Diabetes Self-Management offers up-to-date, practical “how-to” information on nutrition, exercise, new drugs, medical advances, self-help, and the many other topics people need to know about to stay healthy.
Dear Readers, I’ve been waiting months to say this: Welcome, spring! I realize not all of you experience frigid winters, but regardless of where you live, the dawn of spring is a time of renewal and revitalization. To usher in the season, this issue of Diabetes Self- Management is chock full of recipes utilizing produce and ingredients you’ll find this time of year, including sensational salads, primo pizzas, crustless quiches and indulgent fruit-filled desserts. And be sure to check out the five-recipe Springtime Spread menu in our Weight Self-Management section, which features a salad, appetizer, entrée, bread and dessert—at a total of only 520 calories. In spite of the brightening weather, you might be feeling drained by the demands and expectations of managing your diabetes. You’re definitely not alone. In…
Researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital recently published the results of research that could ultimately lead to a cure for Type 1 diabetes. The strategy behind the study is based on the knowledge that Type 1 diabetes occurs when T-cells from the immune system attack beta cells in the pancreas— the cells that produce insulin. Previously, one method used by researchers to neutralize this attack is to reboot a patient’s own immune system by infusing that patient with his or her own blood stem cells through an autologous bone marrow transplant. The problem has been that the blood stem cells of people with diabetes tend to be defective, which can promote inflammation. Researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital, however, said they found a way to fix the defect in the patient’s blood…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new medication that promises not only to control blood sugar in people with diabetes but also to help them lose weight. The drug, called Ozempic (semaglutide) is manufactured by Novo Nordisk and is designed to promote the production of insulin in the body while simultaneously suppressing appetite. FDA approval is based on a global trial comprised of eight clinical trials involving more than 8,000 adults with Type 2 diabetes. The program also evaluated participants for cardiovascular safety and found no risk. According to the manufacturer, the results of the trials showed “clinically meaningful and statistically significant reductions” in blood glucose as measured by A1C tests (a test that provides information about a person’s average levels of blood glucose over the preceding…
How Much Do You Know about Diabetes and New Technological Developments? Technology advances our lives in many ways, and managing diabetes is no exception. Take this quiz to see how much you know about new and improved technologies that make managing your diabetes easier. 1. Which of the following new blood sugar monitoring technologies is now available in the United States? A. A breathalyzer test B. An implantable blood sugar monitor C. A tattoo D. A piercing 2. What are some ways your smartphone can help you manage your blood sugar? More than one answer may apply. A. Apps that allow you to record your food B. Apps to help you plan meals C. Apps that find diabetes-friendly restaurants D. Apps that send results to your doctor 3. How is…
Let’s Talk Diabetes Talking about diabetes is not easy, even with familiar doctors. There are several ways to effectively communicate with doctors and other health-care professionals to ensure that you get the most out of your next visit. Here are a few tips to improve communication. Prepare for your visit. With the average doctor’s visit lasting about 15 minutes—including about five minutes for patients to talk—it’s important to be ready for what you want to say. Write down a list of questions or topics that you want to discuss since it’s common to forget questions during an appointment. Once you’re in the office, ask your most important questions first in case the doctor is interrupted. Write down the answers. Taking notes will help avoid any misunderstanding about what your doctor…
Many people with diabetes go through an unpleasant daily routine of sticking their fingers to draw blood so they can keep track of their blood sugar. But a potentially groundbreaking new study suggests they might not need to. The main purpose of finger-sticking is to monitor the effects of insulin therapy. But most diabetes patients don’t receive insulin therapy. Even so, they are generally advised to follow the finger-sticking procedure, a practice that has recently been the subject of some debate in the diabetes community. In the new study, researchers at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine examined the merits of requiring people with diabetes to test their blood sugar daily. For the yearlong study, researchers enlisted 450 diabetes patients and divided them into three groups. Group One…
