6 things to know when diagnosed with type 2 diabetes
If you’ve been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, you’ll probably never forget the moment your doctor shared the news--and the rollercoaster of emotions that followed. Maybe you saw it coming; your doctor told you sometime within the last few years that you were living with prediabetes, and you always assumed diabetes was inevitable. Or maybe it came out of left field. I’m not even overweight, you thought. First, know this: All your feelings are valid and completely normal. It’s overwhelming to find out that you live with a chronic disease such as Type 2 diabetes. And it can make...
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Hot Hot Hot!
As nice as it is to bask in the sun, you still have to remain vigilant. Your blood sugar could rise with the thermometer and prevent your body from properly regulating its temperature. Result: you risk hyperthermia. What are the symptoms? Fatigue, dizziness, nausea, clammy skin, excessive sweating, muscle cramps and headaches are all common symptoms. Who is at risk? The body’s ability to regulate its temperature in young children is not yet developed, and is reduced in the elderly, which increases their risk of suffering from...
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The Future of Diabetes Treatment
High-tech to zero-tech: The future of diabetes treatment Diabetes care has come a long way in just a few decades—after all, the first insulin pump was introduced in 1963, and fingerprick tests for personal blood glucose monitoring have only been around since the 1980s. So what's next? In development: Automating insulin delivery—the artificial pancreas Taking insulin pumping to the next level, an artificial pancreas is being...
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How to be more eco-friendly
Diabetes is by no means easy on the planet. It generates a lot of waste - for example, used lancets, product packaging and unused medications. That said, why not limit the damage by adopting more responsible practices in your everyday life? Here are a few easy tips to get started! Give pill bottles a second life. Most pill bottles are recyclable, but plastic number 6 sometimes isn’t (you’ll find this number on the bottom of the bottle, outlined by a recycling triangle). Another option: your empty containers are perfect for storing cotton swabs, loose change and...
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How To Quit For Good
Smoking is extremely harmful to your health, and this is especially true for people living with diabetes. It increases the existing risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, eye problems and nerve damage, plus it increases insulin resistance. If you’re ready to stop smoking—you have to do it for your own sake, and willingly—we have a few tips to help you. First of all… Set a quit date within 30 days. Mark your calendar, tell your friends and family about it so you don’t back out when the day comes, and sign a symbolic quitting contract (it’s not...
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Hyperglycemia
When there isn’t enough insulin in your body, or when the hormone becomes ineffective, your cells are unable to use the available glucose, which then builds up in the blood. Hyperglycemia occurs when glucose levels rise above target values, i.e.: Over 7 mmol/L fasting or before a meal Over 10 mmol/L two hours after a meal Chronic hyperglycemia is what causes the long-term complications of diabetes such as blood vessel and nerve damage, blindness and kidney failure. Signs Fatigue or drowsiness ...
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5 additions to your back-to-school-with-diabetes supply list
You've got the ICP (Individual Care Plan) written and the DCT (...
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Dark chocolate bark
Dark chocolate bark - a (slightly) healthier holiday indulgence Don't get us wrong—even though it's rich in antioxidants, dark chocolate isn't exactly a healthy food. However, because it packs huge flavor into a small serving, you can get that satisfying sweetness you crave without digging deep into the sweet cookie jar. This version uses Christmas colors, but you can substitute any nuts or dried fruit you prefer. Dark Chocolate Bark Ingredients (makes about 25 servings of...
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Travel Smart
Due for a holiday? San Francisco, Moncton, Milan or Kelowna: wherever you choose to go, the golden rule is to plan your trip carefully—and this is especially true when you’re living with diabetes. Before leaving Do your research. Does the destination have good access to medical care? What should you pay special mind to at mealtimes? What type of trip do you want to go on? Naturally, you won’t plan a week at the beach the same way as a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. Talk to your doctor...
Read MorePages
Hot Hot Hot!
As nice as it is to bask in the sun, you still have to remain vigilant. Your blood sugar could rise with the thermometer and prevent your body from properly regulating its temperature. Result: you risk hyperthermia. What are the symptoms? Fatigue, dizziness, nausea, clammy skin, excessive sweating, muscle cramps and headaches are all common symptoms. Who is at risk? The body’s ability to regulate its temperature in young children is not yet developed, and is reduced in the elderly, which increases their risk of suffering from...
Read More The Future of Diabetes Treatment
High-tech to zero-tech: The future of diabetes treatment Diabetes care has come a long way in just a few decades—after all, the first insulin pump was introduced in 1963, and fingerprick tests for personal blood glucose monitoring have only been around since the 1980s. So what's next? In development: Automating insulin delivery—the artificial pancreas Taking insulin pumping to the next level, an artificial pancreas is being...
Read More How to be more eco-friendly
Diabetes is by no means easy on the planet. It generates a lot of waste - for example, used lancets, product packaging and unused medications. That said, why not limit the damage by adopting more responsible practices in your everyday life? Here are a few easy tips to get started! Give pill bottles a second life. Most pill bottles are recyclable, but plastic number 6 sometimes isn’t (you’ll find this number on the bottom of the bottle, outlined by a recycling triangle). Another option: your empty containers are perfect for storing cotton swabs, loose change and...
Read More How To Quit For Good
Smoking is extremely harmful to your health, and this is especially true for people living with diabetes. It increases the existing risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, eye problems and nerve damage, plus it increases insulin resistance. If you’re ready to stop smoking—you have to do it for your own sake, and willingly—we have a few tips to help you. First of all… Set a quit date within 30 days. Mark your calendar, tell your friends and family about it so you don’t back out when the day comes, and sign a symbolic quitting contract (it’s not...
Read More Hyperglycemia
When there isn’t enough insulin in your body, or when the hormone becomes ineffective, your cells are unable to use the available glucose, which then builds up in the blood. Hyperglycemia occurs when glucose levels rise above target values, i.e.: Over 7 mmol/L fasting or before a meal Over 10 mmol/L two hours after a meal Chronic hyperglycemia is what causes the long-term complications of diabetes such as blood vessel and nerve damage, blindness and kidney failure. Signs Fatigue or drowsiness ...
Read More 5 additions to your back-to-school-with-diabetes supply list
You've got the ICP (Individual Care Plan) written and the DCT (...
Read More Dark chocolate bark
Dark chocolate bark - a (slightly) healthier holiday indulgence Don't get us wrong—even though it's rich in antioxidants, dark chocolate isn't exactly a healthy food. However, because it packs huge flavor into a small serving, you can get that satisfying sweetness you crave without digging deep into the sweet cookie jar. This version uses Christmas colors, but you can substitute any nuts or dried fruit you prefer. Dark Chocolate Bark Ingredients (makes about 25 servings of...
Read More Travel Smart
Due for a holiday? San Francisco, Moncton, Milan or Kelowna: wherever you choose to go, the golden rule is to plan your trip carefully—and this is especially true when you’re living with diabetes. Before leaving Do your research. Does the destination have good access to medical care? What should you pay special mind to at mealtimes? What type of trip do you want to go on? Naturally, you won’t plan a week at the beach the same way as a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. Talk to your doctor...
Read More