Q. For my New Year’s
resolution, I‘ve decided to stop smoking, but I’m starting to lose my motivation. What can I say? I really love to smoke and don’t want to
stop. Can you remind me why quitting is so important for people with diabetes?
A. Smoking and
diabetes do NOT go together! This
combination can:
- Cause erectile dysfunction
in men and an increased risk of miscarriage and stillbirth in women
- Cause abnormal glucose
levels
- Greatly increase the risk
of stroke and heart attack by reducing the amount of oxygen that gets to
your organs
- Encourage the development
of kidney disease and nerve damage
- Increase blood pressure
- Raise cholesterol levels
- Increase the need for
amputation
Here are some of the benefits of quitting:
- Lower risk of heart
attack, heart disease, stroke and peripheral artery disease
- Improve blood pressure
- Lower risk of nerve
damage, kidney disease, eye problems, and foot ulcers
- Reduce risk of mouth,
throat, lung and bladder cancers
- Reduce risk of erectile
dysfunction, miscarriage and stillbirth
Don’t give up. There
are many new tools on the market that can make this goal easier to reach,
including nicotine patches, gums, inhalers and sprays, and prescription
medications. Even acupuncture or
hypnosis may help. Ask your doctor what
he or she recommends or visit www.mytimetoquit.com
Q. While enjoying a
holiday dinner at a local restaurant, the waiter accidentally brought me a
regular soda instead of the diet one that I ordered. Boy, did I have problems with my blood sugar
level after drinking it! How can I
prevent this mistake from happening again?
A. Here are a few
suggestions that may help,
- If possible, watch the
serving staff pour your drink.
- Ask the waiter to place a
slice of lemon in your diet soft drink.
This request makes your order a bit unusual, so the waiter must
give it a bit more attention as he or she pours it into the glass.
- If possible, request the
can, so you can be certain that you are getting a diet beverage.
- Take a sip or two before
enthusiastically drinking your entire beverage; you may be able to taste
the difference.
- Carry a bottle of visual
glucose test strips that change color when sugar is present. If it changes color when you dip it into
your drink, your beverage is not a diet one.
Q. This may sound like a crazy question, but
I’m totally serious. Since alcohol
lowers blood sugar levels, could I drink regularly to control my diabetes?
A. In theory, that sounds like a dandy idea,
but alcohol is a drug that harms so many different body systems it shouldn’t be
used for medicinal purposes. It can
damage the liver, nervous system, heart, and brain. It can also promote weight gain, high blood
pressure, stomach problems, osteoporosis, and cancer. Regular alcohol use can also cause accidents
and would prevent you from driving a car.
People with diabetes can enjoy an occasional drink, but should eat when
imbibing to reduce the blood glucose lowering affect of the alcohol.
Q. Can cold weather
affect A1C levels? My level seems to
climb when the weather changes.
A. Yes, cold weather
can affect blood glucose results and ultimately increase a person’s A1C
level. Researchers don’t understand this
phenomenon, but they believe that it may be similar to the changes in blood
pressure that sometimes happen to people in colder climates.
No comments:
Post a Comment