Paper is for origami, not diabetes logbooks
I think I speak for many people with diabetes (PWDs) when I say that manually keeping track of diabetes data is a lot of work! Of course, there are a lot of things we do that take work—like brushing our teeth—yet we still do them. Why? Because there are benefits. In the case of tooth brushing, that means bright, white teeth, fewer cavities and a beautiful smile. Keeping a logbook is similar in that there's a payoff and it gets easier once you make it a habit. You can't learn from data that isn't there Years ago, I went to my diabetes doctor empty handed. Unfortunately, I also...
Read MoreFor Frightfully Fun Halloween Festivities
On Halloween night, invite your child’s friends to celebrate at your house. By organizing a fun party, you’ll be stealing the spotlight from candy and sweets. A costume pageant Set up a fashion show for the kids where they show off their costumes to the tune of “Monster Mash” or another Halloween hit. Ask everyone to explain why they chose their costume. Hand out lots of prizes—pens, balls or small toys—or hold a draw. This way, several kids get something. Games The classics can be...
Read MoreTen Tips To Keep Smiling
It’s not a myth: diabetes can indeed affect your mood. Managing a blood sugar rollercoaster isn’t always easy. You’ve probably noticed that having your level too low or too high can make you feel tired, nervous, angry or sad. So, are mood swings an unavoidable part of living with diabetes? Of course not! You just need to find tricks to let off some steam or cheer yourself up. Start with the basics: monitor your blood sugar level. If that’s stable, your mood will follow suit. When you feel anger...
Read MoreWhen Diabetes And Fun Go Hand In Hand!
For your children, it’s not always easy living with diabetes and the strictness it imposes… and it’s easy to understand why: they want to have fun with their friends and not worry about bolus doses and blood sugar levels. Never mind that! You can offer them the best of both worlds by signing them up for diabetes camp. What is it? These camps welcome children with diabetes for one-to-two-week stays in a safe and fun setting, where activities are organized around care and treatments. In short, campers get to have an authentic outdoor camp experience adapted to their needs, all while...
Read MoreLife With Diabetes: Your Child And You
A diagnosis of juvenile diabetes is never easy to accept. The parents are worried, sometimes destabilized, and the child finds themselves having to take on large responsibilities for their age. Diabetes is easy to manage, but it requires a lot of discipline; insulin injections, blood glucose monitoring and diet plans are just a few important things to think about. Despite all this, your child needs to be able to experience a normal childhood without feeling limited or left out. So how can you make cohabitation with this condition easier? Here are some suggestions. Talk about diabetes with your...
Read MoreThe Complications Of Diabetes
Diabetes is a challenge in itself, and it can lead to additional, sometimes very serious, health problems. But the good news is that you can delay or even prevent the appearance of many complications. Hypertension People living with diabetes are more prone to hypertension (or “high blood pressure”), which in turn increases their risk of developing other problems, such as heart disease and stroke. Lifestyle habits play a major role in...
Read More“I do”
It’s decided—you’re getting married! Obviously, you have tons of things to think about, from the venue to the seating plan to the invitations… and there’s diabetes, too. In a dream situation, it wouldn’t be on your guest list, but you’re well aware that wedding or not, you’ll still have to count carbs and monitor your blood sugar. Even so, you can have everything running like clockwork in order to fully enjoy your big day. Here are the ten commandments for keeping your diabetes in check (a crash in the middle of exchanging your vows would not be cool)! Thou shalt create a detailed plan. Because...
Read MoreReconciling Gluten Intolerance And Diabetes
An estimated 1% of the general population live with celiac disease. And there is a significantly higher prevalence of the disease in people living with type 1 diabetes. For those people who have two autoimmune diseases, gluten-free eating is anything but a fad. What is gluten, exactly? Contrary to what the recent dietary trend would have you believe, gluten is not bad itself. This protein, present in wheat, rye, triticale and barley, helps bind bread and other baked goods, which is why it’s found in many processed foods....
Read MoreThe Right Cure For What Ails You
Summer promises plenty of fun, but can also have bad surprises in store that may ruin the day. As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, but we’ve also got some tips for you if the damage is already done. Sunburn. Avoid it by using sunscreen and taking shelter in the shade when UV rays are at their strongest. If you’ve got a nasty burn, take a lukewarm bath or apply a wet towel to the affected area. Aloe gel is also a good option to reduce discomfort. Athlete’s foot. Sweat and lack of ventilation are...
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For Frightfully Fun Halloween Festivities
On Halloween night, invite your child’s friends to celebrate at your house. By organizing a fun party, you’ll be stealing the spotlight from candy and sweets. A costume pageant Set up a fashion show for the kids where they show off their costumes to the tune of “Monster Mash” or another Halloween hit. Ask everyone to explain why they chose their costume. Hand out lots of prizes—pens, balls or small toys—or hold a draw. This way, several kids get something. Games The classics can be...
Read MoreTen Tips To Keep Smiling
It’s not a myth: diabetes can indeed affect your mood. Managing a blood sugar rollercoaster isn’t always easy. You’ve probably noticed that having your level too low or too high can make you feel tired, nervous, angry or sad. So, are mood swings an unavoidable part of living with diabetes? Of course not! You just need to find tricks to let off some steam or cheer yourself up. Start with the basics: monitor your blood sugar level. If that’s stable, your mood will follow suit. When you feel anger...
Read MoreWhen Diabetes And Fun Go Hand In Hand!
For your children, it’s not always easy living with diabetes and the strictness it imposes… and it’s easy to understand why: they want to have fun with their friends and not worry about bolus doses and blood sugar levels. Never mind that! You can offer them the best of both worlds by signing them up for diabetes camp. What is it? These camps welcome children with diabetes for one-to-two-week stays in a safe and fun setting, where activities are organized around care and treatments. In short, campers get to have an authentic outdoor camp experience adapted to their needs, all while...
Read MoreLife With Diabetes: Your Child And You
A diagnosis of juvenile diabetes is never easy to accept. The parents are worried, sometimes destabilized, and the child finds themselves having to take on large responsibilities for their age. Diabetes is easy to manage, but it requires a lot of discipline; insulin injections, blood glucose monitoring and diet plans are just a few important things to think about. Despite all this, your child needs to be able to experience a normal childhood without feeling limited or left out. So how can you make cohabitation with this condition easier? Here are some suggestions. Talk about diabetes with your...
Read MoreThe Complications Of Diabetes
Diabetes is a challenge in itself, and it can lead to additional, sometimes very serious, health problems. But the good news is that you can delay or even prevent the appearance of many complications. Hypertension People living with diabetes are more prone to hypertension (or “high blood pressure”), which in turn increases their risk of developing other problems, such as heart disease and stroke. Lifestyle habits play a major role in...
Read More“I do”
It’s decided—you’re getting married! Obviously, you have tons of things to think about, from the venue to the seating plan to the invitations… and there’s diabetes, too. In a dream situation, it wouldn’t be on your guest list, but you’re well aware that wedding or not, you’ll still have to count carbs and monitor your blood sugar. Even so, you can have everything running like clockwork in order to fully enjoy your big day. Here are the ten commandments for keeping your diabetes in check (a crash in the middle of exchanging your vows would not be cool)! Thou shalt create a detailed plan. Because...
Read MoreReconciling Gluten Intolerance And Diabetes
An estimated 1% of the general population live with celiac disease. And there is a significantly higher prevalence of the disease in people living with type 1 diabetes. For those people who have two autoimmune diseases, gluten-free eating is anything but a fad. What is gluten, exactly? Contrary to what the recent dietary trend would have you believe, gluten is not bad itself. This protein, present in wheat, rye, triticale and barley, helps bind bread and other baked goods, which is why it’s found in many processed foods....
Read MoreThe Right Cure For What Ails You
Summer promises plenty of fun, but can also have bad surprises in store that may ruin the day. As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, but we’ve also got some tips for you if the damage is already done. Sunburn. Avoid it by using sunscreen and taking shelter in the shade when UV rays are at their strongest. If you’ve got a nasty burn, take a lukewarm bath or apply a wet towel to the affected area. Aloe gel is also a good option to reduce discomfort. Athlete’s foot. Sweat and lack of ventilation are...
Read More