Ouch, this hurts!

"I'm not claiming diabetes.  I don’t like to stick my fingers.  I don’t like insulin.  I can’t eat more than 1 time a day.  I don’t have time for exercise. I went to a diabetes class 10 years ago and I have that information at home, I just need to find it and read it.  Everybody in my family has diabetes so it’s no big deal.  I’ve been on a cruise last week and I ate too much, that is the reason why my A1C is too high.  My BS are 200 and that's good for me; they used to be higher than that.  I take too many pills already.  When my blood sugars are less than 180 I feel bad so I try to keep them above 200.  Just give me 3 more months to change my diet and lose weight; yeah, I know I said that 3 months ago, I just need some extra time.  My medicines are too expensive.  It costs too much to buy healthy foods.  The medicine makes me feel worse when I take it.  I take my medicine once a day and that is enough for me.  I don’t want to start insulin because I will never get off of it and I don't want to make my body dependent on insulin.  What happened to pancreatic transplants?, I want one.  When I don’t eat my blood sugars are still too high anyway so what's the point?  I don’t know why my blood sugars are high because I don’t eat a lot of meat.  I just need to cut down on what I drink.  I promise you my labs will be better the next time.  I’m too busy to take my medication.  I can’t get a day off of work to come to the doctor.  I’m too stressed out.  I don’t want any more pills for my diabetes, I only want you to give me some Viagra and Penicillin.  I hate cooking for me and then a different meal for my family, it's just too much!  I'm not taking any medicine for my diabetes, I'm going to a herbal doctor.  I don't want that medicine, I'm going to to cleanse my blood.  I just need a colon cleanser to clean my colon and then my blood sugars will go down; it worked for me 5 years ago and it will work again.  I'm too depressed to make any changes.  I don't know what to do.  No, I can't do that because it won't work for me."

Can you relate to any of the above excuses?  Some excuses are legitimate, some are real challenges, and some are just that - excuses.  However, what is inexcusable is not taking control of your diabetes before it takes control of you.  Research and large studies have established without a doubt that uncontrolled diabetes cause major, irreversible long-term complications.  Diabetes is a silent sneaky disease.  If you has a tooth abscess you will go to the doctor or dentist and ask for medication and you will take it because a tooth abscess hurts.  Diabetes does not hurt so it is easy to ignore it and sweep it under the rug.  As a person living with type 2 diabetes and a Certified Diabetes Educator I challenge you to find the motivation to take control of your diabetes and overcome your excuses and challenges.  Ask yourself the following questions:  What do I want my life to look like 10, 20, 30 years down the road?  Who will care for me when diabetes cause a complication such as kidney disease and blindness and I can no longer care for myself?  How will I pay my bills if I have to stop working; who will support me? 

Unfortunately, we can't put an ointment on our diabetes then cover it up with a band-aid until it heals like we can with a boo-boo.  However, we can thrive and live long, healthy lives with type 2 diabetes.  Yes, it does require effort and planning.  Yes, it can be discouraging sometimes.  Yes, sometimes we do have to take medications, maybe even insulin.  Yes, we do have to LEARN about carbs and healthy meal planning.  Yes, we really do need to attend that diabetes education class sometimes.  Yes, we can take a day off of work if we plan in advance.  Yes, we really do need to check our blood sugar.  We must stop looking at all of the "no's" of diabetes and find some "yes's" of diabetes.  Yes, we can ... yes, we can ... yes, we can.  After all, what is the price tag for quality of life?  Life is beautiful.  Take control.  Peace!

http://visionsofcontrol.com/default.aspx

Are Artificial Sweeteners Safe?

"Live with Passion." ~ Anthony Robbins

People with diabetes can enjoy  the same healthy meal plans as people without diabetes but it is a fact that people with diabetes have to be careful with their food and beverage choices.  Too many carbohydrates in the diet from sweetened food and beverages are guaranteed to raise the blood sugar and negatively impact blood sugar control.  So what about artificial sweeteners, are they safe alternatives to table sugar?  Are the rumors true that artificial sweeteners are dangerous to your health because they cause brain cancer and actually cause weight gain?    Below is a link to an excellent article from the American Diabetes Association on artificial sweeteners.  Enjoy.  Peace!

http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/what-can-i-eat/artificial-sweeteners/

Cold and Flu Sick-Day Guidelines for People With Diabetes

Aaaa choo-Cough-Blow-Sniff!  

A Cold or the flu?  

This is the season to be jolly, falalalala-lalalala!  The Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year holiday season is a festive time for most people.  Celebrations with family and friends are common during this time and we celebrate our moments via eating, shopping, family get-togethers, gift exchanges, weddings, music, etc.  Unfortunately, upon arrival with the holiday season are those uninvited and unwelcome viral nuisances known as colds and the flu.  Prompt attention to these viral illnesses is necessary for people with diabetes because these illnesses stress the body and can wreck havoc on blood sugar control.  Physical illnesses cause our body to produce stress hormones which are designed to help our body fight infections.  These stress hormones also raise the blood sugar which further contributes to you not feeling well.  Cough, sniffles, sneezes, fever, body aches, congestion, and sore throat - so how do you determine if you have a cold or the flu? 

http://www.helpfulhealthtips.com/Images/D/Difference-cold-flu.jpg

Important steps to take to manage diabetes control during times of illness include:                  

• Check your blood sugar levels often, about every four hours.  Call your health care team if you do not feel well and your blood sugars are less than 70 mg/dL or greater than 240 mg/dL.

• Check urine ketones if your blood sugar levels are above 240 mg/dL.  Ketones are a warning sign that the diabetes is not under good control.  High levels of ketones in the body can poison the body and lead to complications such as a diabetic coma or death.  It is usually recommended that urine ketones be checked every 4-6 hours when the blood sugars are 240 mg/dL or higher.   Urine ketones can be checked at home by using urine ketostixs which are available for purchase over-the-counter without a prescription from your local pharmacy.  

• Stay hydrated.  Drink 1 cup of a calorie free beverage (ex. water, crystal light, sugar-free/diet sodas, sugar-free koo-laid, tea with artificial sweeter, etc.) every hour while you are awake.  If you are unable to keep fluids down due to vomiting or if you have persistent diarrhea then call your health care team or you may need to go to an urgent care clinic or the emergency room.

• Take your medications, including insulin, daily as prescribed even if you are unable to eat solid foods unless you are told to do otherwise by your health care team.  Some oral pills (ex. Metformin) may need to be discontinued during times of dehydration, diarrhea, and/or vomiting.  Also, your insulin doses may need to be adjusted during this time.  Always check with your health care team before discontinuing a medication or changing the dose of your medication if you are unsure what to do.

• If you need to take over-the-counter medications for a cold, cough or flu then make sure that the medication is sugar-free.  Also, be careful if you have high blood pressure because some over the counter cold/flu medications can raise your blood pressure.  Check with your health care team if you are not sure which medications to take.  You can also ask the pharmacist.  Some prescription medications like antibiotics and steroids can lower or raise your blood sugars so discuss all new prescription medications with your health care team. 

Call your health care team if: 

• Your temperature greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit for 24 hours or more
• You have diarrhea or vomiting for 6 hours or more
• Your blood sugars are less than 70 mg/dL or greater than 240 mg/dL
• You have moderate to large amounts of urine ketones
• You have signs of ketoacidosis (vomiting, headaches, stomach pains, trouble breathing, chest pains, fruity smell on breath) and signs of dehydration (fever, dry tongue and dry, cracked lips)
• You don't know what to do

What to eat/drink when you are not feeling well:

It is important to avoid dehydration and get healthy nutrients from fluids and meals when you are sick.  It is generally advisable to consume 15 grams of carbohydrates (1 carb serving) every hour or 45-65 grams of carbohydrates (3-4 carb servings) every 4 hours. (1 carbohydrate servings = 15 grams of carbohydrates.  For example, 1/2 cup of fruit juice equals to 1 carb serving or 15 grams of carbohydrates).

• Eat your normal daily meals if tolerable
• Consume liquids or soft foods such as those foods listed below if nausea, vomiting, diarrhea are present or you don't have a healthy appetite.  (Each item equals to between 10-15 grams of carbohydrates).

•  Fluids:
• 1 cup broth or soup
• 1/2 cup fruit juice
• 1/2 cup gatorade or powerade
• 1/2 cup gelatin
• 1/2 cup regular (not diet) soda
• 1 cup milk

• Solids:
• 6 saltine crackers
• 5 vanilla wafers
• 3 gram crackers
• 1 double stick popsicle
• 1/2 cup of ice cream or sherbert
• 1 slice toast (regular bread, not "lite/low carb" bread)
• 1/3 cup rice
• 1/2 cup cooked cereal (grits or oatmeal)
• 1/2 cup sugar-free pudding
• 1/2 cup regular (not sugar-free) jello

These sick-day guidelines are for informational purposes only and should never replace the medical advice and care of a licensed health care provider.  Always consult your professional health care providers before changing your treatment plan and/or medications.
 

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