Diabetes Self-Management July - August 2018

Summer is in full swing, and it is truly an exciting time here at Diabetes Self-Management. As a trusted source of diabetes news and information, our goal is to fill our pages with expert advice, research news, medication updates, and the lifestyle, nutrition and weight management tools you need to carry you through your diabetes journey. This commitment is also the foundation for the Diabetes Self-Management website. I am proud to announce DiabetesSelfManagement.com was named a 2018 Best Diabetes Blog by health information website Healthline and medication tracker app MyTherapy. Both organizations recognized DiabetesSelfManagement.com as a reliable and authoritative source of information for those living with diabetes. For readers new to our website, we encourage you to dive in and gain access to a library of nearly 900 diabetes-friendly recipes…

Adults with diabetes have been successfully using the drug metformin to lower blood sugar for many years. But is it suitable for children? According to a new study from scientists at the University of Adelaide in Australia, it just might be. The researchers studied 90 children ranging in age from eight to 18 who had Type 1 diabetes. They randomly assigned participants to one of two groups. For 12 months, the first group was given metformin (up to one gram twice a day), and the second group received a placebo/an inert substance). The children tended to be heavier than average, but most were not overweight. After the year was up, the children were tested by a procedure called glyceryl trinitrate-mediated vascular dilation, which is used to assess the health of…

Type 2 diabetes can be reversed, according to a new study published in the British medical journal Lancet. The secret? Weight loss. The researchers, who were from the University of Glasgow in Scotland, recruited 306 people with Type 2 diabetes from various medical practices throughout the United Kingdom. The subjects ranged in age from 20 to 65 and had had diabetes for no more than six years. None were using insulin. Researchers then assigned 149 of the participants to follow what they called a “Counterweight-Plus weight management program." The program began with a three-month period in which the subjects’ daily food intake was cut by about 800 calories. Physical activities went unchanged. The total intervention lasted one year. After the year was up, the researchers discovered that 46 percent of…

If you’re interested in an active summer, hiking might be just the exercise for you. If you’re relatively new to hiking, don’t be intimidated by the image of backpackers climbing the Rocky Mountains. The reality is that hiking can be as mild or rigorous as you choose – depending on the trail and distance. Hiking is ideal exercise for individuals with diabetes of all ages even if you haven’t exercised in a while. Benefits of hiking Besides helping to control blood glucose levels, hiking offers numerous other health benefits. Like many aerobic exercises, hiking improves your stamina, flexibility and muscular fitness. Hiking also stimulates bone strength and slows bone density loss. If you hike on a regular basis, the health benefits multiply by way of decreasing bad cholesterol (LDL) and…

How much do you know about diabetes and stress? Stress is one of the most important factors responsible for causing and worsening a variety of illnesses, including heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes. So how does stress affect diabetes? Take this quiz to find out. 1. How does stress affect your blood sugar? A. Stress does not affect blood sugar. B. Stress can lower blood sugar. C. Stress can raise blood sugar. D. Stress affects blood pressure but not blood sugar. 2. All the following are helpful ways to manage stress in diabetes EXCEPT: A. Exercise B. Meditation C. Laughter D. Self-isolation 3. Which of the following are some vital nutrients that can be helpful when managing stress? More than one answer may be correct. A. Magnesium B. Potassium C.…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first continuous glucose monitoring system for use as part of an integrated system with other compatible electronic interfaces and medical devices. Such devices include automated insulin dosing systems, insulin pumps, blood glucose meters and other tools used in diabetes care. The product is Dexcom G6 and is manufactured by Dexcom, Inc., a California-based technology company specializing in continuous glucose monitoring systems. The G6, which is about the size of a quarter, is worn on the stomach and has a small sensor that the user inserts just beneath the skin using an auto-applicator. It wirelessly transmits blood sugar readings every five minutes to a small touch screen receiver or to a compatible smart device such as a smartphone, a smartwatch or…