Do I need to see a nutritionist if I am diabetic?

Only if you can’t read and do not have a PC at home. If you have diabetes, there is ample information online about nutrition. The bottom line is you can enjoy all foods. In moderation, almost all types of food can be eaten by the diabetic. There is sufficient information online for diabetics and there is absolutely no need to buy any fancy books or see a nutritionist. Finally, no matter what you eat, cut down on the sugary stuff and walk more.

I am a 54 year old diabetic and have been told I also have high cholesterol. Do I need medication to lower my cholesterol?

Because diabetes increases the risk of heart disease, one should make every attempt to control the cholesterol levels. Combination of cholesterol and diabetes is bad news. There are drugs to decrease cholesterol levels, but the first choice of therapy is exercise and this is highly recommended. All diabetics should at least surf cyberspace and read about the foods which are good for diabetics. There is no need to see expensive dieticians to determine what you can eat- unless you cant read or do not have internet at home. If you have any questions about diet, speak to your doctor. To start, lower fat in your diet, walk everyday and do not smoke- that should take care of many of your health problems.

How much alcohol can a diabetic drink safely?

When it comes to alcohol, there is no rule on how much one should drink. Alcohol is known to lower sugar and so drink it with your meals. And do not go overboard. One should not treat the diabetes and at the same time require treatment for alcoholism. Do be aware that brandy and some liqueurs have very high sugar content.

Are there certain foods I should eat more off since I am diabetic?

The best way to control diabetes is being smart and selecting foods which will keep not only keep the sugar down, but will also help to control weight gain and decrease cholesterol. This can be approached by changing to a diet with fewer calories and less fat- this means  eating more fresh fruit, vegetables, sea food and legumes instead of daily steak and hamburgers.
One should try and eat a healthy diet which derives at least 20-20% daily calories from protein, 30% or less from fat and the rest from carbohydrates. One should become a label based shopper and check which foods contain sugar and fat free. Some labels even mention which foods are good for the diabetic.

I am a new diabetic and am worried about my diet. I do not have money to see a dietician. Can you help me with what I should eat?

Sure, a common sense attitude to food is all that is needed. Try and reduce the intake of total fat, mainly saturated fat, which is known to worsen diabetes and make control of blood glucose difficult. Except for the omega 3 fatty acids, most fats have an adverse effect on insulin action. Some dieticians recommend that intake of unsaturated fatty acids is beneficial in the long term management of diabetes. Recent studies also indicate that there is a decreased risk of diabetes with increased intake of whole grains and dietary fiber. Although few micronutrients may affect glucose and insulin metabolism, data to document their role in the development of diabetes are scant. Infact moderate amount of alcohol intake has recently been shown to increase insulin sensitivity and improve glucose control. However, recommending alcohol consumption as therapy may lead to worsening of the social problems related to alcoholism, not to mention its damaging effects on the liver.

Is there a anti diabetic diet on the market?

Medical nutrition therapy is an integral component of diabetes management and of diabetes self-management education. Yet many misconceptions exist concerning nutrition and diabetes. Despite what everyone thinks there is no such thing as a diabetic diet. Dieticians, therapists, fitness experts and nutritionists have all gone overboard trying to create imaginary bogus anti diabetic diets. The world of nutrition is big business and every tom, dick and Harry has come up with a diabetic diet. Best advice, cut down on your sugars, do not smoke and walk more.

Does a diabetic always require a consultation with a dietician?

Of course not. Nutritionists, dieticians or food therapists have outrageous consultation prices. There is no need to waste any money on these people. There is a lot of free literature on how diabetics can manage their diet on cyberspace. There is absolutely no need to pay a dietician for some common sense advice, unless you cant read.  The best website for good information on diabetes is the American Diabetes Association.

Diabetes does not mean that one cannot enjoy food. In moderation, almost all types of food can be eaten by the diabetic. No matter what diet you consume, eat less sugar and walk more.

What should I eat to control my diabetes?

 The best way to control diabetes is being smart and selecting foods that will keep not only the sugar down, but will also help to control weight gain and decrease cholesterol. This can be approached by changing to a diet with fewer calories and less fat-; this can be accomplished by eating more fresh fruit, vegetables, seafood and legumes instead of daily steak and hamburgers.

One should try to eat a healthy diet that derives at least 20-20% daily calories from protein, 30% of less from fat and the rest from carbohydrates. One should become a label-based shopper and check which foods are sugar and fat free. Some labels even mention which foods are good for the diabetic.

How much alcohol can a diabetic drink?

When it comes to alcohol, there is no rule on how much one should drink. Alcohol is known to lower sugar and so drink it with your meals. In addition, do not go overboard. One should not treat the diabetes and at the same time require treatment for alcoholism. Do be aware that brandy and some liqueurs have very high sugar content.

Can I drink alcohol if I have diabetes?

Recent studies also indicate that there is a decreased risk of diabetes with increased intake of whole grains and dietary fiber. Although few micronutrients may affect glucose and insulin metabolism, data to document their role in the development of diabetes are scant. In fact moderate amount of alcohol intake has recently been shown to increase insulin sensitivity and improve glucose control. However, recommending alcohol consumption as therapy may lead to worsening of the social problems related to alcoholism, not to mention its damaging effects on the liver.

Is there a diabetic diet you can recommend?

Proper nutrition is an integral component of diabetes management and of diabetes self-management education. Yet many misconceptions exist concerning nutrition and diabetes. Despite what everyone thinks there is no such thing as a diabetic diet.

One should reduce the intake of total fat, mainly saturated fat, which is known to worsen diabetes and make control of blood glucose difficult. Except for omega 3 fatty acids, most fats have an adverse effect on insulin action. Some dieticians recommend that intake of unsaturated fatty acids are beneficial in the long-term management of diabetes.

Can Type 1 diabetes be prevented?

Unfortunately, Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented nor can it be cured. It is a serious chronic inherited disease and the individual has to adapt to it. Diabetes is relatively easy to control but when the sugars are allowed to run high, devastating complications can occur. To avoid diabetic complications, one needs to make changes in lifestyle and eating habits- this will make one’s life a lot bearable and hassle free.

Actos can prevent diabetes!

The latest study on Actos shows that the drug can clearly prevent worsening of blood sugars. Also known as pioglitazone, Actos is widely used in North America to treat diabetics. This study showed that even individuals who had not fully developed diabetes were able to ward of the disorder by taking Actos on a daily basis. 

Now the bad news. This drug has never been approved for the prevention of diabetes.  Worse it can cause heart failure and has been linked to bladder cancer. The study was sponsored by the makers of Actos, so of course, the news is always great. For people who have high sugars but are not yet diabetic, best advice is walk more and eat less sugar. Losing weight is one of the best ways to avoid type 2 diabetes.

I am a 49 year old diabetic. Can you tell me what is HbA1c and how often should I have it measured?

I am a 49 year old diabetic. Can you tell me what is HbA1c and how often should I have it measured?

All diabetics should routinely get their blood glucose levels measured. The blood sugars give an idea how well the glucose is controlled on a day to day basis. However, all diabetics should also have their HBA1c measured once in a while.

HbA1c is simply hemoglobin which has been attached to glucose molecules. Hemoglobin is found in red blood cells and these cells have a life span of about 8-12 weeks. Normally if the blood glucose levels are normal or well controlled, the sugar does not bind to hemoglobin. However, if the sugars have been poorly controlled and are high, they get attached to the hemoglobin and this is known as glycation of the hemoglobin molecule.

So measuring HbA1c gives an idea how well the glucose levels have been over the long term. The higher the glucose levels, the higher will the level of HbA1c be. Some patients may come to see their physician and tell them that their sugars have been great. Well, by measuring the HbA1c the physician can immediately tell how well your  glucose levels have been over the last 3-4 months.

The test is simple to perform, requires some blood and results are usually available within an hour. The HbA1c is ideally done 2-3 times a year. Anything lower than 7 is great.

Can Zinc help lower my blood glucose? I have been reading a lot on Zinc and am confused?

Type 2 diabetes is associated with many long-term complications and the only way to prevent this is to ensure that your blood sugar is well controlled. Today, the treatments for type 2 diabetes includes medications, a change in diet and exercise. There is a lot of literature on Zinc and its miraculous healing properties. Zinc deficiency is very rare and usually only seen in very ill hospitalized patients or those who are malnourished. In North America, Zinc deficiency is rare. Taking extra zinc supplement is waste of money.

As far as diabetes is concerned, zinc has no affect no blood sugar. Best advice- take the medications prescribed by your doctor, lose weight, avoid excess sugar and exercise on a regular basis.

I am a diabetic and am horrified that I have to prick myself. Is there no way out of it?

Unfortunately, there is no way out of it. Monitoring of blood sugar unfortunately involves a pinprick on your fingertip with a special lancet. There are a variety of lancet devices which will allow you to adjust the depth of skin prick. Those with thick skin need deeper penetration. It does sound painful but eventually one gets used to it. You may have to alternate the pricking site each week, as it can be painful pricking the same finger.

Is there a way to monitor blood sugars without pricking yourself?

Unfortunately, all the monitors which do not utilize pricking suck. The gold standard today is to prick yourself and measure the sugar in blood. Testing for blood sugar is not difficult. At the moment, every single blood glucose monitoring kit available does require a sample of blood. There are many portable kits available today for home use. To test blood sugar levels, one needs a few items including a blood sugar monitor, test strips, a lancet and alcohol swabs. The majority of blood sugar monitors available today are lightweight and portable. Some blood sugar monitors also have fancy storage facilities like tracking time, date of each test and can store your sugar level data. Some of the current devices also come with flash/zip drives so that the information can be transferred to your PC.

Is it necessary to measure blood sugar levels after exercise? I am a new diabetic who walks all the time.

Diabetic individuals who exercise also need to monitor their blood sugar just before and after exercise. A drop in blood sugar is common after exercise and thus, one should always carry a sugar drink or candy with them. If your walking is not too intense, you can stop measuring the sugars once you discover that they are not changing. In any case, always carry a sugar drink with you.

Blood sugar levels also change drastically in both type 1 and 2 diabetic during an infection, stress or a severe medical illness. At these times, blood sugars need to be monitored more frequently

I have just been diagnosed with diabetes and would like to keep my sugars under control. When should I measure my blood glucose levels?

All individuals who have been diagnosed with diabetes need to monitor their blood sugar levels on a regular basis. The monitoring of blood glucose should initially be done more frequently to ensure that the medications are working. Once the levels of blood glucose have been stabilized, one can check the blood glucose levels less frequently. However, all diabetic individuals should understand that it is vital to maintain glucose levels at normal levels – if this is not done, devastating complications of diabetes can occur in a short time. Just getting a blood sugar level measured in the doctor’s office once every 2-3 months is not good enough. You must get in the habit of measuring blood sugars at home.

Individuals with type 1 diabetes need to measure blood sugar levels more often. These individuals needs to prick themselves at least 4-6 times a day, especially before and after each meal.

Initially all type 2 diabetics need to monitor their blood sugars frequently once the dose of anti diabetic medications have been adjusted and baseline sugars have developed the frequency of blood sugar monitoring can be reduced. In any case, it is wise to monitor blood sugars at least once to twice a week to ensure that the medications are working.

I have just been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and have been referred to a nutritionist for dietary advice. Is this useful?

No it is bullshit. There is no such thing as a diet for type 2 diabetes. Common sense suggests that you should cut down on your intake of sugars. Dieticians and nutritionists have gone on the bandwagon giving out crappy advice on diets for type 2 diabetes- hogwash. All the studies so far indicate that exercise is more important than any changes you make in your diet. If you want to control your diabetes, start to exercise. This means starting to walk today- going to the bathroom is not walking- that is pooping.

My doctor has started me on Acarbose for my type 2 diabetes. Will this drug help me lose weight also?

Acarbose is a useful drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. It works by delaying absorption of complex sugars from the gut. In the short term, Acarbose drug can decrease your blood sugar levels. However, the drug has no affect on your weight or your blood cholesterol. Taking higher doses makes no difference to blood sugars but increases side effects. If you want a drug that will control your blood sugars and help you lose weight, ask your doctor for metformin.

Disclaimer

The contents of all information on the SBMEDEX site is  for informational purposes only. The Medical information is not proposed to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek advice of your physician or other qualified health providers if you have questions regarding your medical condition. You should not ignore professional medical advice or postpone in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.  

If you think you may have an acute medical emergency, call your physician or 911 STAT. Our website does not recommend or endorse any specific laboratory tests, pharmaceutical drugs, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on the website.  Reliance on any information provided by our Website is solely at your own risk. 

Can primrose oil lower my blood sugars? I have been reading a lot about this health supplement but am not sure.

One disorder where primrose oil has gained prominence is diabetes. There are some anecdotal reports that regular intake of EPO can help reduce blood sugars. The manufacturers of Primrose oil do recommend the supplement on a regular basis for its anti diabetic effects. The oil is sold as a capsule which is relatively cheap. There are also some reports among diabetics who report that primrose oil can reduce the numbness, tingling and pain in their feet.

There are no clinical trials on primrose oil and the blood sugar lowering effects are not seen in all diabetics. At best less than 2% of individuals see any effect and the blood lowering effects are neither consistent nor predictable. There is very little scientific evidence to indicate that primrose oil alone can lower blood sugars.

EPO is generally safe when taken as recommended. It does have a few side effects like nausea, bloating, abdominal cramps, headaches and loose stools when excessive amounts are ingested.

All diabetics should understand that Primrose oil is not a substitute for insulin or any of the currently available anti diabetic medications. While it may lower blood sugars in some individuals, the mechanism remains unknown. At present there is not enough information to recommend safe use of evening primrose oil during pregnancy or in women who are breastfeeding. 

My doctor has started me on Byetta for my diabetes. Is this a good drug?

Byetta also known as exenatide is a medication used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. It is often combined with diet and exercise to control blood sugar levels. When sugar levels are left untreated, this can lead to damage to the eyes, kidney and narrow blood vessels in the heart and legs. Adequate control of blood sugar is vital if one wants to prevent complications of diabetes. Byetta works by stimulating secretion of natural substances called incretins- incretins in return stimulate insulin secretion, which lowers sugars. Byetta is only meant for treatment of type 2 diabetes. It is used in combination with other diabetic drugs. 

As far as effectiveness of Byetta is concerned, the reports are not so great. Byetta often fails to work in obese people and in those who have developed insulin resistance. Byetta is also a very expensive drug. The older drugs like metformin are still better than byetta and a lot cheaper. Start exercise, eat less sugar and this will help lower your blood sugars.

What is the cost of blood glucose strips for home monitoring?

The cost of home blood glucose monitoring is not cheap. The cost of each glucose strip can range from $0.30-$1.0. For those who need to check the blood sugars 2-5 times a day, the cost can add up. 

For the future, things do look bright. There is an effort to develop a glucose machine which contains an insulin pump, meter a controller and a cellular phone. These glucophones are in the evolutionary phase and currently sell for about $150. Do not be in a rush to buy these devices yet, as preliminary reports indicate that they have a lot of technical problems- means that they suck.

I am a diabetic. Can I use one set of blood glucose strips on all home monitoring devices?

Blood glucose strips from different brands do vary and should not be mixed; otherwise the machine has to be calibrated. Every time one uses a strip, the container should be immediately be recapped. There are also individually enclosed strips available which are more reliable but also more costly.

How much blood does one need to measure blood sugar at home?

The size of blood sample needed varies slightly depending on the model (from 0.3-10 ul). The newer models require considerable less blood. The smaller volumes of blood mean that you have to prick your self less often and this is also less painful.

The latest glucose machines can also measure glucose in other fluid as well. However, the technology of these continuous glucose meters is still evolving and not recommended for home use. The majority of consumers can get their glucose devices at little or no cost because of the rebates. The long term expenses are from the purchase of strips and other supplies.

I am a diabetic. What should I know before buying a home glucose monitoring device?

For the consumer, the following considerations are important when selecting a machine for home use:

- Does the machine work with small sample size? This will allow you to take less blood, thus will be less painful and will permit alternate site testing

-   How long does the test time take? You want a device which takes less than 10-20 seconds which makes it more convenient

-  Is the machine portable?

-  How expensive are the supplies- reagents and strips

I am a diabetic but my home blood glucose measurements are always different from the ones done in the doctor’s office. Why?

The accuracy of blood glucose meters improves when they are used appropriately. So patient education on correct use and evaluating the results is important. Some of the most frequent errors at home in when using blood glucose machines include a soiled or contaminated meter, use of expired test strips, too little sample size and the failure to calibrate the machine prior to use. 

There are many glucose meters available and new models are constantly being released. The majority of newer machines are all calibrated with plasma glucose and thus the values obtained at home can be compared to the laboratory values.  Like all electronic devices, glucose machines are mainly distinguished based on their features. These features include the blood sample site, duration of test time, memory capability, ability to download data, alternate site testing and various software. Other machines can also help record your medications, doses, calorie intake and how much exercise you perform. Some of the latest devices even have voice prompts for the visually handicapped.

I am a type 2 diabetic. Can you tell me how accurate are devices for home glucose monitoring?

Monitoring of blood glucose at home is now widely practiced and accepted by most patients. Everyone agrees that home monitoring of glucose can help make management of diabetes a lot easier. However, there are a variety of home monitoring devices out on the market and choosing the right one is an overwhelming task for the average consumer.

Unlike laboratory measurement of blood glucose, the home devices have a wide range of accuracy. In fact, not all home glucose monitoring machines are the same when it comes to accuracy. The FDA calls for all blood glucose monitors to produce results within 20% of a reference measurement and there is hope that the newer generation of machines will result in only a 10% difference. The American Diabetes Association has gone one step further and demanded that all meters should produce readings within 5% of reference level. All the meters currently on the market do comply by FDA standard but they are not as accurate as the laboratory machine.  If you live in North America, do not buy machines from abroad as the quality of devices cannot be guaranteed

Can you tell me what supplements I can take to control my blood sugars?

Unfortunately, outside of insulin and the oral hypoglycemic drugs, there is nothing that can help lower your blood sugars. The majority of health supplements marketed for blood sugar control are junk, untested and do not serve any real medical benefit. Moreover, these supplements contain contaminants, many are even fake products and all of them are expensive.

If you have high sugars, the one thing you can is to exercise. There is a lot of evidence that regular exercise can help you lower your blood sugar, reduce your weight and even lower your cholesterol. It really does not matter what exercise you do, as long as you do something that is physical. There is no easy way out. Popping supplements has become an easy solution for everyone wanting to cure their medical problems. The problem with the health supplement market is that it is unregulated with no quality control. So if you want to leave a hassle free life with diabetes, start walking today. Walking is free, allows you to enjoy nature and does work-if you remain motivated.