Diet for Diabetes Isn't One Size Fits All

Have you heard of the new “diabetes diet?” Don’t worry, it’s not really a diet at all! That’s because there is not a single diet plan that is right for every person with diabetes.

The real secret to reducing your blood sugar and to better managing your diabetes is to simply make healthy eating choices. In fact, the newest guidelines from the American Diabetes Association suggest that a variety of eating plans may be appropriate for the control of diabetes.

From Alphabet Soup to Advanced Patient Care

Find out how a CNS can help you reach your health goals

Do you find the multitude of medical certifications and acronyms confusing? Then you may be wondering, what does it mean when you see the letters CNS after a health care provider's name?

CNS stands for Clinical Nurse Specialist. That's a medical professional with an advanced level of nursing skill. Clinical Nurse Specialists have earned a master's degree or higher, usually with additional training and certifications. As a result of this extensive education, Clinical Nurse Specialists are capable of providing mid-level care within a specific area.

Such mid-level providers (Clinical Nurse Specialists, Physician's Assistants, and Nurse Practitioners) practice as an extension of their physician supervisor, allowing for personalized and advanced patient care.

Assessing the impact of diabetes on your nerves.

 For people living with diabetes, neuropathy is a potential complication that can impact your life and lifestyle.  The good news is there is a test that can help determine if the symptoms you are experiencing are the result of diabetic neuropathy so that treatment can be started as soon as possible.

What is Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy?

 Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy is damage to the peripheral nervous system. That’s the system in the body that transmits information from the brain and spinal cord to other parts of the body, and also sends information from other parts of the body back to the brain and spinal cord.  Peripheral neuropathy is much like static on a phone line in that it distorts and sometimes interrupts messages between the brain and the rest of the body.  It is a common, chronic and often disabling complication of diabetes, affecting between 60 and 70 percent of people living with diabetes.

If you have diabetes, then testing needs to become a way of life for you. That’s because blood glucose testing is critical to maintaining your overall health and well-being. Here are some answers from the diabetes experts at Draelos Metabolic Center to some commonly asked questions about blood glucose testing:

What is a blood glucose test?

A blood glucose test is a test used to measure the amount of sugar (glucose) in your blood. Glucose comes from carbohydrate-containing foods and is the main energy source used by your body. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that helps the cells of your body use the glucose. Normally, when your blood glucose rises, insulin is released into the blood. With insulin, glucose is able to be taken from the blood and pulled into your cells to be used for energy. Your blood glucose is then lowered back to a normal level. When you have diabetes, your body either doesn't produce insulin or is resistant to the insulin it produces, leaving glucose in the blood and your cells without adequate energy.

Why is it important to test your blood glucose?

When blood glucose remains high over time, it can damage your eyes, kidneys, nerves, and blood vessels. When you test your blood glucose with your blood glucose meter regularly, it allows you and your healthcare provider to monitor and alter your diabetes treatment to reach your target blood glucose levels and prevent long-term complications.

When should you test your blood glucose?

It is usually recommended that you test your blood glucose before meals and at bedtime. The ideal frequency and timing of blood glucose testing can vary by individual. So it is important to talk to your healthcare provider about when and how often to test your blood glucose.