New Device For Diabetes Eliminates The Need For Painful Finger Pricking

New device for diabetes eliminates the need for painful finger pricking

Source:Supplied
AUSTRALIAN adults with diabetes now have the option of using a new glucose monitoring device, which eliminates the need for regular finger pricking.
The system, which has been available in Europe for several years, involves a small sensor the size of a 20 cent coin worn on the upper arm for 14 days.
Many diabetics have to draw blood and test their blood glucose levels up to 12 times a day. Instead of doing that, they can now scan the sensor and get a reading in less than a second.
The Abbotts FreeStyle Libre Flash Glucose Monitoring System also displays an eight-hour history and a trend arrow showing the direction the glucose is heading.
The device will make life easier for people living with diabetes who use insulin, whether type 1 or type 2, said Diabetes Australia spokeswoman Renza Scibilia.
Source:Supplied
“Finger pricking is painful, inconvenient and intrusive, which is often why people don’t check their levels as often as they ideally should,” she told news.com.au. “It’s very different from just wearing a device on your arm and scanning it.”
The disposable, water-resistant sensor needs to be replaced every 14 days and costs $95, while the reader is the same price. The Freestyle Libre can be purchased online via the official website.
Ashley Ng, 26, from Melbourne, has been testing the device for two weeks and is a big fan.
“I didn’t realise how much a burden finger-pricking was until I stopped,” Ms Ng told news.com.au.
“Normally I’d prick myself 6-10 times a day. It’s something that I’ve always lived with and gotten used to, an Continue reading

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4 Herbs for Diabetes Management

Over 26 million Americans have diabetes and more than one-hundred million have pre-diabetes or are at a heightened risk of developing the disease. The problem with how the majority of these people manage their disease is that they are strictly following the sole advice of their doctor or endocrinologist – always in reactionary mode, testing their blood sugar and taking the correct amount of corresponding insulin. There are numerous experts out there that say diabetes, and especially the preventable Type 2 diabetes, is not only naturally treatable but even reversible. There are many dietary and lifestyle changes that can be made, as well as many herbs for diabetes management.
Getting a handle on the disease involves far more than blood tests and insulin injections. Treating your diabetes (whether Type 1 or Type 2) almost requires a holistic approach. This means that what you eat, when you eat, and what you do to manage your blood sugar will need to change. Fortunately, there are herbs that can help.
1. Herbs for Diabetes – Cinnamon
Cinnamon is perhaps the most widely recognized herbal diabetes treatment. This common spice is believed to act as an insulin sensitizer. In one study, 60 adults with Type 2 diabetes who regularly took cinnamon found a drop of 18 to 29 percent in their average blood sugar levels. A quick survey of online message boards and blogs also reveals that many diabetics have experienced a similar drop simply by adding cinnamon to their daily regimen. Sprinkle it on an apple or add it into soup—there are many easy ways to use cinnamon for diabetes.
2. Continue reading

Natural Remedies for Diabetes: Plavinol, Glucopure

There is good news for diabetics; unfortunately, it is fake news based on “alternative facts.” I monitor my local newspaper, the Tacoma News Tribune, for health-related advertisements, and I have yet to find an advertised product or service that is supported by credible scientific evidence. Within the space of two weeks, they published half-page advertisements masquerading as news stories about two miraculous natural remedies for diabetes: Plavinol and Glucopure.
Plavinol
I have written about Plavinol before. Plavinol’s active ingredient is Morus alba (white mulberry). That ingredient is supported by mouse studies but not by human studies. A systematic review of clinical studies of Morus alba for diabetes found inconsistent results and concluded “Products derived from M. alba can effectively contribute [emphasis added] to the reduction in PPG [post-prandial glucose] levels, but large-scale RCTs would be informative.” Plavinol contains four additional “supporting nutrients” without any good rationale. The product itself has not been tested, so there is really no way to know whether it is safe and effective as marketed.
Glucopure
The new kid on the block is Glucopure. The headline reads “Diabetics in A Frenzy Over Newly-Released Blood Sugar Pill.”It offers the usual sales pitches: a shortage is expected, get free bottles if you call right away, free shipping if you subscribe, and a double-your-money money-back guarantee (with a few strings attached).
The claims are impressive:
Key ingredient reduces blood sugar 25%, cholesterol 23% and A1c 2.2% in University Continue reading

Compression Socks for Diabetes: A Guide to Help You Pick the Best Pair

Living well with type 2 diabetes means taking care of your legs and feet, and a good pair of socks, particularly those with compression as a feature, are a key accessory to have in your management toolkit. But not all compression socks are created equal. It’s important to know what specific characteristics to look out for if you’re in the market for compression socks so you can live happier and healthier with type 2 diabetes.
Why It’s Important to Protect Your Feet If You Have Diabetes
Foot problems are more common in people with diabetes than in those without the disease. That’s because you can have damage to blood vessels in your legs and feet, which can affect circulation, promote swelling, and increase your risk for infection, among causing other diabetes complications.
Each year, you should aim to have your feet examined by your diabetes care provider and, if you are aware that you have foot problems, by a diabetes specialist, such as a podiatrist. A foot exam typically includes a visual check of your feet for swelling or signs of infection, as well as tests that measure your level of sensation.
The Benefits of Compression Socks for People With Diabetes
Your diabetes care provider may prescribe compression socks to help prevent swelling, which, if left untreated, could increase your risk for foot infections. “Compression socks are hosiery that provides compression on the lower extremities — your feet, ankles, and legs — in order to control swelling and other issues,” says Jane Andersen, a doctor of podiatric medicine and a board-certified surgical podia Continue reading

12 Striking Photos Show What It’s Like to Develop Diabetes in Pregnancy

That number is only expected to rise around the world. Gestational diabetes, which causes dangerously high blood sugar levels during pregnancy, typically develops in a pregnancy’s second half and usually doesn’t cause symptoms.
Gestational diabetes goes away after delivery, but it can lead to dangerous and even deadly consequences for both mother and baby. Among them are preeclampsia, a potentially fatal high blood pressure condition; preterm delivery; too-high birth weight; hypoglycemia in babies; and a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes for both mother and baby. “Many people don’t realize that this is one of the common complications that women face during pregnancy,” says Katja Iversen, the president and CEO of global health advocacy organization Women Deliver. “It can leave them and their children at much higher risk of early death and life-long health issues, despite the fact that it can be caught by a simple test.”
In other words, gestational diabetes is a big deal — which is why Women Deliver teamed up with the World Diabetes Foundation to highlight this silent maternal health threat. The two organizations’ Diabetes in Pregnancy Photo Contest, launching on World Diabetes Day on November 14 and accepting submissions until January 17, seeks photographers telling the stories of people affected by diabetes during pregnancy in India, China, and Nigeria. To kick off the contest, Women Deliver and the World Diabetes Foundation have released a photo series by photographer Jesper Jørgensen that tracks the journey of Nayani Nimeshik, a 21-year-old new Continue reading