Indholdsfortegnelse for May/June 2020 i Diabetes Self-Management

Dear Readers, Summer is getting underway, which means longer days and more time spent outdoors. You’ll find that our recipes (page 40) have been handpicked with this time of year in mind. From our selection of plant-based burgers to dishes that will inspire you to fire up the grill, you’ll be dining al fresco in style! While all the time spent outside soaking up the rays can lead to a natural boost in mood, managing diabetes is hard work no matter the season, and you may need a little extra help maintaining your mental wellness. Whether you’re trying just a little too hard to achieve “perfect” blood sugar control (page 28), are looking for an empathetic peer to share in your diabetes dilemmas and victories (page 24), or are having…

With summer approaching and an increase in sun, you may be feeling a mood boost. Did you know that diabetes also affects mental health? Take this quiz to see how much you know about the link. 1. People with diabetes are at an increased risk of developing mental health issues. ∘ True ∘ False 2. Which of the following best explains why fluctuations in glucose can result in mood swings in those with type 1 diabetes? ∘ A. High glucose leads to hunger and shakiness. ∘ B. Changes in glucose affect the pancreas. ∘ C. Changes in glucose affect the brain. ∘ D. Low glucose leads to high energy. 3. What can you do to help lower stress and anxiety associated with managing diabetes? ∘ A. Contact an understanding friend…

Q With the coronavirus pandemic, I want to know, what can I do (as a person with diabetes) to keep from getting sick? A Very timely question. People with diabetes are more prone to infectious illness and have a harder time recovering than people who do not have diabetes. Part of this is caused by a compromised immune system and part is due to “aiding and abetting the enemy”—providing extra fuel (sugar) for bacteria and viruses to use for growth. So it makes sense to take extra precautions. Most infectious illnesses (including common colds, bronchitis, pneumonia, flu and other viruses such as coronavirus) are contracted by coming in direct contact with germs that are airborne or on recently contaminated surfaces. When these germs get past the skin or nasal passages,…

People with diabetes have a greater risk of developing mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. Taking good care of your emotional well-being can help in the long-term management of your weight and subsequently your diabetes. MENTAL WELL-BEING AND WEIGHT CONTROL Poor emotional and mental well-being can have a considerable impact on our ability to maintain a healthy weight. When feeling depressed or anxious, we are less likely to adhere to a healthy, well-balanced diet and regular exercise plan. Low mood can make carb- and sugar-rich comfort foods all the more appealing as our brain searches for a quick hit of serotonin to temporarily boost our spirits. While it may be difficult to control your weight in these circumstances, it isn’t impossible. TAKING CHARGE OF YOUR MENTAL AND PHYSICAL…

A reality of managing diabetes is that there are needles involved. They may be in the form of lancets for doing finger-sticks, syringe needles, pen needles or needles to insert insulin pump infusion sets or CGM (continuous glucose monitor) sensors. It’s probably fair to say that no one actually enjoys getting or giving themselves an injection, but many people do this every day, multiple times a day. However, it’s estimated that up to 10% of the population has a needle phobia, which, according to the International Classification of Diseases, is defined as “the fear of injections and transfusions.” Needle phobia and its implications Needle phobia can be broken down further into a fear of injections (trypanophobia), a fear of needles and pins (belonephobia) and a fear of sharp, pointed objects…

Mindful eating is an essential practice for people looking to improve their health and diet. Often, consumption of processed foods and foods high in sugar leads to increased cravings. Eating mindfully can equip you with the necessary skills to better understand your body’s natural signals and rhythms to combat unhealthy dietary urges. What foods do you crave? Acknowledging cravings is an important first step that can help you control your eating habits, so try to become aware of what foods you crave. Keeping a food journal can help you better understand your eating patterns and impulses. Once you understand what they are, the techniques outlined below can help curb your cravings. The first step: becoming aware Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, discovered that mindful eating (and reducing…

5 Trypanophobia, or the fear of medical procedures involving needles, was first recognized as a phobia in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, published by the American Psychiatric Association, in 1994. An estimated 10% of the American population lives with this condition, which may have a hereditary component—roughly 80% of those with needle phobia report having a first-degree relative with the condition. Want to overcome your fear of needles? See our tips on page 18. 4 According to a 2018 Gallup poll, roughly 5% of Americans, or about 1.6 million people, consider themselves vegetarians. Of this group, approximately one in four identify as vegan, or someone who avoids all animal products. Considering trying a plant-based diet for yourself—or just looking to cut back a bit on your meat consumption? Check out our…

Even though some people with type 2 diabetes take more than one medication, they may still find it difficult to get their blood sugar under control. They could take even more pills, but that can be challenging. So it’s worth knowing that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has just approved a diabetes medication that combines three diabetes drugs in a single tablet. The medication is called Trijardy XR, and it’s marketed by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals and Eli Lilly. Trijardy XR is a combination of three diabetes medications: empagliflozin (brand name Jardiance), linagliptin (Tradjenta) and an extended-release version of metformin. Both empagliflozin and linagliptin are tablets that patients with type 2 diabetes take once a day to lower blood sugar. Empagliflozin is also used to reduce the risk of…

Among the many benefits of exercise are decreased stress, improved mood and a general sense of well-being. But in this regard, not all activities are created equal. A competitive game of basketball, for example, may do little to decrease stress. Health experts emphasize fun, rhythmic exercises of low-to-moderate intensity to improve mood. Here are the seven best exercises for mental health. 1. YOGA Yoga has multiple mental health benefits. It emphasizes slow, rhythmic breathing—the kind of breathing that signals the body to relax. It often requires a lot of concentration, which can give you a chance to step back from your day-to-day worries, and it ends with a period of relaxation (savasana) that can serve as meditation. It can help release tension in various areas of the body, including the…

Meatless burgers are not just for vegetarians. New products designed to taste like meat appeal to plant-eaters and meat-eaters alike. Some who eat meatless burgers do so to protect the planet, while others avoid animal products to improve their health. As when making any nutrition decision, those who are considering meatless burgers can benefit from knowing how the nutrition profiles of these patties stack up. If you are replacing meat, poultry, fish or dairy with plant products, look for protein content. Most meatless burgers are a good source of protein, with some containing close to 20 grams of protein per 3- to 4-ounce patty. Try to choose patties with at least 10 grams of protein per serving. Because meatless burgers are processed, they can be a significant source of sodium,…

Your thoughts, feelings and beliefs affect your happiness and health—especially if you’re dealing with a chronic illness. Diabetes is hard. Taking care of yourself with diabetes is even harder. When trying to keep up with self-care demands, the amount of stress that comes with dealing with a chronic illness can be overwhelming. If left unchecked, such mental fatigue can lead to burnout. Symptoms of diabetes burnout include negative feelings about diabetes (“why me?”), avoiding diabetes self-care (for example, skipping medication or not checking your blood glucose levels), feeling isolated due to diabetes, and feeling like your life is controlled by diabetes. In fact, people with diabetes are two to three times more likely to deal with mental health issues like anxiety and depression. Unfortunately, only 50% of patients with diabetes…

Are you frustrated by forgetfulness? If so, you are not alone. People of all ages complain about the memory lapses that get in their way, such as forgetting their keys, scheduling two appointments for the same time, losing a train of thought, not recalling what they wanted to get from the kitchen and—worst of all—forgetting names. As people grow older, these slips seem to become more frequent and can even be frightening. It’s all too easy to worry that each little memory lapse is actually the early sign of a slow decline to dementia. Although diabetes seems to increase a person’s risk for developing dementia, dementia is still relatively uncommon in people with diabetes. And while there is thought to be some decline in a person’s ability to learn new…

Dig right into the start of summer with these flavorful dishes that will take you from the kitchen to the grill. These recipes will please plant-based eaters and omnivores alike. Finish your meal with a sweet finale that won’t keep you too long in the kitchen and will give you plenty of time to enjoy that warm early-summer feeling. TIP If you shun beans because of their gassy side effects, try opting for low-sodium canned beans or soaking beans overnight and discarding the water. If you are not accustomed to eating high-fiber foods, start slowly and drink enough water. Black Bean Burgers With Spicy Mayo 4 SERVINGS | 1 BURGER WITH BUN AND ½ TABLESPOON SAUCE ▲ FI CAL 337 | FAT 10G | SAT FAT 3G | PROTEIN 16G…

We’ve been hearing a lot about “smart” devices these days—smart locks, smart cars, smart speakers, even smart refrigerators. Now a team of researchers and bioengineers at three schools—UCLA, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and UNC School of Medicine—report they have developed a smart insulin patch. The new device, they say, has shown the ability first to monitor blood sugar and then manage insulin levels in people with diabetes. According to Zhen Gu, PhD, of UCLA, “Our main goal is to enhance health and improve the quality of life for people who have diabetes. This smart patch takes away the need to constantly check one’s blood sugar and then inject insulin if and when it’s needed.” The patch is about the size of a quarter and is equipped with tiny microneedles.…

Recently, we wrote that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was testing batches of the type 2 diabetes drug metformin for a potential contaminant. This contaminant, N-nitrosodimethylamine—more commonly known as NDMA—may contribute to cancer, and the FDA has established an upper limit for how much of it any drug sold in the United States can contain. NDMA is a potential byproduct of certain drug manufacturing processes. Now, the FDA has announced in a press release that the results are in—and there’s very little for anyone who takes metformin to worry about. Out of all the different batches of metformin from different manufacturers that the FDA tested, levels of NDMA ranged from undetectable to low, coming in well below the agency’s established limit. In a more detailed announcement of its…

Success is not only represented by a shelf full of medals and trophies, plaques and honors, or an acronym behind your name. Success, more than anything, is largely measured by how a person feels. So what does it look like to you to be successful? What does it mean? When you can name or picture what success looks like for you, you can then equip yourself with the answer to the next question: What will it take to get me there? Athletes are a group of people who typically embody high levels of the motivation necessary to achieve success. Even though we may not all be professional athletes, we can take a page out of their book and apply those mindset principles and characteristics to achieve our own form of…

Mila Buckley is a positive, vivacious and energetic woman who grew up in a home with several family members who lived with diabetes. She recalled that her mother and grandmother took multiple daily injections of insulin, but she doesn’t remember either of them talking about their diabetes management or how it affected their lives. It was simply never discussed or acknowledged. At 26 years old, Buckley experienced debilitating exhaustion, frequent urination and unquenchable thirst. Her husband was concerned about the recent changes in her mood and decreased activity level and encouraged her to visit her doctor. Extensive blood work revealed that her hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) and blood glucose levels were very high, and she was subsequently diagnosed with diabetes. While the diagnosis was upsetting, the news was made worse when…

Kate Hall was 10 years old when she and her parents noticed some changes that concerned them. An active, dynamic kid who played lots of sports and rarely sat still, Hall suddenly wanted to stay home in bed instead of attending practices. She began eating and drinking more than usual, yet she was losing weight. She’d never been the type to show her emotions in front of others when she felt down. But she’d cried several times recently in front of her friends. Her parents took Hall to the doctor, who diagnosed the tween with a growth spurt. The age and some of the symptoms certainly fit, but what about the weight loss, Hall’s parents wondered. So they keyed her symptoms into Google, which directed them to information about type…