General What will happen if I skip my insulin dosage 1 time or for an entire day? There is no clear set rule of what to do, as it can depend on many factors. If you are at all unsure of what insulin dosage to take, you should seek advice from your doctor or healthcare team. I have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, will I need to be on insulin the rest of my life? Changes in diet, increasing physical activity, and some oral medications may be enough to bring your blood glucose to a normal level. Can your menstrual cycle and/or going through menopause/pregnancy affect glucose levels? Yes, it’s common for females to have hormone fluctuations the week before their period and those can affect blood glucose levels. Glucose levels often return to their usual patterns after the first few days of the start of a menstrual cycle. Check your glucose levels and analyze your monthly fluctuations to know your patterns. How often so I need to check my sugar levels. Usually you need to check your insulin/sugar levels 4 times a day: when you wake up; after you eat lunch; in the afternoon; and before you go to bed. How often should I visit the doctor? Your doctor or healthcare team would have told you how often you should meet. Doctors often schedule one or more appointments in advance. Some serious or life-threatening complications require immediate medical attention. Food/drinks/sugar levels What should my blood sugar be when I wake up (fasting) and before meals? What about after? Good diabetes management means keeping your blood sugar levels as normal as possible, without very high or low blood sugars levels. Most doctors recommend that people with diabetes should target a blood sugar level range of 70-130 mg/dl when you wake up and before meals. One to two hours after eating, your blood sugar levels should be at or under 180 mg/dl. Is it OK to eat fruit/bread/sweets when it’s full of carbohydrate? Are some fruits better to eat than others? The calories in all fruits (fresh, frozen, dried, and canned without added sugar) are mainly carbohydrate with a bit of protein. People with diabetes need to eat a certain amount of carbohydrates every day for energy and essential nutrients. Healthy sources of carbohydrates include fruits, as well as vegetables, whole grains, legumes (beans), and low-fat dairy foods. The best way to regulate your carbohydrate intake is to “count the carbohydrates” in your food. Carbohydrates are counted in grams, which is a measure of weight – and even a few grams more or less can make a difference in your blood sugar levels. My child has type 1 diabetes, What foods can she take to school? Your child could take fresh fruit or cans of fruit (with no syrup), fat-free yogurt, part-skim cheese (sticks, slices, and cubes), sugar-free pudding cups, nuts (if allowed at school), whole wheat crackers or pretzels, peanut butter, baby carrots, and 100-calorie snack packs, which you can buy pre-packed or create your own. Also, remind your child to drink plenty of water and no-calorie drinks. How often do I need to eat? You may choose whether your prefer to eat three (3) moderate size meals and day with one or two small snacks, or whether you prefer to eat four-five smaller meals a day with no snacks. What are the best foods I can eat? We obtain nutrition, critical vitamins and minerals through the various foods we choose to eat. Foods also supply us with energy, or calories. To keep your body running, you need three types of food: carbohydrates, protein and fat. Power foods high in fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins and minerals include: Physical Health & Exercise How much exercise do I need each week? For most healthy adults, experts recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity, 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity a week, or a combination of moderate and vigorous activity. What is the ideal body weight I can maintain? The ideal body weight for males is 50 kg + 2.3 kg for each inch over 5 feet, and for females, 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg for each inch over 5 feet. Can I do action sports like mountain climbing, bmx biking, rock climbing, scuba diving? Yes, there is nothing holding you back, just be careful and check you insulin levels regularly. Are there any sports I can’t do? Having diabetes doesn’t need to be a barrier to actively enjoy sports and exercise. Sportsmen and women with diabetes are common and have achieved some of the highest sporting awards available on the planet. So there for there is no limit of what you can do. You just need to stay alert on you blood sugar. Can I get rid of type 2 diabetes if I stop eating carbs and I have a balanced diet. No, but you can control it. If you have prediabetes or were just diagnosed with type 2, losing a lot of weight can put the condition into remission. (Although it is important to know that weight regain, aging, and the natural progression of type 2 diabetes may bring it back). It’s not healthy or realistic to simply stop eating carbohydrates because you will not be getting important essential nutrients. Emotions How can I learn to accept my diabetes? It’s normal to feel overwhelmed when you are first diagnosed. Accepting that you have diabetes is largely an act of cognition—a realignment of what you view as real and vital to your existence and how it can impact your life. Here are some ways to cope: Can I get rid of diabetes? Will it ever go away? Once you are diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, you have it for the rest of your life. To stay healthy, keep your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol under good control. To do so, eat healthy, be physically active, and take your prescribed medications. Also get the tests and checks you need to detect complications early and treat them aggressively. I am tempted to eat a lot of sugar- what can I do? Try eating some fruits and drinking water. Fruits are the perfect way to eat something sweet without eating too much sugar. How can I get motivated to take care of myself? Taking care of diabetes and getting through your daily to-do list along with your other responsibilities is demanding. It’s easy to understand why motivation waxes and wanes. I am worried about how to live safely with diabetes. What can I do? Here are some practical suggestions to help you live safely with diabetes:
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