Therefore, it’s not an appropriate treatment when you urgently need to bring down your BGL. A person with prediabetes has a good chance of reversing their high blood sugar levels and preventing diabetes from developing. Creating a meal plan can be a useful tool to help a person manage their blood sugar. Additionally, people can try following the ADA’s Diabetes Plate Method.
Living with a chronic illness like diabetes can be challenging, especially when it comes to managing your blood sugars. For some people, including myself, finding the right balance between medication, diet, and exercise is a constant struggle. However, when family members get involved and start dictating how you should be managing your condition, things can get even more complicated.
Without enough insulin to “put the brakes” on glucose production, hyperglycemia will occur. Over time, high blood sugar levels can cause nerve damage to the feet, change the shape of your feet, or cause poor blood flow to the feet. Symptoms may include numbness, tingling, pain, or a loss of feeling in your feet. Strategies to manage blood sugar and A1C can include a varied eating plan, regular exercise, and following a diabetes treatment plan. By incorporating lifestyle behaviors, such as regular exercise, a varied eating plan, and following their diabetes treatment plan, a person may lower their blood sugar.
Diabetes is a complex disease that requires personalized treatment plans tailored to each individual’s needs. What works for one person may not work for another, and what may seem like a simple solution to someone on the outside looking in, may actually have serious consequences for the person living with the disease.
Contact your healthcare provider if you have consistently high levels, increased thirst, or frequent urination. When it comes to an A1C target range, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Many factors, including the type of diabetes and general health, can impact an A1C goal. A person can discuss a suitable target with their diabetes healthcare team.
People with hypoglycemia unawareness need to take extra care to check blood glucose frequently. This is especially important prior to and during critical tasks such as driving. A continuous glucose monitor (CGM) can sound an alarm when blood glucose levels are low or start to fall. This can be a big help for people with hypoglycemia unawareness.
An underlying illness may contribute to low blood sugar levels. Your liver is central to maintaining balanced glucose levels, and any disruption of liver function can cause hypoglycemia. The pattern of dumping syndrome causes your body’s insulin production to spike, leading to hypoglycemia when the blood sugar level falls. People who have undergone recent bariatric surgery often experience hypoglycemia related to dumping syndrome.
As someone who has been living with diabetes for years, I have learned through trial and error what works best for me in terms of managing my blood sugars. Despite this, my dad seems to think that he knows better than I do when it comes to my own health. He constantly nags me about what I eat, how often I check my blood sugars, and whether or not I am taking my medication as prescribed.
In this article, you will find some of the best ways to support someone with diabetes. You will also learn what you should avoid doing that can be harmful. (34.2 million or 10.5% of the population) have diabetes, and 88 million people are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. More children and adolescents are also being diagnosed with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes than ever before.
It can be incredibly frustrating to feel like your autonomy and agency over your own body are being taken away from you, especially by someone who is supposed to support you. While I understand that my dad is coming from a place of concern and love, it is important for him to realize that I am the one who knows my body best and that ultimately, I am the one who has to live with the consequences of my decisions.
So, am I the asshole for not treating my blood sugars the way my dad wants me to? In my opinion, no. I am doing the best that I can to manage my condition in a way that works for me, and while I appreciate his concern, it is crucial for me to assert my independence and make decisions about my health that feel right for me.