Living With Diabetes

Living with Diabetes brings various challenges along the way. For adults and especially for children, the initial steps to adjusting for this diagnosis take time and most importantly education.

Maybe you've just been diagnosed and or you've had diabetes for years. When one is trying to exercise, go out with friends, travel and adjust to work, school or the demands of family, diabetes can "get in the way. "But don't worry. We're here to help."

Accepting the Diagnosis

This is often a key first step. A diagnosis of diabetes can send shock waves through your entire family. It will take some time for you and your family to adjust to all of the associated emotions. There are support groups and regular meetings at almost every local hospital. In addition, organizations such as the American Diabetes Association, can be a wealth of information.
Traveling

It is important to take into consideration the best times to travel and to prepare for delays, so that you are not "stuck without your medication." In addition, we recommend a medical id bracelet. Countless times, diabetics have passed while traveling or out in the company of strangers. This can also happen even when you are close to home or at a sporting event or at a concert and no one knows what to do. When a first responder knows to look at a medical id bracelet, this can provide invaluable information. (To obtain a MedicAlert identification tag, please call 1-800-432-5378.)

Exercise

Blood sugar can vary immensely throughout the day in relationship to several factors including the time of the last meal, insulin levels and even exercise. The body requires extra energy, usually in the form of glucose during exercise. This can lower blood glucose levels immensely.

The benefits of exercise on diabetes are huge. In a recent study of Hispanic men and women, 16 weeks of strength training produced dramatic improvements in glucose control that are comparable to taking diabetes medication. Therefore, aerobic exercise can help decrease the risk of type 2 diabetes and helps those with diabetes to better manage their blood glucose levels. Examples of aerobic exercise include swimming, walking or bicycling. Remember to discuss your plans with your physician or Endocrinologist so that you don't develop hypoglycemia unexpectedly during your favorite exercise routine. For example, depending on the time of exercise, you may have to reduce your dose of either long-acting insulin or short-acting insulin.
The American Diabetes Association offers these basic guidelines for exercising:

• Learn the effects of various types of exercise on your blood sugars.
• Do not exercise if your blood sugar is greater than 250 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter) and your ketones positive. This is an indication that you already may have a lack of insulin and exercise will only cause a greater rise in your glucose levels. Hydrate yourself and adjust your insulin as necessary, contact your health care provider.
• Use caution when exercising if your sugars are greater than 300 mg/dL without evidence of ketones, exercise may help decrease your sugars, but it's possible they will increase instead. Hydrate well prior to and after exercise and keep track of your sugars and ketones.
• Have carbohydrate-based foods available for exercise and for the period following exercise. Add carbohydrates to your meals if you plan on doing exercise, adjust you insulin dose appropriately in anticipation of exercise.

To learn more about exercising visit the American Diabetes Association article at http://www.diabetes.org/weightloss-and-exercise/exercise/overview.jsp