant

]]> http://www.lifestyleofdiabetes.com/2010/10/07/diabetes-timeline/feed/ 0 http://www.lifestyleofdiabetes.com/2010/09/29/diabetes-and-endocrinologist-doctor-visits/ http://www.lifestyleofdiabetes.com/2010/09/29/diabetes-and-endocrinologist-doctor-visits/#comments Wed, 29 Sep 2010 14:19:26 +0000 Melodie http://www.lifestyleofdiabetes.com/?p=962 [...]]]> So you have diabetes! Do you want to live healthy with diabetes? An Endocrinologist Doctor is an  important part of your life! This doctor will advise you on any areas that diabetes can affect.

They may look into any of these medical areas:

• Feet (wounds, skin, toe nails)
• A1C levels (previous three months of  glucose levels)
• High Cholesterol
• High Blood Pressure
• Thyroid Disorders

Endocrinologist Doctors will also recommend you visit the Opthamologist (Doctor who studies diseases of the eye), and the Dentist!

But don’t sweat it! Take advantage of this doctor and use it to be healthy! Become friends with your doctors and with time they will respect you for your knowledge and your desire to be healthy.

Diabetes is not something to ignore. If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, you should visit your Endocrinologist Doctor every 3-6 months. (The doctor will make this decision based off of how well controlled your sugar levels have been.)

Before you know it, your Endocrinologist Doctor and his team can be your friend! You may have diabetes, but you can be in control and live a healthy life!

1. Eye Complications – Early on in life I got glasses. As a teen I had laser surgery to help stop where blood vessels had burst in the eye. I think this helped with my vision for many years. It’s been in the last 5 years that my vision has deteriorated.
2. Skin Complications – I never had an issue with my skin but I mention it because any time I get a cut or scrape, my skin takes 3-5 times as long to heal. This also means my scars tend to be permanent or it takes years for the scars to disappear completely.
3. High Blood Pressure – (Hypertension) I got this early on in my life and have used medications to control the blood pressure. As is life, with stress, the blood pressure seems to get high much quicker then when I was a child.
4. Dental Problems – As a child I got a lot of cavities and had a lot of dental work done. I didn’t think much of it since technology has innovated ways so it doesn’t hurt much nor can you tell you’ve had much work. As I have gotten older, I have noticed more problems with gum disease. My teeth have also colored from the many medications I am on. Dentists and Doctors always ask me if I smoke or drink. (I don’t do either!)
5. Gastroparesis – (Nerve damage to the stomach) I noticed this problem in my 20′s. I remember eating a doughnut and still feeling full by lunch time. I thought it was odd. Later I found out my problem. Today I try not to eat later then 7PM, never eat large meals and exercise to help my digestive system. It is definitely an inconvenience. If I do eat late, I suffer with pain and bloating while I try to sleep.
6. Kidney Disease – (Nephropathy) I started to see my kidneys fail in my late teens. I was told I would need a kidney transplant or go on renal dialysis. (Dialysis involves regular visits to clean your blood and take the poisonous toxins out of your body. A normally functioning kidney prevents this.) Several years later, I started to get nauseated every morning. As my kidney function got worse, I needed a kidney transplant. I was blessed to get my Mom’s kidney in my 20′s.

These are some long term complications of Diabetes Mellitus. Don’t let these long term complications scare you! Let it help you take charge of your diabetes so you can live a long and healthy life as a diabetic!!

• Diet Soda (Pop)
• Sugar free Jello
• Crystal Light Green Tea
• Water (this is very healthy for you!)
• Meat (Protein) without any breaded coatings
• Eggs (which can raise cholesterol levels)

As you can see, there are not a lot of zero carb foods! What is important is to eat healthy and take insulin for whatever carbs you do eat!

Diabetic Cartoon by Diabetes Health

Eat healthy by consuming vegetables and whole grain foods to have the nutrition and energy that you need. Take the insulin needed and make sure to exercise to keep your weight down and your inside organs healthy!

Here are a few foods I enjoy snacking on that are healthy and low carb:

• Old-fashioned popcorn made with Butterbuds sprinkled on it (approx 5 carbs for 1 cup; it’s high in fiber!)
• Sliced turkey with lettuce and tomato (approx. 2 carbs)
• Cashews (1/4 cup equals about 8 carbs; it’s high in nutritional value!)
• Carrots (5 carbs for a small serving; it’s high in Vitamin A!)

If you are a type 1 diabetic or type 2 diabetic, what are some of your favorite “sugar-free” or close to “sugar-free” foods?

Here are three ways a parent can  help a teen with diabetes:

1. Ask your teen to text you their sugar glucose reading every day. (The same time every day.) Make it become a good habit.  How about before lunch period or during study hall break? When ever your teen decides, it needs to become a habit. (Habits form after two weeks of consistent repetition.)
2. Make sure your teen has an insulin pump! An insulin pump looks like an electronic gadget to most people. It will help your teen control their sugar levels and allow them to eat at any given moment.  Compare that to carrying a needle or pen with insulin. Make sure to find a neat looking “skin” that can cover their pump.
3. Social Networking with sites such as Facebook are another direction you can encourage your diabetic teen. Find some good diabetic pages (Such as Lifestyle of Diabetes!) and get them to “like” the page to get updates with encouraging words, suggestions and great ideas to help them. They might even find other diabetic teens they can befriend!

Teens and diabetes can be challenging. But don’t give up! Your teen is worth the extra attention and encouragement!

Insulin pump cases and covers and mobile cases and covers from radrr! All children enjoy fun and stylish designs. Whether your child is a type one diabetic and needs an insulin pump or your child has a mobile phone, these cases and covers will meet that need! Radrr is a company that meets your child’s need for insulin pump cases and covers!!

Radrr creates fun, cool and stylish bags for mobile devices and insulin pumps. Their products are made of high quality fabrics that protect your child’s device and look and feel great!

Radrr supports the cure for diabetes and donates 5% of profits to  JDRF! (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation)

Right now you can purchase insulin pump cases or covers from radrr and get 10% off with free shipping! Use special discount code “radrrccpn1″ Tell them Lifestyle of Diabetes sent you!

While I was in grade school, I took my lunch with the same food every day. That made it easier with insulin dosages given to me in the morning. At that time, we didn’t have sugar monitors that handled well because we were checking sugar through the urine instead of blood sugars. (Today’s methods are much better!)

I remember gym class (which I didn’t even enjoy) sometime being problematic because of low sugars.  My teacher had some type of food to give to me (which Mom had given to her)  if I told her I felt weak and thought my blood sugar was low.

Unfortunately, when I walked to school, I also passed by the local grocery store and many times purchased soda pop. I’m sure my sugar levels skyrocketed whenever I did this. I am glad today we have many more “treats” that are sugar-free for diabetics to enjoy that don’t contain much or any sugar!

Grade school children always feel the need to fit in and be approved by their peers. This can create more problems for a child who has type 1 diabetes. Whether the diabetic child is embarrassed about their condition or gets teased about being different, it is an obstacle parents need to work through to find a solution for their child.

If you are a parent of a type 1 diabetic or you attend grade school and have diabetes, how do you cope with these issues? I’d like to hear your thoughts and ideas how you deal with type 1 diabetes and school!

After watching this video, take time to learn more about diabetes. Either you or some one you love has this disease and if you don’t know anyone with diabetes right now, you will some day! We all want a cure for diabetes, but until then, make sure to know what it’s about and how to deal with type one diabetes and type two diabetes!