Coping with Diabetes Archives

Use Blood Sugar Monitoring for Health and Safety!

August 19, 2016 By John Lamberson Leave a Comment

Blood Sugars can be too low in older diabetics Nice response from Dr. Komaroff in answering a question from one his readers. (Saw this in the Wednesday, August 17, 2016 edition of The Virginian-Pilot). Older people with diabetes definitely need to speak to their physicians about what target blood sugar levels should be. While having chronically high blood sugars is bad over the long term, hypoglycemia, low blood sugar, can cause immediate problems! You must treat low blood sugars with a sense of urgency. Blood sugar monitoring is important. As we age, our ability to feel low blood sugars can diminish. Often, the older patient with diabetes may be taking multiple medications for a variety of health issues. This too can inhibit the body’s response to recognizing low blood sugar levels. Because of these issues, the recommendation is to allow blood sugar levels to run a little higher for this group. Dr. Komaroff details that very well in his column.

But, I would take it a bit further. To be sure of blood glucose levels, you must check! Use a blood glucose monitor to track how your body responds to your diabetes medicine, dietary changes and activity levels. For people with Medicare coverage blood glucose monitoring is approved for one glucose check a day, unless you are on insulin. With insulin use, you are typically granted 3 times a day approval. Regardless of the coverage, if you are on hypoglycemic medications, it is extremely important to regularly check blood glucose levels. Blood glucose monitoring can be an expensive part of your diabetes management program. But, it is a vital part! To make the most of your effort, keep a record of your results and be sure to take those results with you when you see your physician or diabetes educator. Identifying trends in your glucose levels can help to provide better blood glucose management and keep you healthy and safe. Be an active participant of the health care team.

It’s Your Health. It’s Your Life. Make That Change!

~John

Diabetes ~ The Highs and Lows…

February 23, 2016 By John Lamberson Leave a Comment

Diabetes-The Ups and Downs A person with Diabetes will certainly tell you that it has its ups and downs. Sure, having Diabetes can cause a ton of different feelings and emotions. But the Highs and Lows I’m talking about today are Blood Sugar Levels. The Highs and Lows. Both are important and can have an impact on your overall health. But, Lows can be even more problematic. Hypoglycemia can cause a critical situation that might require the intervention of emergency personnel. To prevent that from happening, you must be aware of what your blood sugar levels are doing. So, let me tell you a little story about last night (2.22.2016)…. I’ll show you my Blood Glucose log and actions taken:

7:21 pm BG: 118 Action: Ate dinner, took 12 units of NovoLog (Normal amount for meal eaten)

8:55 pm BG: 70 Action: Felt slight discomfort of Hypoglycemia. Drank 6 oz Juice

9:30 pm……………Action: Took Lantus Insulin ~ 22 units (Normal amount)

10:13 pm BG: 73 Action: Concerned that BG level was staying low. Drank another 6 oz Juice Box

11:15 pm BG: 49 Action: No symptoms of low blood sugar other than I could not sleep. 6 oz Juice Box

I was now worried that I had inadvertently taken 2 Lantus doses. (That would not be good!)

11:33 pm BG: 66 Action: Ate protein bar and drank 8 oz of Soy Milk (31 g Carb, 19 g Protein)

(Still concerned that I may have doubled up on the Lantus. I wanted to eat something with both Carbohydrate and Protein to help maintain BG levels. If I had doubled dosed Lantus, it was going to be a long night. I would now be checking my BG levels throughout the night!)

12:47 am BG: 123 Action: Nothing. Set alarm to recheck BG levels in an hour

2:06 am BG: 105 Action: Drank 4 oz of OJ (Reset alarm)

3:33 am BG: 137 Action: Nothing.

4:44 am BG: 143 Action: Nothing (This is a normal wake up time. Would usually go to the gym)

6:45 am BG: 162 Action: Nothing

7:30 am BG: 177 Action: Breakfast. Normal B’Fast (NovoLog 8 units ~ this is a reduced amount. I wanted to see response to Carbohydrate and still unsure of double dosing of Lantus. It now appears as though I did not double dose. Let’s see what happens!)

9:20 am BG: 283 Action: Added 3 units of NovoLog (Underdosed the NovoLog, need a correction.)

10:31 am BG: 300 Action: Nothing (Already had additional 3 units of NovoLog on board. Don’t want to overload and cause hypoglycemia. Will wait until Lunch and adjust NovoLog then, if necessary.)

12:45 pm BG: 128 Action: Lunch. Ate regular amount and took normal amount of NovoLog (Had I taken more insulin at the 10:30 time frame, I would have dropped low prior to lunch. Know how your insulin is supposed to work and what you need to adjust it to cover highs!)

Having Diabetes is no joke. There are a number of things you need to be aware of. One of my biggest worries is that I will take a double dose of Lantus. For those of you not familiar with Lantus, like Levemir, is a long-acting (24 hour) insulin. If you take too much of that, you will be fighting low blood sugars the whole day. NovoLog, on the other hand is a rapid-acting insulin. It starts working in about 15 minutes and is typically out of the system within 4-6 hours. Rapid-acting insulins (Apidra, Humalog & NovoLog) are usually taken with meals to help control meal time blood sugar rises. The long-acting insulins are designed to cover your basal insulin needs, the needs not associated with meals.

I have a system in place to help remind me that I have taken my Lantus dose for the night. But, if you are not mindful of what you are doing, you can forget what you’ve done. And that’s what happened to me last night. Luckily, I have support from my wife that helped me through this event. But what it also means is that I can’t take things for granted. I need to stay on top of my game! Sometimes, we all need a reminder! Now, we’ll have to figure out why my Blood Sugars were so low during the night……..

It’s Your Health. It’s Your Life. Make That Change!

~John

Diabetes Month Reflections…

December 2, 2015 By John Lamberson Leave a Comment

Monday, November 30th, brought a close to Diabetes Awareness Month. But for the millions of us with Diabetes, there is no close on Diabetes. It is a condition that requires constant awareness, heightened vigilance, and a focused approach. We get no break or vacation from Diabetes.

I don’t say that to sound as though I am lamenting over the fact that I have Diabetes or have a feeling of dread or depression associated with Diabetes. I say it to remind every body that we should all remain alert and and focused on our health, regardless of whether or not we have Diabetes.

I have never used my diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes as an excuse to allow myself to get down or depressed about it. Diabetes is a frustrating, aggravating, difficult and complex chronic disease to manage. The good news is that Diabetes is manageable. For me though, I see Diabetes as a blessing. I will not tell you that I love having it, because I don’t! But it’s all about the perspective YOU choose to have. I can say that without Diabetes, my life would definitely be different. I don’t mean less frustrating, less aggravating, less difficult or less complex. Would life be better without Diabetes? I can’t answer that question. Life is life. We will all have problems, frustrations, good times, bad times, happy and sad times. Diabetes doesn’t add or subtract those things. While I don’t love Diabetes, I do love my life, which includes Diabetes.

I am thankful when I look back and see how Diabetes impacted my life in a positive way. Because of Diabetes, I became a Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Educator and an Integrative Health Coach. With Diabetes, I met and married my best friend. With Diabetes, I have been blessed with two wonderful children. Diabetes has also allowed me to meet people, both personally and professionally, that I would never have had the opportunity to meet.

I don’t just try to live with Diabetes, it is my goal to thrive with Diabetes! I’ve had the diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes for just over 24 years now. In that time, I have performed more than 44,250 Blood Glucose Checks, more than 35,400 insulin injections and lived 212,400 hours (or 12,744,000 minutes) of LIFE with Diabetes. It does not define me. But it is a part of me and it help to make me a better person.

Again, it’s all about your perspective!

It’s Your Health. It’s Your Life. Make That Change!

~John

My Top Ten Reasons Why Diabetes is Cool!

November 13, 2015 By John Lamberson 1 Comment

Diabetes is Cool! Yep, that’s what I said! Sometimes changing your perspective helps you to see things in a different light! We all know that Diabetes can cause many problems. But if you have Diabetes, you might have found some humor in the daily tasks you perform to keep things under control. So, here are my “Top Ten” reasons:

10: I have become good friends with my neighborhood Pharmacists!

9: I can utilize my stealth like, ninja reflexes to check my blood sugars and inject my insulin without anyone even knowing it!

8: I can carry food into sporting events as it is necessary for my Diabetes treatment!

7: If I am having a low blood sugar, I can eat sweets without the guilt!

6: I know Carbs, inside and out!

5: It’s a great way to get out of an uncomfortable situation, “Excuse me, I think I need to go and check my blood sugar…”

4: Provides you with an excuse to not eat your Aunt Vera’s Holiday Fruit Cake!

3: Exercise becomes a necessary and enjoyable treatment to help reduce medications and save money!

2: Allows me to drop my pants at any time if I have to inject insulin!

1: I can keep a watchful eye on the neighborhood when I’m up in the middle of the night checking my blood sugar!

I know if you’ve been dealing with Diabetes, you have some of your own Top Ten moments to add. Feel free to share them!

And always remember, We control Diabetes! It does not control us!

“It’s Your Health. It’s Your Life. Make That Change!”

~John

Diabetes Awareness Month!

November 4, 2015 By John Lamberson Leave a Comment

Welcome November and Diabetes Awareness Month! We’ve gotten through October and Halloween and are looking forward to Thanksgiving, Christmas and the New Year. But first, we need to stop and recognize a potential health crisis. Diabetes continues to play a huge role in the health of our nation and around the world. The good news is that this is a condition you can control! The key to control is Knowing Your Numbers. Have a simple blood glucose check performed and you can quickly assess your diabetes risk or diabetes control. Remember, being overweight, obese or having a family member with diabetes can increase your risk for developing diabetes. Get checked if you:

Have a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 25
Lead a sedentary lifestyle
Have a history of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Have a history of Gestational Diabetes
Gave birth to a child weighing more than 9 pounds
Have a history of Heart Disease, High Cholesterol or High Blood Pressure
Have a family member with Diabetes
Are 45 years or older

A quick look at what the numbers mean can give you an idea of where you stand. Most often, a Fasting Blood Glucose value will be used. This is preformed after an overnight fast and before any food or beverage in the morning. A one-time test may not always tell you everything you need to know but at least it can help to move you in the right direction!

	Blood Glucose	Results
	Normal:	Pre-Diabetes:	Diabetes:
Fasting Glucose: (No food or drink previous 8 hours)	< 99 mg/dL	100-125 mg/dL	>126 mg/dL on two separate draws.
Random Glucose:			>200 mg/dL

As the table shows, the numbers tell the story. A blood glucose check is a quick and easy way to get more information. If you’re not sure what the numbers mean or what you can do to take control, talk with your doctor or health care provider to get more answers and referrals to an education program. Being diagnosed with Pre-Diabetes or Diabetes is not a bad thing, it might just save your life! Don’t wait. The time is now to take action to change your life.

“It’s Your Health. It’s Your Life. Make That Change!”

~John

November’s Here….It’s Diabetes Awareness Month!

November 4, 2014 By John Lamberson Leave a Comment

Diabetes continues to play a big role in the health of our nation. Over 29 million Americans have Diabetes. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control, 21 million are diagnosed but another 8.1 million have diabetes but do not know it! There are 86 million Americans that have a condition known as Pre-Diabetes. This is when blood sugar levels are above normal levels but not high enough to be diagnosed with diabetes. To make matters worse, about 90% of those with Pre-Diabetes do not know they have it. Diabetes and Pre-Diabetes are a concern. Having one of those conditions can significantly increase your risk for heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure. It is important to find out if you are at risk for Diabetes or Pre-Diabetes. Fortunately, there are things you can do to reduce your risk of developing it. Remember, there are two types of Diabetes. Type 1 Diabetes is when the body does not produce any insulin. Insulin is the hormone that helps to take blood sugar from the blood stream into the cells to be used for energy. Without insulin, blood sugar levels will continue to rise. Type 1 Diabetes accounts for about 5% of the population that has diabetes. It is thought to be an auto-immune response that causes a destruction of the cells in the pancreas that produces insulin. Because of this destruction of cells, a person with Type 1 Diabetes MUST take insulin to live.

Type 2 Diabetes, is often considered a “lifestyle” disease. The most common type of diabetes typically impacts those that are overweight or obese. As you can see in the slide from the CDC, obesity and diabetes are closely linked. As weight increases, your risk for Type 2 Diabetes will increase as well. There are studies being conducted right now trying to determine why this happens. It has been thought that the extra weight somehow inhibits the body from using insulin correctly. With Type 2 Diabetes, the body may be producing more than enough insulin to manage blood sugars. However, the body is resistant to those actions and blood sugar levels rise. To control blood sugar levels, people with Type 2 Diabetes may need pills or insulin. Diet and activity levels also play a vital role! The elevated levels of glucose and insulin in uncontrolled Diabetes increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and kidney disease. Weight loss, as little as 5-10% of current weight can make a big difference in lowering risk factors. That weight loss may be all that is needed to bring blood glucose levels back into a more normal range.

Regardless of the type of Diabetes a person may have, some things do not change. Proper nutrition and increased activity levels are the main components in any treatment plan! We know that making changes to reach those goals can seem difficult but taking time for yourself can make a big difference in your health outcomes. Small changes to start with can lead to bigger changes in the future. Stay focused on your goal, know your risk factors, visit your doctor, see a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator and do everything you can to to live a healthier life.

Stayed tuned during the month of November as we provide more information and tips to help keep you informed and aware during Diabetes Month!

It’s Your Health. It’s Your Life. Make That Change!

~John

Celebrating Diabetes on World Diabetes Day

November 14, 2012 By John Lamberson Leave a Comment

Today is World Diabetes Day. Millions of people around the world have united to help bring awareness to this chronic disease that affects 371 million people (half of which are undiagnosed). This past August, I celebrated my 21st year of living with Diabetes. That’s right, Celebrated! I’m excited to have accomplished all that I have because of Diabetes. Is being diagnosed with Diabetes hard? Yeah, sometimes. But life, in general, is hard at times. Barriers are barriers only if we let them be. We hold the keys to our own happiness and health. We can’t control others or control all events in our life BUT, we can control how we respond to those events. Every challenge and difficulty we face gives us the opportunity to find out more about ourselves and to discover new ways to succeed.

I have always maintained that had I not been diagnosed with diabetes, I would not be where I am today. Diabetes changed my life in an overall positive direction. Because of diabetes, I discovered new interests, new careers, new friends and a renewed purpose. Because of diabetes, I met the woman that would become my wife and mother of our children. Because of diabetes, I am a better person. To me, diabetes is cool. Yes, having diabetes still sucks, but you cope. Sure it makes me different when comparing me to my peers, but when working with clients that have diabetes, it gives us something in common. I know I may have viewed it differently had I been diagnosed with diabetes while still a child. But for me, the diagnosis of diabetes saved my life!!!

"When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us." -Helen Keller

For more information about World Diabetes Day, visit: http://www.idf.org/worlddiabetesday

~ John

It’s Your Health! It’s Your Life! Make That Change!

Use Blood Sugar Monitoring for Health and Safety!

Diabetes ~ The Highs and Lows…

Diabetes Month Reflections…

My Top Ten Reasons Why Diabetes is Cool!

Diabetes Awareness Month!

November’s Here….It’s Diabetes Awareness Month!

Celebrating Diabetes on World Diabetes Day

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