Blood Sugar Level Control - 3 Strategies For Once A Day Checking Of Your Blood Sugars

I have shared some of the lows and highs of living with type 2 diabetes. Namely hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia.

Ultimately as a person living with diabetes, the goal is to have blood sugar levels within the target range of 70-130 mg/dL.

A lot of times this may require frequent monitoring of blood sugars. This is where I usually encounter a lot of resistance from my patients. They complain that testing their sugars several times a day is painful. Also that the test strips cost a lot of money. Or that because of their work schedule they just don't have the time.

I found that the more I argued with them about this, the more resistant some patients became. In fact some even stopped coming in as scheduled. They would stretch out their appointments. So instead of coming in every three months, they made it twice a year.

Now that can be harmful as it is a surefire way to develop complications related to diabetes!

So I had to get creative with that segment of my patients that just were not going to check their blood sugars consistently.

Well here are three strategies that I came up with. For the most part they ended up being about compromise. Which I think is something that is very important if you are committed to living powerfully.

STRATEGY NUMBER ONE - ALTERNATE FASTING BLOOD SUGARS LEVELS WITH POST-PRANDIAL LEVELS

This is by far my favorite strategy.

This is how it works:

On a calendar, divide the month into odd-numbered and even-numbered days.

On odd-numbered days of the month, check your fasting blood sugar level.

On even-numbered days, check your post-prandial sugar levels. Try to vary the times that you check your post-prandial levels. For instance on one day check the levels after breakfast. The next time after lunch. At another time after dinner.

This is a great way to get a general view of how your sugars run during different times of the day. And not test more than once a day.

Remember to label the times that you check your sugars so that your doctor can understand the trend. I find that certain machines, like the Accucheck One Touch Ultra has a feature that allows labeling the blood sugars also. Check your machine to see whether you can do this.

STRATEGY NUMBER TWO - CHECK POST-PRANDIAL BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS OVER THE WEEKEND

Here is when I would recommend this strategy:

For the most part there are two types of blood sugar levels that determine how well controlled a type 2 diabetic is.

The fasting blood sugar level - the blood sugar level first thing in the morning. The target range for the fasting blood sugar is 70-130 mg/dL.

The second level is the post-prandial blood sugar level. This is the blood sugar level that is taken 2 hours after a meal. The level should be less than 140 mg/dL.

Diabetes type 2, is well controlled when both the fasting blood sugars levels and the post-prandial levels are within the target range.

Let's say I have a person who cannot check their post-prandial levels during the week due to their work schedule. I then encourage them to check the fasting levels during the week. And then over the weekend, focus only on checking their post-prandial levels.

They can do this by alternating post-prandial levels between breakfast, lunch and dinner over the 3 days.

STRATEGY NUMBER THREE - CHECK YOUR BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS FOR TWO WEEKS BEFORE YOUR SCHEDULED DOCTOR VISIT

I only bring out this strategy when I am pushed to the wall. Literally I am begging a patient to work with me.

There is nothing more frustrating than not having an idea about how the blood sugars are running in between visits. It is like shooting in the dark. You get a blood test result that is high, but you have no idea how to go about correcting it.

As I tell my type 2 diabetes patients, on average they get to see their primary care physician between three to four times per year for routine diabetes care. What happens the remaining 361 days is left in their hands.

If you take blood sugars consistently for even two weeks before an office visit. And when combined with the hemoglobin A1C. Most times it is much easier to spot the problem.

WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO CHECK BOTH THE FASTING AND POST-PRANDIAL BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS:

In an earlier article I shared some important numbers that a person living with diabetes needs to know. One of those numbers is the A1C. This is also known as the glycosylated hemoglobin. The target range for the A1c is less than 6.5- 7%. In order to achieve that goal, the fasting blood sugars are within the target range of 70-130 mg/dL. The post-prandial levels also have to be consistently less than 140 mg/dL two hours after a meal.

If your A1C is high, then by keeping a log of the blood sugars, you will be able to pinpoint the problem.

For instance, if the fasting blood sugars levels are within normal range. But the post-prandial levels are high. Then perhaps you need to adjust portion sizes.

Are your fasting levels are running high? It may be that the evening medications need to be adjusted. Or that a late night needs to be cut out. Sometimes this may even mean that the nighttime medications may need to be cut down. But your physician needs to see your glucose log. So that they can target the problem. And create a customized plan for you.

START TODAY TO CHECK YOUR BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS

Perhaps you are a newly diagnosed diabetic. Or even if you have had diabetes for some time. But just never thought it important to check your blood sugars. Let's start out fresh.

Review the instructions of your glucometer. If you do not understand how to use it then check to see whether your local pharmacist can help you. If not call your doctor's office. And schedule a visit with the nurse. Most times they can help you. Most times the machines work the same way. A few have extra 'bells and whistles' attached to them.

Just as I share in my upcoming e- book, two of the hallmarks of living a powerful life with type 2 diabetes is being committed and persistent. If you do, you will go a long way to living free of diabetes complications.

Cinnamon And Diabetes Control - Including Cinnamon In Your Diet

The idea that cinnamon and diabetes management share the same objectives is easy to promote. Most people love the wholesome taste of cinnamon anyway.

Including a pinch of cinnamon into your daily food intake can be very easy. It is effortless and simple to add a small amount of cinnamon on your breakfast cereal. For those who prefer bread, this can be turned into cinnamon toast.

An exotic beverage that makes good use of cinnamon as a flavour is Chai tea. This drink from India can be purchased as a commercial blend or you could browse the Internet for suggestions of putting together your own version. Other components of the classic Chai tea are cardamom, sugar, milk, cloves and of course, the tea, but individual brews could feature vanilla beans, nutmeg, honey, ginger and fennel. Without immersing yourself in such liquid opulence, there are a few simpler suggestions. You could add a teaspoon of cinnamon to your regular tea, or add some sticks of cinnamon to a cup of boiling water, and drink that once it cools down.

The Internet is a rich source of information, yielding many fresh ideas for ways of combining and preparing food. Just search for cinnamon recipes and make up your own mind on which dishes will work best for your needs.

You can find lots of suggestions for a dish such as cinnamon steak. You could play around with the inclusion of garlic or cayenne pepper or coriander or ginger. As with all food preparation, it takes time and a little inspiration to adapt recipes to your own taste and requirements.

North African and Oriental cooking uses cinnamon in a variety of creative ways. With the food of Thailand, other spices such as chilli, garlic, ginger, basil, coriander and cumin are blended with cassia, one type of cinnamon to add a unique taste to chicken, fish and other dishes. Flavours also used with cinnamon include turmeric or cloves.

Vegetarians have no cause to be alarmed. Cinnamon combines wonderfully with a number of fruit and vegetable choices. Everyone knows how deliciously cinnamon and apples go together in apple pie, but have you thought of combining it with applesauce or walnuts and serving that with the meal of your choice. Similarly, it is a winner if sprinkled over lentils or couscous.

Puddings need not be a sacrifice in the name of healthier living. Rice pudding or carrot cake, both garnished with cinnamon, can bring your dinner to a mouth-watering conclusion.. Using cinnamon and diabetes diet suggestions wisely can give you a new lease on life.

The diabetic diet, how can keep you your diabetes under control

Everyone knows the benefits of eating a healthy and balanced diet. This is particularly the case for diabetics, and there are a number of requirements of diet as a diabetic person may need to eat more or less than, to help manage their diabetes. Each person is different, there is not a form of diet that corresponds to each diabetic.

Most people with diabetes have diabetic plan orientation. Even if there is no diabetic scheme set to follow all diabetics, there are a few guidelines that apply to everyone. Maintain a healthy weight is extremely important for diabetics and this is possible, in part, by eating healthy diabetic. If a diabetic do not keep their weight down, it can lead to symptoms worsening. Of course, it is not fair diabetics who need to look at their cumbersome.

Outcome of diabetes of ranks of glucose in the blood of first too high and intense sugar overload can thinking disorders. A diabetic be able to eat the things of the majority, but resting on the severity and the type of diabetes that they have, it is mandatory to eat foods convinced in deference. This applies to sugar, carbohydrate and plumps specific types. Alcohol is supposed to at all times be drunk in deference, but it is still extra vital for everyone on a diet of diabetic to cut their spending.

It has no demanding for a diabetic to renounce their sweet treats completely, simply on the amount of cookies and cakes they consume. However, the use of a variety of sugar to the careful, fructose, no need to avoid overload. Fructose is sugar fruit and initiated in extremely high in fruit juices. A diabetic diet is supposed to include a high with a small glass of juice on an all the days of the bases. Fructose is also classified an ordinary carbohydrate next to lactose, milk and sucrose, ordinary sugar. These in that all must be eaten custom amounts on several kinds of diabetic diets.

Complex carbohydrates, dissimilar Plains carbohydrates, are an essential element of every food and a diabetic diet. They do not work in the body to create energy. Brown rice, whole wheat pasta and bread are a number of the most excellent foundations of compound carbohydrates.

Diabetic diets as stop for help needs them additional diseases and circumstances separately of the diabetes itself. Night of the kidney and infection of the heart are two examples. It is essential to ensure that the diabetic diet is not too fat soaked, that may be on the situation of additional health. The body requires a number of bold to the role properly inputs except what can be establish in sunflower oil, olive oil, vegetable oil and additional unsaturated fats.

Updated How to Take Control of Your Diabetes

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Hi

Thanks for deciding to download this updated 'How to Take Control of Your Diabetes'; your carbohydrate control e-book. (Or maybe you've come along because you downloaded the ebook before and now you can't find it... I know what that's like!). I'll give you the link in a moment...

The reason I needed to update the ebook is because some of the links in the original PDF file were no longer working. You see the main link that became a problem was probably one of the most important for you - isn't it always the way?

Let me explain, a crucial aspect of taking control of your diabetes is being able to effectively control your carbohydrate intake, which you may remember reading about here, on my website. The story is in the ebook as well.

For some of us resisting carbohydrates - the sweeter tasting foods - is easier said than done. And that's when a bit of help comes in useful.

The broken link was to a product specifically designed to reduce carbohydrate cravings.

So, apart from updating the ebook for you, I've listed that - and some other useful - links here for you. The ebook download link follows on.

Stop Carbohydrate Cravings Quickly And Easily?

This was the broken link, which has now been fixed in the PDF ebook.

Check How to Drop Blood Sugar Levels by up to 31.9%

If you need to get your blood sugar levels down see if this will help you achieve your goal. WSN Diabetic Supplement. It comes with a 90-day money back guarantee. Now that shows confidence in their product, doesn't it?

Your Neuropathy May be Reversable

If you suffer with any form of nerve damage; neuropathy, then you have my sympathy. Of course that doesn't help relieve the pain does it? But this product might; check the testimonials from other users. It's worth a try to get rid of that distressing condition isn't it? Your New Carbohydrate Control E-book

Download your updated 'How To Take Control of Your Diabetes' ebook

Top: Updated Control Your Diabetes

Starting To Take Control

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Jim Mathes, like many of us, is struggling to get control of his diabetes. But he's not giving up as he explains in this message he sent to me to share with you.

I wish him every success with his determination to improve his health by getting his diabetes properly balanced.

Hello

Carol Ann suggested I share my story and progress with the group.

I have just begun this journey, so this is where I am after one week.

I am a retired 63 year old white male.I am 6?1? and weigh 300 pounds.My highest weight has been 330 pounds.I have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc.I am also a diabetic.I have sleep apnea and use a C.P.A.P. machine.I have had to have stints in my heart 4 different times.I take 19 medications a day just to stay in the condition I am in now.I know my weight is causing the majority of my ailments.

Last week I attended a free seminar on getting a Lap Band. They highly suggested we try all other solutions for weight management before getting the Lap Band or any surgical procedure.

I decided to re-evaluate my situation and try once again to get my health under control through non-surgical means.

I have tried multiple diets. A lot of them work, but I have never stuck to them for a long period of time. I would lose 30 or so pounds but then gain them back as soon as I got off the diet.

I have always viewed the word DIET as trying to eat less and less, of a bunch of stuff you don?t like, for the rest of your life. To me, that?s not living. It?s a lifetime of horrible torture.

I have come to a personal conclusion of the following facts.

1. This is a battle on two fronts.

2. One is the volume of food that I eat.

3. Two is what I eat.

4. I cannot fight two enemies at the same time and expect to win.

5. I will have to choose one and win, then take on the other.

I downloaded and printed ?How To Take Control Of Your Diabetes?.

This has one of the best carbohydrate charts I have found.

I made my decision of the enemy I have chosen to fight and conquer first.

VOLUME

I began this battle on Saturday March 29, 2008 using Step 1.

Every battle must have a definite plan to succeed.

My battle plan is this:

Step 1: Make a daily menu for the following week which includes the following steps.

Breakfast, Morning Snack, Lunch, Evening Snack, Dinner, Bedtime Snack.

Step 2: Select any items I want for my menu, but check the chart for serving size. Only get one serving of each item I choose.

Step 3: Monday begin my menu. If I feel the desire to change an item on my menu during the week, do so without feeling guilty. Just remember to check my serving size.

My strategy and goal is simple. Don?t deprive myself of the good things I like for now, but train my eyes and brain to recognize what a serving portion looks like and to only serve myself that amount of any one thing.

Even though I have only been doing this menu for less than a week, it has helped reduce my blood sugar. I will not know if I have lost any weight until Sunday when I weigh. I am excited about this experiment and will keep you posted. I hope and pray it works.

I hope this helps encourage you.

Have a great day

Jim Mathes

Note From Carol Ann

When I started using this low-carbohydrate eating style (I prefer not to say diet as well) I lost 14 lbs in weight at a reasonable speed. It was not dropping off me. And I was glad of that because, in my experience, if I lost weight quickly it just piled back on in no time.

I started my new eating style about 2.5 years ago. I have kept to this low-carb menu and enjoy sugar-free treats now and again to satisfy my bit of a sweet-tooth. It suits me. And although I haven't tried to lose any more weight - the 14 lbs was all I needed to trim down - I haven't put a single pound back on. (And I have to admit I should be doing more exercise than I'm managing at the moment).

If Jim manages to educate himself to the new eating style, and perhaps add a daily walk to his routine, I'm certain it will help his other health problems as well.

Kind regards

Carol Ann

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