If your blood sugar levels are higher than they should be you are not alone. Despite the known benefits, there are many reasons why people with diabetes may not achieve ideal blood glucose control. Apart from the challenges of juggling medication with diet and finding time to exercise regularly, there are issues like stress, depression, pain and poor mobility, illness and the quality of the food you consume.

There are also many diabetics who don’t know the levels they should be aiming for, or maybe they don’t use a home monitor.

1. Monitoring your blood sugars is a must. Nothing has improved the life of a diabetic as much as their ability to measure their own levels with just a drop of blood. Once the only way was to test urine for glucose, this could tell you if the level was high but not if it was low. Therefore it was not an effective way to control their levels.

2. How often should you test This is determined by the kind of diabetes you have, the type of treatment you are using and the level of stability of your blood sugars.

• if you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes and are using insulin, you need to test before each meal and at bedtime. You do this to gain information you may need to adjust your medication dose. Keep a record of your results with the date and time as this will guide you and your health care provider when making any adjustments. Many test after meals also.
• if you have type 2 and are controlled by tablets, diet and exercise, it is not unusual to just test twice a day, before breakfast and dinner
• the home monitor is also useful to test your levels after you eat something not normally part of your diet and you want to check its effect
• if you are about to exercise, a blood test can tell you whether you need to eat before starting to exercise, or whether the exercise will bring your levels down
• if your glucose levels have been unstable and you are about to drive, it is a good idea do a blood test before getting into the car to make sure you are not on the verge of becoming hypoglycemic

3. Determine your blood glucose goal. The best way to work out this goal is in consultation with your health care provider or diabetes care team.

Today millions of Americans are struggling with either Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes. It has become an epidemic for Men, Women and Children. Fortunately it is one of the most studied diseases today.

What is PreDiabetes? It is when an individual has been seen by their Doctor and they have not been diagnosed with either Type 1 or 2 Diabetes, but their sugar/glucose count is hirer than it should be. At this point the Doctor sees no reason to recommend any medication but encourages them to change their lifestyle by eating healthier and exercising to deter the next phase of Diabetes.

This article is designed to focus on those who have not been diagnosed with Diabetes, but may have one or more of the risk factors, such as:

Obesity

Age

Family History of Diabetes

Sedentary life style-do not lead an active life/no exercise

Have Cancer

Consumes a large sum of sugar in their daily diet

Diet full of high fatty foods

There are actually signs that one can look for so they are not totally caught off guard when they begin to have some health issues.

1. Energy Level - Feel tired and sluggish most of the time, especially after eating a meal.

2. Physical appearance - Body changing. Increasing weight around the waistline, mid section, belly, hips, buttocks, etc.

3. Physical issues - May experience frequent heart burn, frequent urination and dry mouth.

4. Medical issues - Glucose elevated above 90mg/dl, high cholesterol and high triglycerides.

5. Eating Clues - Always hungry. Craves certain foods, especially simple carbohydrates (cookies, cakes, pies, chips, etc.). Just can’t seem to get full. Desires to drink a lot of pops/sodas and other high sugary beverages.

If these signs become evident to you make an appointment and see your family Doctor.

By being proactive you can decrease your chances of becoming Diabetic and live a long and healthier life.