Q. What would you
tell someone who tries to stay on a diet, but cheats every now and again?
A. Diabetes meal
planning has changed a great deal in recent years. Foods that used to be forbidden, such as
sugar, can now be enjoyed in modest amounts.
As long as your A1C level (average glucose level for the past 2-3
months) is in a healthy range and you feel well, you are probably doing fine.
If your blood sugar level is not in a healthy range, try the
following:
·
Meet with a registered dietitian to learn how to
incorporate your favorite foods into your meal plan.
·
Learn to treat abnormal glucose levels that may
result from eating foods in portions that aren’t recommended.
·
Don’t punish yourself for veering off your meal
plan! We are all human. If you make a poor food choice, forgive
yourself and eat healthier at your next meal.
·
Learn your A1C number. Most experts recommend a starting A1C goal of
less than 7 percent with an ultimate goal of less than 6.5 percent. If your A1C level is good, an occasional high
blood glucose meter reading should not be a problem. If it is too high, meet with your healthcare
team to adjust your treatment plan.
Q. My doctor wants
me to take insulin. Once I start it, can
I ever stop?
A. If you have type
1 diabetes, the answer is no; your body requires insulin from an outside source
because it can’t produce any of its own.
If you have type 2, it may be possible to reduce or even eliminate your
need for insulin if you do the following:
- Follow a healthy meal plan. A registered dietitian who specializes
in diabetes can help design a meal plan that fits your lifestyle and
improves your diabetes control.
- Stay physically active. The addition of even a small amount of movement
can make a significant improvement in your blood sugar control. Discuss exercise choices with your
doctor before starting.
- Lose weight, if
needed. Only a small amount needs
to be lost in order to see an improvement in your diabetes control.
Q. People tell me that
they can feel their blood sugar level drop.
I can’t. Is there something wrong
with me?
A. Many people with
diabetes lose the ability to feel when their blood sugar level runs low. This often occurs in individuals who work
hard to keep their blood sugar level within a very narrow range. Some experts also believe that frequent low
blood sugar episodes can cause this unawareness to develop. If you have “hypoglycemia unawareness” try
the following:
- Check your blood sugar
level more often throughout the day.
- Maintain blood sugar level
within 80-180 mg/dl for 2-3 weeks. Many
people have regained their ability to feel blood sugar lows after doing
this.
- Meet with your health care
team to review your daily blood sugar test results for patterns. You may be able to predict when a low
will occur and change your eating and/or medication schedule to help
prevent it.
- Always check your blood sugar
before you drive a car; you don’t want to be behind the wheel when your
blood sugar level is low.
- Carry carbohydrate snacks
to treat surprise lows – glucose tablets, sugar packets, jellybeans, etc.
- Teach your friends, family
and co-workers how to help you if your blood sugar level goes low.
- For more great articles by Janis Roszler, visit the e-version of our magazine at walgreensdiabetes.com
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