Diabetes Symptoms To Never Ignore
One of the keys to leading a healthy life with diabetes is to keep your glucose levels, or blood sugar, in check. As your main source of energy, glucose plays a big role in keeping your body working like it should. If you have either type of diabetes, you need to be aware of symptoms that may mean your glucose is out of balance. If your blood sugar is too low: Symptom: Acting Drunk or Losing Consciousness Your brain can be affected if your sugar level drops too low. Low glucose can cause you to stagger, slur words, or even pass out. What to do: It's smart to wear a medical bracelet or necklace that lets people know you have diabetes. If your blood sugar gets too low, taking in about 15 to 20 grams of a simple carb may help. Some examples are a half a cup of orange juice, 2 tablespoons of raisins, or a tablespoon of sugar. Glucose tablets and gel tubes are also available. Some people keep an injectable hormone called glucagon on hand and tell their friends how to give them the shot in case they faint or can’t swallow. Ask your doctor if keeping glucagon on hand is right for you. If you can, check your fingerstick 15 minutes after 15 grams of sugar. If you are still low (less than 70 or less than 100 with symptoms), eat another round of carbs. When your blood sugar returns to your target range, eat a meal or snack to prevent if from dropping again. If you've gone 3 rounds and your sugar is still low, or your symptoms persist, call 911. Always let your doctor know if you've had an episode of low blood sugar. Your treatment plan may have to be adjusted. If Your Blood Sugar Is Too High: High blood sugar, or hyperglycemia, usually causes its damage slowly over time. But there are some instances when more urgent care is needed. If you have any of the following symptoms, chec Continue reading >>
Alcohol And Diabetes
Alcohol and the heart Alcohol and diabetes Alcohol and the liver Alcohol and cancer Alcohol and women Alcohol and allergy Alcohol and older people Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disorder in the blood level of insulin, a pancreatic hormone, that helps convert blood glucose into energy. Diabetes occurs when the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin, or the insulin it does produce doesn’t work properly. Insulin is a hormone that transfers glucose from the bloodstream into the cells to be used for energy. If you have diabetes, your body cannot make proper use of this glucose so it builds up in the blood instead of moving into your cells. The chances of developing diabetes may depend on a mix of your genes and your lifestyle. It’s a manageable condition. But when it’s not well managed, it is associated with serious complications including heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney disease, nerve damage and amputations. In 2014, it was estimated that 29 million Americanse have diabetes (9.3% of the population) and 21 million of these have been diagnosed. Data reported by researchers from the CDC in the journal Population Health Metrics (November 2010) showed three scenarios for projected prevalence of diabetes in the year 2050 predicting that diabetes in the US population could rise to between 21% and 33% in 2050) It is estimated 95% of Americans with diabetes have type 2 diabetes, while 5% have type 1 diabetes (CDC). The total economic burden of diabetes in the US, including direct and indirect costs, was estimated to be $245 billion in 2012. There are two main types of diabetes Type 1 diabetes develops if the body can’t produce enough insulin, because insulin-producing cells in the pancreas have been destroyed. It can happen: because of genetic factors when a viru Continue reading >>
Drinking
Your social life doesn't need to stop when you have type 1 diabetes You don’t need to stop drinking, but it is best to avoid drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, as it could cause you to have a hypo. That’s because when you drink, the liver has to stop work to break down the toxins and remove it. While your liver is doing this it can’t do all the other jobs it normally would, such as releasing stored glucose if your levels start to fall. This effect can last for many hours after you have been drinking and may continue overnight and into the next day. To avoid this, it’s recommended that you don’t drink too much in one session and have some carbohydrate to eat before or while you drink. You should also test your blood glucose level before you go to bed and eat a snack if your level is normal to low. On occasion, you may find that your blood glucose level rises too high after drinks that contain carbohydrate, such as spirits mixed with regular soft drink or large amounts of beer. Where possible, choose a diet drink as a mixer. Continue reading >>
Can People With Diabetes Consume Alcohol?
I always get a little frustrated when I hear doctors answer this question, because they usually respond as though it’s a medical question. But people don’t drink alcohol because it’s good or bad for them. They drink because they like it. They like the way alcohol makes them feel or they find it easier to socialize when they include alcohol in the mix. Sometimes they have an alcohol addiction or dependency, plain and simple. Even when we do focus just on the health aspects, there are pros and cons. Alcohol in moderation may reduce heart disease risk, but it appears also to increase the risk of certain cancers, notably breast cancer. So deciding whether and how much anyone drinks, whether or not they have diabetes, can be complex and depends on many factors. There are specific things someone with diabetes needs to keep in mind about alcohol use. Alcohol can have a major impact on blood sugar levels, but the precise effect depends on what you are drinking and how much. Beer and sweet wines have alot of sugar and unfermented carbohydrate in them, so they will raise the blood sugar for a few hours after drinking. And, of course, many spirits are mixed with soda or other things that may contain a lot of carbohydrate. These, too, may raise the blood sugar. On the other hand, alcohol itself will typically lower blood sugar by stimulating insulin release. So a straight up drink will usually have the opposite effect from a drink with sweet mixers. This effect is intensified by drugs that prompt additional insulin production by the pancreas -- especially the sulfonylurea medications like glipizide. The bottom line on alcohol and diabetes is sort of what you would expect from common sense. You can drink safely in moderation, but be careful about the impact on your blood sugar Continue reading >>
Let's Start At The Beginning
You have diabetes. Now what? You are not alone. According to the International Diabetes Federation, it was estimated in 2015 that one in 11 adults had diabetes, and one in two was not even diagnosed. A diabetes diagnosis is an important first step in getting your disease under control. Learning that you have diabetes can come as a shock and be overwhelming. At OneTouch.com, we are here to help you. This site is designed to help you learn more about the disease: you'll find information on the importance of blood glucose monitoring and taking your medicine when it's prescribed – be it pills or injectables, including insulin. We'll explain the basics of eating healthy and being physically active. We'll show you some things to watch out for, and help you learn how to take care of yourself to help reduce the risk of complications. In short, we'll be here for you through your journey with diabetes, step by step. Yes, your life is about to change, but when you successfully manage your diabetes you improve your health in the short term and lower your chances of long-term health risks: you can live a longer and healthier life. Don't expect perfection. It’s not a race or competition. Just commit yourself to doing your personal best. Tell yourself that you're worth it. We'll be with you every step of the way. * IDF Diabetes Atlas (7th Ed.) (2015). Brussels, Belgium: International Diabetes Federation. Continue reading >>
Touchy Topics
A comprehensive guide to all the sticky situations that arise when you’re a college student with diabetes. Have a question that isn't answered here? Ask our student advice columnists (anonymously) and we'll get it answered for you. Type 1 diabetes is sometimes linked to another autoimmune disease called Celiac Disease. Alcohol It’s no surprise that drinking happens on campuses all over the country. If you plan on drinking while at school, make sure you understand how to do it safely with diabetes. Check out our FAQ below, which includes many of the common questions young adults have regarding drinking, and make sure to check out our partners at Drinking with Diabetes for additional information. FAQs We know it’s hard to bring up certain questions in the doctor’s office. But often, the hard questions are the ones we most need answers to. Below is an exhaustive list of questions you might be thinking about, but may or may not have asked a healthcare professional. If your question isn’t here, we’re happy to help – send it along, and we’ll get it answered. The information below is not meant to replace the advice of your healthcare team. Individual responses to diabetes management approaches can vary considerably. Speak with your physician before making any changes to your therapy. Answers courtesy of Gary Scheiner MS (T1D since 1985!), CDE and his team at IDS. How can I tell the difference between being low and being drunk? And being low while drunk? Being drunk and being low can look the same. And both conditions can severely impair your judgment as well as your ability to function. Intoxication, however, does not usually cause the “shaking/sweating/rapid heartbeat” associated with hypoglycemia. Unfortunately, drinking can actually suppress these sympto Continue reading >>
Alcohol And Diabetes
For some people, having a few drinks at home or in the pub is part of everyday life. And having diabetes shouldn’t get in the way of this. But when you have diabetes, it’s a bit more complicated. You might want to know whether it's safe to drink alcohol, and how much is okay. So yes, you can still drink, but you need to be aware of how it can affect your body and how to manage this. For example, drinking can make you more likely to have a hypo, because alcohol makes your blood sugars drop. It can affect your weight too, as there can be a lot of calories in alcoholic drinks. We’ll give you all the facts here. Alcohol and risk factors for Type 2 We don’t know exactly what causes Type 2 diabetes. But we do know that your family history, age and ethnic background affects your risk of developing it, and we know you’re more likely to develop it if you’re overweight. These are all called risk factors. Alcohol isn’t a risk factor in itself. But it can contain a lot of calories, which can lead to putting on weight. Take a look at our information about risk factors and find out your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Government guidelines on alcohol units To help keep health risks from alcohol at a low level, it’s safest not to regularly drink more than 14 units a week. These guidelines are the same for men and women. But what does this actually mean when you’re in the pub or having dinner with a glass of wine at home? It means you shouldn’t drink more than six medium glasses of wine or six pints of lager a week. But the size of the glass and type of alcohol affects the number of units, so it’s best to check the guidelines at drinkaware.co.uk Alcohol and hypos If you use insulin or some other diabetes medications like sulphonylureas, you’re more likely to Continue reading >>
Diabetes And Drinking - Part I: If You Choose To Drink
_A note from Dr. Cogen: _ _When thinking about the long list of issues today’s teens must face, alcohol use is near the top. The pressure from friends to drink can be overwhelming. Ginger and I would like to provide medically correct information about alcohol and how it affects you and your diabetes management. Clearly, in an ideal environment, we want you to choose to engage in only healthy behaviors. But if you are currently struggling with this decision or have already made the decision to drink, we would be doing a great disservice to you (and your families) by choosing to ignore this topic, especially since this behavior is potentially dangerous. _ _ _ I know you’ve heard this a million times before, but remember to keep the following things in mind as you read this blog: The legal drinking age in the United States is 21 years If your caught breaking this law, consequences include: fines, jail time, community service and driver’s license suspension. Alcohol use puts you and others at risk for getting hurt. Ginger: Realistically, I know you may choose to drink alcohol as an underage person with diabetes because-guess what-I’ve done it too. Right up front, I’m going to tell you one of the best decisions I ever made for both my physical and mental health was to stop drinking alcohol. And I know you’ve probably already heard the “scare them so they don’t ever drink” speech from your doctor. (Dr. C: This isn’t always the best approach, but we try to be as direct and honest as possible) I’ve heard it too, and it didn’t work on me either. The decision to stop drinking was completely my own. But this is the thing, coming from a college student with diabetes (not a doctor) who chose to drink occasionally on the weekends with friends-it is dangerous, Continue reading >>
Police Stop Me As I Can't Walk Straight: Patients With Dyspraxia And Diabetes Reveal Their Humiliation At Being Called Drunk When They Are Suffering A Serious Health Condition
Every festive season the streets fill with the merrily tipsy tripping over kerbstones. But appearing to be drunk can also be the result of a serious health problem and patients who are affected can find the experience distressing, as they reveal here . . . Police stop me as I can't walk straight Tom Doyle, 28, a technical assistant for a mobile phone operator, has dyspraxia, a neurological disorder affecting balance, coordination and posture and thought to be caused by a disruption in the way messages from the brain are transmitted to the body. He is single and lives in London. I can't tell you the number of times I've been stopped by a policeman while walking home from work because he thinks I'm drunk. I've even been breathalysed a couple of times. I usually get a sincere apology when the results are negative, especially when I tell them about my condition. Dyspraxia is quite common — between 5 and 10 per cent of the population have it. I was diagnosed eight years ago based on my problems with coordination, posture and the fact that I would mumble my words. It affects fine motor skills and means I have difficulty walking in a straight line. I also trip over easily and my balance is awkward. There can be other, co-occurring problems. Sometimes, for instance, I misjudge situations so I may hug someone a little too hard. And because of this, I've had numerous occasions when people think I've had one too many. What's more, the condition can make me stumble over my words. So on a dark night when you're trying to explain yourself to a police officer, the stress of it can make it even worse. That's why I never drink. If I do go into a bar with friends and I stumble, I usually hear comments like, 'Oh, look, he's wasted already.' It's frustrating and humiliating. There's no m Continue reading >>
Drinking And Diabetes: Seven Facts To Know
April is a time for showers, taxes, and the Boston Marathon. It’s also Alcohol Awareness Month. Given this, I thought it would be appropriate to review a few facts about alcohol and how people with diabetes may be affected by its use. 1. Alcohol is not carbohydrate, protein, or fat. Most of us know that calories come from the three main nutrients (called macronutrients) in the food that we eat: carbohydrate (carb), protein, and fat. Carb and protein contain 4 calories per gram, while fat contains 9 calories per gram. These nutrients are also called essential nutrients because we must take them in from food and they serve vital roles in the body. So where does alcohol fall into the mix? Alcohol isn’t an essential nutrient, nor, as I’ve mentioned, is it classified as carb, protein, or fat. But it does contain calories — 7 calories per gram, to be exact. If you’re watching your weight, you need to keep an eye on how much alcohol you drink. Additionally, alcohol contains little, if any, vitamins and minerals, unlike carb, protein, and fat foods. Technically, alcohol is considered to be a drug, as it can have potentially harmful effects. 2. Alcohol is metabolized, or processed, by the liver. If you drink alcohol, your body kicks into gear to metabolize it because, unlike carb, protein, and fat, the body has no way to store alcohol. Once the alcohol hits your stomach, about 20% of it is absorbed into the bloodstream, and the rest enters your intestines where it’s digested. A small amount is excreted through the urine, sweat, skin, and your breath. The liver is a key organ for alcohol metabolism; it detoxifies alcohol through a process called oxidation, oxidizing alcohol at a rate of about 1/4 to 1/3 of an ounce per hour. 3. Alcohol can lower blood sugar levels. Yo Continue reading >>
Effects Of Alcohol On Diabetes
Alcohol, which is made from fermented yeast, sugars, and starches is a very commonly used substance. In fact, 87.6% of adults aged 18 and over have consumed it at some point in their lifetime. It is also known as a depressant due to its capability to depress the central nervous system. About 71% have drank in the past year. When enjoyed in moderation, alcohol does not pose a risk, and actually has some health benefits to it. However, for those with diabetes, it can be a struggle to maintain a safe blood sugar while drinking. It is very easy to become hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) or hyperglycemic (high blood sugar), depending on which type of diabetes you have and the medications that you take. Understanding the effects drinking has on diabetes is very important. This article discusses the risks and benefits of drinking. It also explains what drinks are best for individuals with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Can I drink if I have diabetes? You can most certainly drink alcohol with diabetes. The key, just like many other things, is to do so in moderation. Also, if your blood sugar is not under good control, you should not drink because it can cause it to become too high or too low. Your doctor should be aware of your drinking habits so that they can make sure that you are not experiencing any complications related to it. I recommend reading the following articles: How does alcohol affect diabetes and my blood sugar levels? Normally, the liver is the organ that stores and secretes glucose to the cells in the body to fuel them when you are not eating. The liver is also responsible for cleansing the body of toxins. The liver does not recognize alcohol as food. Instead, it sees it as a drug and a toxin. When alcohol is in the system, the liver changes gears and begins to deto Continue reading >>
Alcohol, Sex And Drugs
ALCOHOL Everyone’s heard about the dangers of drinking and we know it’s illegal until you’re 18, but the more you know now, the better off you’ll be. If you’ve got diabetes and you drink – there’s important stuff you need to think about… What’s safe? Alcohol can affect your brain, liver and general health. If you do choose to drink, the safe limits for adults are: Men – no more than 2 standard drinks each day Women – no more than 1 standard drink each day At least two alcohol free days a week What’s a standard drink? A standard drink is not what fits in your glass, bottles and cans. All drink come in different sizes! One standard drink is: 285ml regular beer (a middie or pot) or 425ml low alcohol beer (a schooner) or A nip / shot of spirits or A small glass of wine It’s not as much as you think!! Risky Business Alcohol can make you do things you normally wouldn’t – and when you’ve got diabetes there are other risks you need to know about! Alcohol can… Increase the risk of hypos because it stops your liver from releasing glucose. Especially if you’re out late, dancing or drink heaps. Make it more difficult for you to recognise the symptoms of a hypo – you may be mistaken for being drunk. Cause vomiting and dehydration which may lead to DKA (ketoacidosis) and a possible trip to hospital Make it easy for you to forget about looking after your diabetes TIPS Before you go… Try and have dinner before you go out or head out for a meal before you start drinking Don’t skip your insulin – talk to your doctor or diabetes educator about any changes that you might need to make to your dose if you’re staying out late or dancing all night Test your blood glucose levels (BGLs) – if you’re low have some carbohydrates before you go out Wh Continue reading >>
Does Alcohol And Tobacco Use Increase The Risk Of Diabetes?
Yes, alcohol and tobacco use may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. Alcohol Although studies show that drinking moderate amounts of alcohol may actually lower the risk of diabetes, the opposite is true for people who drink greater amounts of alcohol. Moderate alcohol use is defined as one drink a day for women of all ages and men older than age 65, and up to two drinks a day for men age 65 and younger. Too much alcohol may cause chronic inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), which can impair its ability to secrete insulin and potentially lead to diabetes. Tobacco Tobacco use can increase blood sugar levels and lead to insulin resistance. The more you smoke, the greater your risk of diabetes. People who smoke heavily — more than 20 cigarettes a day — have almost double the risk of developing diabetes compared with people who don’t smoke. Continue reading >>
5 Nightmares You Don't Know Until You're Diabetic
Hey, remember when everybody was freaking out about Ebola, because of an outbreak that killed more than 10,000 people? Well, diabetes kills 1.5 million people a year worldwide, more than 200,000 of them in the U.S. And you're probably never more than a few dozen feet away from someone who has it -- there are 30 million diabetics in the U.S. alone. In other words, for something most people consider too boring to even think about, the scale of the epidemic is mind-boggling. The U.S. alone spends an astonishing quarter of a trillion dollars a year fighting it. Or to put it another way, diabetes sucks a thousand bucks out of every single man, woman and child in America, every year. We previously debunked the myth that sugar causes diabetes, and when we talked to someone with one variety of the disease, we learned about the parts of the experience you never hear about. He says ... 5 The Disease And The Treatment Can Both Send You To The Emergency Room Comstock/Stockbyte/Getty Images Our diabetic, Zach, once woke up in the middle of the night starving, his legs feeling near-paralyzed. His memory of the incident is hazy, but the next thing he knew, he was on a kitchen chair wearing only his boxers with an empty jar of raspberry jam on the table -- he'd eaten nearly the entire thing with his bare hands like fucking Winnie the Pooh. Oh, bother. When he tested his blood sugar, it was 45 (the normal level is between 80 and 100). Anything below 70 is hypoglycemia, yet even after eating an entire jar of what is essentially pure sugar, his blood sugar level was still near emergency levels. If we're being completely honest, it's remarkable that he ever even woke up to eat that jam. By all rights he should've died in his bed. So this shit can get serious, is what we're saying. "Wait," Continue reading >>
Drinking Alcohol Safely With Diabetes
Alcohol. Yep, some people with diabetes drink it. I do, on occasion. Some argue that drinking alcohol with diabetes isn’t the healthiest choice, but I could say the same thing about diet soda. Whatever your stance on it is, it is something that should be handled with care, especially when you are dealing with diabetes. As anyone with diabetes (or someone who loves a PWD) knows, it is a balancing act. Between food, exercise, hormones and the like, we are constantly chasing that elusive 100 mg/dl on the meter. Alcohol can really throw your blood sugars into a tailspin. Let’s not even start on carbohydrates in your drink. Your liver and its functions are a very big player in how you manage diabetes while drinking. Instead of helping to regulate your blood sugar, your liver is busy metabolizing the alcohol, which can result in some scary lows. Be prepared with glucose tabs and make sure to check regularly if you are having a drink. What to Drink? I like to stick to drinks that don’t have carbohydrates in them: a good red wine, vodka and club soda or Fresca, or an occasional martini are predictable for me. Plus, I don’t have to take any insulin with them which makes it easier. If I am having a beer or something fruity like rum punch, I make sure to limit how much I am having. I once had an endocrinologist tell me that after every 3 drinks make your fourth one with carbs. I don’t know how good that advice was, I don’t follow it… But I do stick to what I know, I test very often, and I make sure to eat something while I am drinking. Bedtime Cautions Yes, you should be cautious before bed even when not drinking but you need to be even more on track of what your blood sugar is when you are. I cannot stress enough to test right before bed (and before you brush your t Continue reading >>
