Posts Tagged ‘controlling blood sugar’

Software Allows Cars to Monitor Driver’s Blood Sugar Levels

May 26, 2011 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Diabetes Monitoring and Supplies, Diabetes Research and News, Glucose Monitoring 
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Photo: Marcin Mincer

The Ford Motor Company is working with Medtronic Inc, a leading manufacturer of blood glucose monitors, to expand Ford’s onboard Sync communication system to provide blood sugar monitoring for diabetic drivers. The prototype software monitors blood sugar, displays readouts on the dashboard, and warns the driver if his or her blood glucose is approaching dangerously high or low levels.

The driver can also request blood sugar updates using voice commands. The system can also be used to monitor the blood sugar levels of the vehicle’s passenger, such as a diabetic child.

The blood sugar monitoring software uses a Bluetooth connection on the driver’s phone to transmit information to the dashboard from a continuous glucose monitor worn on the body. If the driver’s blood glucose levels dip to the point where it could cause symptoms like lightheadedness, disorientation, loss of coordination and blurry vision, a robotic voice alerts the driver. Read the full article

Nutrition and Diabetes Control

May 25, 2011 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Diabetes and Diet, Diabetes and Weight Management, Diabetes Control, Diabetic Recipes 
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Photo: Ambro/FreeDigitalPhotos

Nutrition is vitally important in diabetes management and blood sugar control. About.com’s Nutrition and Diabetes page editors have compiled a wealth of information on healthy eating for diabetics including facts on carbs, calories, fiber and the all-important glycemic index; advice on surviving restaurant meals and holiday dinners, and even diabetes-friendly recipes and meal plans.

For those with an interest in alternative approaches, the Nutrition and Diabetes page also provides information on less conventional diets such as vegetarian, raw food and vegan. Other articles give you the lowdown on foods believed to have a positive affect on blood sugar and insulin resistance, such as fenugreek, prickly pear cactus and omega 3 fatty acids.

There are articles on sugar substitutes and hidden sugars, and nutrition facts and carb and calorie counts for individual foods like avocados, pomegranates, eggplant and watermelon (warning – very high carb!). The page also links to articles with recommendations for losing weight, specific diet tips for those with kidney disease, and even advice on healthy eating on a budget.

When making any major changes to your diet and/or activity levels, bear in mind they may impact your blood sugar levels and need for diabetes medication. Consult your healthcare provider about possible changes to your insulin dosage or other diabetes medicine.

To view About.com’s Nutrition and Diabetes page, >CLICK HERE.<

Diabetics Advised Against Lowering Their Blood Sugar Too Much

May 18, 2011 by · 1 Comment
Filed under: Glucose Monitoring 
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Researchers in England are saying that diabetes patients not only receive no advantage, but could actually experience a disadvantage, from lowering their blood sugar below 7 or 7.5 percent hemoglobin A1c. Hemoglobin A1c is a form of hemoglobin used to identify the average plasma glucose concentration over a period of two to three months.

After reviewing the results of several studies, the researchers are advising type 2 diabetics and their healthcare providers to avoid overly aggressive treatment requiring a lot of intervention or diabetes medication. To view a WebMD video on the possible health risks of lowering your blood sugar too much on >CLICK HERE<.

What’s the Best Exercise to Control Blood Sugar in Diabetics?

May 16, 2011 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Diabetes Control, Diabetes Research and News 
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Researchers analyzing the results of 24 separate clinical trials involving over 8400 participants have determined the best type of exercise program to control blood sugar in diabetics. It turns out that engaging in moderate exercise for longer periods of time is more effective at stabilizing blood glucose than shorter bursts of intensive physical activity.

As well, diabetes patients given a structured exercise routine by their health care provider do better than those simply told to get more physical activity. “We always tell patients, even those without diabetes, to get more exercise,” says Dr. Joel Zonszein, the Director of the clinical diabetes centre at New York’s Montefiore Medical Center, “It would be good if we were able to prescribe an exercise program for them to follow.”

Current guidelines suggest type 2 diabetics get at least 2 ½ hours of moderate to intense exercise every week, including aerobic activity and some sort of resistance training such as working out with weights. “Exercise improves insulin activity,” stresses Zonszein, “it makes insulin work better.”

Some diabetics discover regular work outs reduce their need for diabetes medication, so be sure to consult with your healthcare provider if you are beginning or revving up an exercise program. To read more about the study and the researchers’ recommendations on HealthDay, >CLICK HERE.<

Six Ways to Wreck Your Blood Sugar Levels

May 5, 2011 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Diabetes Resources and Tools 
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WebMD has put together a list of Six Ways to Wreck Your Blood Sugar Level, subtitled What Not to Do If You Have Diabetes. The featured post on the online Diabetes Health Centre reminds diabetics that it requires constant vigilance to keep their blood sugar under control, warns against common mistakes and bad habits, and offers advice on how to avoid or deal with these pitfalls.

To read the post on WebMD, >CLICK HERE<.

Type 2 Diabetes Slideshow

April 26, 2011 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Diabetes Control 
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WebMD has put together a slideshow with a wealth of information for type 2 diabetes patients, including symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and complications. The overview will be of value to newly diagnosed and veteran diabetics, from those managing their diabetes with diet and exercise, through those using oral diabetes medications, to those relying on insulin injections to control their blood sugar.

To see the slideshow on WebMD, >CLICK HERE.<

Asthma Inhalers Increase Risk of Diabetes and Insulin Resistance

January 25, 2011 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Diabetes Research and News, It's Complicated 
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Photo: asolario

Use of asthma inhalers containing corticosteroids has been linked to a 34% increase of developing type 2 diabetes, and to accelerated diabetes progression in those already diagnosed with the condition.  Higher dose inhalers were linked to even higher risks – a 64% increase in type 2 diabetes diagnoses, and a 34% increase in existing diabetes progressing to the point of requiring insulin therapy.

Theses figures came out of a large Canadian study of the records of more than 380,000 asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients treated with inhaled corticosteroids.  “Patients instituting therapy with high doses of inhaled corticosteroids should be assessed for possible hyperglycemia, and treatment with high doses of inhaled corticosteroids limited to situations where the benefit is clear,” warn the researchers, from the Jewish General Hospital and McGill University in Montreal.
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Ten Superfoods for an Insulin Resistance Diet

January 24, 2011 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Diabetes and Diet, Diabetes Control 
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Photo credit: Salsachica

The key to diabetes treatment is controlling blood sugar (glucose) levels, and diet plays a vital role in that complicated process.  The main dietary goals in diabetes are balancing blood sugar and cholesterol levels, and achieving and/or maintaining a healthy weight.

Traditionally, the emphasis in a diabetic diet was on avoiding sugar. Modern guidelines place more emphasis on total carbohydrate intake and the type of carbohydrates eaten – sometimes referred to as an insulin resistance diet. Often, type 2 diabetics can control their disease with diet and exercise alone, avoiding the need for diabetes medications.

The American Diabetes Association has released a list of the top ten “diabetes superfoods”.  All of the foods on the list have a low glycemic index (a scale of how quickly a carbohydrate raises blood sugar), but rank high in essential nutrients like vitamins, calcium, magnesium, potassium and fiber. The ten diabetic superfoods on the American Diabetes Association’s list are:
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Blood Glucose and the Glycemic Index

December 16, 2010 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Diabetes and Diet 
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Photo credit: Suat Eman

Proper diet is crucial for diabetics, as food can have both short and long term effects on blood glucose control. For reasons researchers have yet to uncover, blood sugar levels soar after eating, and many diabetics need to time their insulin injections around meal times to aid in controlling blood sugar. One thing researchers do know – the higher the glycemic index of a food, the more impact it has on blood glucose.

The glycemic index (GI) is a measure of the influence that a particular food has on blood sugar levels.  It takes into account the fact that different types of carbohydrates perform differently in our bodies. The GI ranks carbohydrates on a scale of 1 to 100 based on how quickly they raise blood sugar.
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