Mensing, C. et al. (2006). The Art and Science of Diabetes Self-Management Education. Chicago: AADE
Mensing, C. et al. (2006). The Art and Science of Diabetes Self-Management Education. Chicago: AADE
Mensing, C. et al. (2006). The Art and Science of Diabetes Self-Management Education. Chicago: AADE
Mensing, C. et al. (2006). The Art and Science of Diabetes Self-Management Education. Chicago: AADE
Fonseca, V.A. (2006). Clinical Diabetes: Translating Research into Practice. Philidelphia: Saunders.
Fonseca, V.A. (2006). Clinical Diabetes: Translating Research into Practice. Philidelphia: Saunders.
Fonseca, V.A. (2006). Clinical Diabetes: Translating Research into Practice. Philidelphia: Saunders
It was somewhat difficult for Susan to come up with a “typical day” of eating when asked by the dietitian at her first nutrition appointment.
Before being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes Susan had not given a great deal of thought to what she would eat in a day except for planning dinner for her family. She often began the day with a cup of coffee running out the door to work. She never felt hungry for breakfast so not sitting down to the meal felt like a time saver. At work, the break room often had goodies brought in by coworkers. Break time found Susan hungry for something, and something was usually in a pink box on the staff table. Lunch time was 30 minutes of finding something quick to eat. Generally lunch was fast food, a deli combo meal or a Chinese takeout to eat at her desk. At mid afternoon Susan felt sluggish more often than not so a trip to Starbucks for a frappuccino was a common occurrence. Her drive home was long enough to warrant a stop at the vending machines to provide her with “something salty” on the ride home. Dinner time at Susan’s house was frequently fresh or frozen fast food in the form of pizza, fried chicken or hamburgers. Her husband liked to grill on the weekends. Susan used to enjoy cooking before the kids schedules became so full and they no longer sat at the table to eat as a family. Susan told the dietitian that she needed to be more organized to enjoy cooking for her family again.
One month later at her follow up nutrition appointment Susan told the dietitian that she had discovered that not only she but her family expressed a desire to eat less prepared and fast foods and begin eating more fresh cooked meals. Susan sat down with her husband and teenage daughter and made a list of all their favorite home cooked meals. Time was a real concern. Time to shop, prepare and cleanup after breakfast and dinner meals. Between Susan, her husband and daughter they had decided to divide and conquer the efforts in the kitchen. They made a list of food items to buy for the week to prepare the meals they decided on. They discovered the key was to stick to the list and to the planned meals so no food was wasted.
Susan learned from the dietitian that her entire family would benefit from eating the way she now wants to eat to help control her diabetes. Her focus is more fresh whole foods rather than processed prepared foods at meals and snacks. The focus is also on the amount of food eaten at meals and snacks especially the carbohydrates.
Susan found that she could figure out the portion size to eat by testing her blood sugar before and two hours after her meals. The dietitian was clear that avoiding foods, such as carbohydrates, was not necessary. But understanding how much to eat was the key. If Susan’s blood sugar increased by only 40 – 50 points then she knew the amount of carbohydrate was the correct amount for her body to handle. An increase much more than that told her to reduce the portion size next time. She experimented with different types of food and the amounts ( such as grapes, watermelon, ice cream, pasta, rice, cookies) and found that when she ate smaller portion sizes she could enjoy all her favorite foods as long as she got the portion size right for her glucose control.
So now Susan’s “typical day” of eating looks like this:
Breakfast – a cup of coffee and a yogurt because she finds it easy to eat. She now knows it helps her blood sugar control by “breaking the fast” and shutting off the liver’s need to dump glucose into her bloodstream during the fasting state.
Morning break – cheese stick and fresh fruit brought from home and occasionally a treat from the break room but usually she’ll split one.
Lunch – bringing lunch seems to be the best option for Susan but some days eating out is necessary. A packed lunch may have dinner leftovers or a sandwich with fruit and veggies. Lunch out maybe a fast food salad or fresh wrap.
Afternoon snack – crackers and peanut butter or a Starbucks Lite Frappuccino when she really wants it!
Dinner – the plate method helps Susan with portioning out her carbohydrates. Her plate is half full with vegetables and the other half divided between starch (rice, pasta, potato) and meat or fish. This helps keep her starch portion in check because of all the foods on her plate, it has the greatest effect on her blood sugar.
Susan has always had a sweet tooth but she has found that making healthier food choices all around has really changed her desire to eat sweets. But if she wants something she will eat a smaller amount and make sure to enjoy every morsel!
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Specific herbal therapies can help lower blood glucose levels and/or treat some of the complications of diabetes. These therapies may be referred to as “herbal” or “nutriceuticals.” A tour of the health food store suggests an extensive list of supportive products such as cinnamon, gymnema, fenugreek, bitter melon, ginseng, nopal, aloe vera, banaba, caiapo, bilberry, milk thistle, chromium, vanadium, nicotinamide, alpha lipoic acid, gamma linolenic acid, ginkgo biloba, garlic, vinegar and St John’s Wart. However, many experts agree that although these may not be harmful if taken, their actual benefit on lowering blood glucose levels requires further research, particularly studies with a greater number of study participants.
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Medication that helps the liver shut off glucose production:
Metformin- Glucophage
Glucophage XR
Fortamet
Glumetza
Riomet
This medication is now recommended at the time of diagnosis.
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Medication that helps the liver shut off glucose production:
Metformin- Glucophage
Glucophage XR
Fortamet
Glumetza
Riomet
This medication is now recommended at the time of diagnosis.
Help improve this article. Become a contributor!
Some people find taking one medication pill easier than two, so common combinations of some of the diabetes medications are now available together.
Actoplus Met – Actos and metformin
Avandaryl – Avandia and Amaryl
Avandamet – Avandia and metformin
Glucovance –Glyburinde and metformin
Metaglip – Glipizide and metformin
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Medication that replaces the body’s own insulin:
Lispro, Aspart and Glulisine
Regular
NPH
Glargine and Detemir
70/30, 75/25, 50/50
It is not uncommon for a person to think that they could have done something to prevent going on insulin. However taking insulin is the most natural way to control blood glucose, perhaps the best way to control glucose, and is simply a form of hormone replacement.
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Medication that helps the cells become more sensitive to insulin:
Rosiglitazone - Avandia
Pioglitazone- Actos
There is intense debate today regarding the safety of Avandia. The FDA has chosen to keep it on the market inspite of research pointing to increase risk of heart attack, stroke and heart disease related death in studies.
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Medication that helps the liver shut off glucose production:
Metformin- Glucophage and
Glucophage XR
Fortamet
Glumetza
Riomet
This medication is now recommended at the time of diagnosis.
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Medication that helps the pancreas secret more insulin:
Glyburide –Micronase and Glynase
Glipizide- Glucotrol and Glucotrol XR
Glimepiride - Amaryl
Repaglinide - Prandin
Nateglinide - Starlix
These only work when the pancreas can continue to produce insulin. These generally work well for about 10 years if the diabetes was discovered early.
Being diagnosed with diabetes can be a difficult message to receive. Diabetes requires a look at lifestyle, food choices, medications, blood glucose testing, and all that advice offered by well-meaning family and friends. It can be overwhelming to say the least. Learning how to live well with diabetes takes time and it takes lifestyle adjustments to do it well. Some people are just not up to it on their own. The best support a person with diabetes can get is from medical professionals who really know diabetes, family members who are willing to provide a healthy supportive environment including healthy food choices for everyone in the family, increased physical activity as a norm and a willingness to learn about diabetes together. It is often said “diabetes is a family disease” because it ends up effecting everyone.
Depression affects nearly 40% of those diagnosed with diabetes. It is unclear if depression is a result of high blood glucose levels or from the demand the disease has on the person living with it. Treating the depression becomes an integral part of treating the overall disease of diabetes.
Help improve this article. Become a contributor!
Being diagnosed with diabetes can be a difficult message to receive. Diabetes requires a look at lifestyle, food choices, medications, blood glucose testing, and all that advice offered by well-meaning family and friends. It can be overwhelming to say the least. Learning how to live well with diabetes takes time and it takes lifestyle adjustments to do it well. Some people are just not up to it on their own. The best support a person with diabetes can get is from medical professionals who really know diabetes, family members who are willing to provide a healthy supportive environment including healthy food choices for everyone in the family, increased physical activity as a norm and a willingness to learn about diabetes together. It is often said “diabetes is a family disease” because it ends up effecting everyone.
Depression affects nearly 40% of those diagnosed with diabetes. It is unclear if depression is a result of high blood glucose levels or from the demand the disease has on the person living with it. Treating the depression becomes an integral part of treating the overall disease of diabetes.
