Indholdsfortegnelse for Fall 2023 i Diabetes Self-Management

Dear readers, Autumn leaves and pumpkins, please! The fall season is a time of transitions—trees are turning, kids are heading back to school, adults are easing out of summer vacation mode, and Daylight Saving Time is coming to an end. Between the shorter hours of sunlight and all the other changes the season brings, fatigue is a common concern at this time of year. Add diabetes and related health conditions to the mix, and it’s a perfect storm for low energy. Fortunately, although fatigue is a serious issue, there are ways to combat it. Read “Fighting Fatigue” (page 26) for tips to tackle that tired feeling. Having difficulty sleeping is undoubtedly a major contributor to fatigue, and if you’re dealing with restless legs syndrome, you may find yourself tossing and…

When you have a busy schedule, finding time for physical fitness can be challenging. Why not consider something as simple as walking? It can provide more positives than many of us may realize. (Before starting a new fitness program, consult with your health care provider to ensure it is safe for you.) 1. To achieve any health benefits, you need to participate in higher-intensity activities at least once or twice a week in addition to walking. • True • False 2. People with diabetes who walk every day for 30 to 60 minutes can obtain which benefits? • A. Improved glucose control.• B. Improved cardiovascular fitness.• C. Improved weight control.• D. All of the above. 3. Walking is associated with which of the following in people with diabetes? • A.…

Taking a vitamin D supplement is linked to a lower risk of developing dementia and a longer life free of dementia, according to a new study published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring. Dementia and cognitive decline are widespread in older adults, and people with diabetes are especially likely to develop them. For the latest study, researchers looked at the relationship between taking a vitamin D supplement—at any dose—and the risk of developing dementia over a 10-year period. They also looked at the risk of surviving for five years without developing dementia. There were 12,388 participants—4,637 who took a vitamin D supplement and 7,751 who did not. The average age of both groups was 71.2 at the beginning of the study. There were some notable…

Exceed your limits!” “Push through the pain!” “Find your goal and crush it!” This is the kind of talk you hear in the world of competitive athletes. But what about the everyday athlete, the person who just wants to exercise because it feels good and improves health? Everyone enjoys perks from exercise, such as lower blood pressure, better weight control, and stronger bones—but it has special benefits for people with diabetes. Both cardiovascular (aerobic) exercise and strength training can lower blood glucose levels and decrease insulin resistance, which is one of the hallmarks of type 2 diabetes. Setting goals can be extremely helpful in starting and maintaining a healthy exercise program, but these goals must be achievable and ultimately beneficial for your body. A good starting point is the 2018…

Whether you are seeking a quick energy-boosting snack, a mini meal replacement, or a protein pick-me-up, you will find what you are looking for in the snack bar aisle. Egg-white-based, greens-filled, and probiotic-infused bars are all available alongside old-fashioned granola and cereal bars. Snack bars are convenient bundles of ingredients, but some are more like “real food” than others. Select bars with whole-food ingredients such as intact fruit, nuts, and whole grains, with limited added sugar and minimal ingredients high in saturated fat (such as chocolate or caramel coatings made with palm and palm kernel oils). Look for bars with no more than 2 grams of saturated fat and no more than 6 grams of added sugar per serving (one bar). The new Nutrition Facts label, which manufacturers were required…

Do you have trouble sleeping at night? Have you been having unpleasant or strange sensations in your legs? Do you find that you have an uncontrollable urge to move your legs when you are sitting or lying down? If so, you might have a condition called restless legs syndrome. What is restless legs syndrome? Restless legs syndrome (RLS), also called Willis-Ekbom Disease, is classified as a sleep disorder, and for good reason, since symptoms are triggered by resting and attempting to sleep. But it’s also classified as a movement disorder, as well, since people with this condition move their legs to help relieve symptoms, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). However, the NINDS states that this condition is…

High Blood Sugar Symptoms: Causes, Signs, and Taking Control If you’ve had diabetes for any length of time, you’ve probably seen lists of the signs and symptoms of high blood glucose dozens of times. But have you ever stopped to wonder why they occur? bit.ly/3PK8b3X Get to Know Vitamin B12 Are you aware of the significant role vitamin B12 plays in your health? It’s crucial in protein metabolism, formation of red blood cells, DNA synthesis, and supporting the nervous system and is particularly important to know about for those taking metformin.bit.ly/44cFbWS Hiking and Diabetes If you haven’t hiked before, it’s never too late to begin. Hiking can increase stamina, improve bone density, strengthen leg muscles, and improve your balance. It can also help you control your weight, improve blood pressure,…

Taking metformin for type 2 diabetes may offer protection against developing osteoarthritis compared with taking a sulfonylurea (such as glyburide, glipizide, or glimepiride), according to a new study published in the journal JAMA Network Open. Metformin is widely considered the first-line prescription drug for type 2 diabetes, and it’s one of the most widely prescribed drugs in the world. For the latest study, researchers looked at a group of 41,874 people with type 2 diabetes ages 40 and older who were taking either metformin or a sulfonylurea as a diabetes treatment. Each drug group contained 20,937 participants, and the two groups were matched based on their age, sex, race or ethnicity, diabetes treatment duration, and other health conditions. Participants were followed between December 2003 and December 2019, and members of…

TRUEplus Soft Tabs Glucose Tablets If you’re at risk for hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), you may be in the habit of reaching for glucose tablets. TRUEplus Soft Tabs Glucose Tablets are softer and chewier than traditional glucose tablets, and they come in less-traditional flavors, such as Chocolate Marshmallow, Root Beer Float, Kiwi Strawberry, and Cherry Pop. Each tablet contains four grams of fast-acting carbohydrate (dextrose). The tablets are fat-free, gluten-free, and sodium-free, too. Plus, they come in a convenient pouch that you can keep in your car, your purse, or your desk drawer. trividiahealth.com Manta Sleep Mask If you have difficulty falling or staying asleep, you’ve no doubt tried a sleep mask or two. But regular sleep masks can be tight and uncomfortable. Say goodbye to sleep masks that just…

Preparedness is something on the minds of many people as the summer months fade into fall. Indeed, preparing is a skill that many people with diabetes are already very familiar with because of the steps necessary to manage the condition. This column explores how to keep your kitchen stocked so you can be ready to put together last-minute meals or nourish yourself back to health during a time of illness. I want to be better prepared for dealing with potential sickness as we move into the fall and winter seasons. Do you have any suggestions for keeping a pantry well stocked for the cooler months? As we move into the cooler seasons, it is a good idea to be prepared at all times so you can provide nourishment for yourself or…

Foot care is an important part of managing your diabetes. In fact, keeping an eye on your feet can help prevent major problems, including amputation. “In the diabetic patient, there are many complications involving the lower limbs,” says Diane Koshimune, DPM, a podiatrist at Kaiser Permanente in California. “The feet are important in our day-to-day lives. If something happens to them, it can impact your ability to walk, to get around, to work.” Nerve damage causes complications Poorly controlled diabetes can cause a number of complications. One of the main concerns is nerve damage to the feet, a condition called diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). It is estimated that around 50% of people with type 2 diabetes and 20% of those with type 1 diabetes will develop DPN. Depending on which…

5 Fatigue isn’t just a problem for people with diabetes. Based on some research, between 7% and 45% of the general population deals with fatigue, and according to the American Sleep Association, 50 to 70 million adults in the United States have a sleep disorder. If you’re tired of feeling tired, head over to “Fighting Fatigue” (page 26) to learn about common causes and lifestyle changes that can help. 4 A quarter of the bones in your body are in your feet. The big toe has only two bones, while the other toes have three bones. There are approximately 8,000 nerves in the feet. The 250,000 sweat glands in a pair of feet can release up to half a pint of moisture daily. Interested in more fascinating foot facts? Check out “Taking…

A research team at the University of Bristol in England has reported the discovery of a new method of slowing the progression of kidney disease, an ailment that, according the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), affects one in three adults who have diabetes. The therapy they devised involves a drug originally designed to control high blood pressure. That drug is spironolactone (brand names in the United States are Aldactone and CaroSpir). Essentially, it’s a diuretic, or water pill, that keeps the body from absorbing too much salt, and by doing so, prevents potassium levels from becoming too low. That’s why one of its uses is to prevent or treat hypokalemia, or low blood potassium levels. Spironolactone is also used to treat other conditions, such as heart failure,…

The blood pressure drug verapamil—a calcium channel blocker that is also used to treat angina (chest pain) and arrhythmia (irregular heart rhythm)—was shown to help preserve pancreatic beta cell function in early type 1 diabetes, according to a study published in the journal JAMA. Preserving insulin-secreting beta cell function for as long as possible has been a major topic of type 1 diabetes research in recent years. Last year, those research efforts paid off when Tzield (teplizumab) became the first treatment approved to delay the onset of type 1 diabetes in people at high risk for the condition. For the latest study, 88 children and adolescents ages 7 to 17 with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes were randomly assigned to take either verapamil (47 participants) or a placebo (inactive drug—41…

Q I have type 1 diabetes and eat a whole-food, plant-based diet. It surprises me to see my blood sugar spike when I have low-carb foods such as zucchini or cashews. What causes this to happen? A Carbohydrates can be sneaky. They find their way into our diets unexpectedly. Most vegetables, for example, are low in carbs but not carb-free. Salad veggies average about 5 grams per cup, and that doesn’t include add-ons like dressings and croutons. Breading on meats and vegetables also adds carbs, as do most sauces and condiments. Even a palm-sized portion of nuts can contain 5 to 10 grams of carbohydrate. All of these “hidden” carbs can add up. It is important to additionally note that carbohydrate is not the only thing in our food that…

Sticking to a healthy eating plan can be hard when living on a tight budget. The good news is, with a little careful planning and preparation, budget-friendly weight management is achievable. Planning a budget-friendly diet Careful advance planning of your weekly meals will help avoid waste and stop you from being tempted by unhealthy and costly items. There are plenty of meal-planning websites and apps available to help you with this. Taking the time to write a shopping list before heading to the grocery store will also help you make smarter and healthier choices when you are there. Smart grocery shopping tips Smart shopping ensures you find the most budget-and waistline-friendly foods. • Choose fruits and vegetables that are in season to help keep costs down.• Keep in mind that…

Are you stumped about what to eat for lunch? Whether you eat at home or at work, it can be a challenge to plan nutritious and delicious midday meals to satisfy your taste buds without breaking your carbohydrate and calorie budgets. But there is an approach that can fulfill your requirements on all fronts: It’s time to move from boring ol’ sandwiches to scrumptious lower-carb lunches that will keep you satisfied and perk up your day! Five Tips for Low-Carb Lunches TIP 1: Stock up on low-carb veggies that are packed with phytonutrients, antioxidants, and fiber. Health expert Karen Rose Tank, MS, shares, “I enjoy low-carb dips like salsa and guacamole and use my veggies as chips.” TIP 2: Looking for some crunch? Try crackers made out of flaxseeds, which…

We seem to live in a time of extremes, and nowhere is this more obvious than in the world of health and wellness, where new guidance seems to be released on an almost daily basis, contradicting earlier advice, and new fads promising to help us achieve perfect health come and go with the seasons. But as trends rise and fall, one thing about wellness remains constant: Our bodies perform best with moderation and balance. For years, a common source of confusion in diabetes advice has been whether to start medicines early or hold off as long as possible. There are proponents on both sides of the debate, and people with diabetes often avoid starting medication due to a perceived stigma (along with concerns about potential side effects or financial impacts).…

We’re transitioning out of the season of summer vacations and back into regular work and school routines. And if you’re like most people, decluttering, getting organized, and living a healthier life are all on the top of your to-do list. But if you are really like most, the idea of getting started is overwhelming. Where do you begin? How do you know what systems will be the most effective for you to maintain? Now add daily diabetes management into the mix, and getting and staying organized may seem much more challenging. The list of things you need to do each and every day may leave you feeling disorganized and overwhelmed. The truth is, you’re not alone. We’ve put together a list of very usable and practical strategies to get you…