Diabetes Self-Management January/February 2020

Dear Readers, Ready for a refresh and reset after all the hustle and bustle of the holidays? You’ve come to the right place! Health-related goals are among the top lifestyle changes many aim to achieve for the new year, with eating better, exercising more and losing weight rounding out the top three most popular resolutions. If you’re among the nearly half of Americans who has committed to a resolution this year, you’ll want to check out our roundup of advice that can help you make positive strides for 2020. Learn our top tips for getting organized and taking control of your diabetes routine (page 26), find out how to enhance your fitness program with resistance exercises (page 46) and more. The beginning of the year is also the time when…

Protecting Your Kidneys Diabetic nephropathy (kidney disease) is the leading cause of kidney failure in the United States. Fortunately, there are a number of measures you can take that have been scientifically proven to protect your kidneys and lower the risk of developing diabetes-related kidney disease. What Is the Mediterranean Diet? If you’re living with diabetes, you may have heard about the potential health benefits of the Mediterranean diet. In this video, get five top tips for trying a Mediterranean-style meal plan. Blood Sugar Chart The fasting blood sugar, 2-hour post-meal blood sugar and HbA1c are important ways to indicate how well a person’s diabetes is being managed. Learn more about recommended blood sugar ranges. A Guide to the Mediterranean Diet Interested in trying the Mediterranean diet to kickstart your…

People who achieve a weight loss of 10% or more in the first five years after being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes have the best chances of the condition going into remission, according to new research from the University of Cambridge. The findings indicate that it may be possible to “reverse” type 2 diabetes without extreme dieting or lifestyle interventions. More than 30 million people in the United States have diabetes, and 90% to 95% of those affected have type 2 diabetes, which is characterized by insulin resistance and insufficient insulin secretion. Risk factors include overweight and obesity, family history of the disease, hypertension (high blood pressure), impaired glucose tolerance, metabolic syndrome and low levels of physical activity. Previous research has indicated that type 2 diabetes remission is possible by…

The results of a six-month test of an artificial pancreas system have just been reported in The New England Journal of Medicine, and the findings are impressive. The artificial pancreas system combines two devices from two companies. The first device is the t:slim X2 insulin pump made by Tandem Diabetes Care, a San Diego-based company that specializes in products for diabetes patients. The t:slim X2 is equipped with a feature called Basal-IQ, which looks 30 minutes ahead and suspends insulin delivery to help lessen the time and frequency of episodes of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Employing Basal-IQ technology requires the use of a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), which is where the second device comes in. The CGM used in the trial was the G6 Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) System, a…

With a new year in full swing, it’s a good time to think about a fitness plan. You probably already know that exercise is good for your overall health, but did you know that it can also help you control your diabetes? Take this quiz to see how much you know about physical activity and diabetes management. 1. How does exercise affect your blood glucose (sugar) level and insulin sensitivity? ○ A It can raise glucose but lower insulin sensitivity. ○ B It can raise both glucose and insulin sensitivity. ○ C It can lower glucose but raise insulin sensitivity. ○ D It lowers both glucose and insulin sensitivity. 2. True/False: Both aerobic exercise and resistance training are helpful at reducing hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) levels in people with type 2…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first oral GLP-1 medicine for blood sugar management in adults with type 2 diabetes. Manufactured by Novo Nordisk, Rybelsus (semaglutide) oral tablets are the first drug in their class that do not need to be injected. A member of the class of medicines known as GLP-1 inhibitors, it works by increasing feelings of fullness, slowing stomach emptying, increasing the release of insulin, and decreasing the release of glucagon (a hormone that raises blood glucose). Rybelsus is approved for once-daily use in 7-milligram or 14-milligram doses. According to the manufacturer, “A savings card program will be available at the time of launch for eligible commercially insured patients to keep out-of-pocket costs down to as little as $10 a month.” “Patients want…