Answer: 100 to 125 fasting glucose indicates pre-diabetes. If you have a fasting glucose of 126 or above then you are in the range for diabetes. If you have done only one glucose testing, I suggest that you do another to confirm whether you have diabetes or not.
If you do have diabetes there are classes at the hospital that you can take to understand the basics. These classes can teach you how to monitor you blood glucose, what foods to eat, how often to eat to keep your glucose steady, etc. They are a wealth of information. You can also see a Registered Dietitian for extra help if you wish.
Best of Luck,
Priyanka
Counting Sugar: Diabetes
I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes last month. I’m having difficulty understanding how many carbs and sugar I can have each day. I’m finding that nearly everything contains carbs and sugar! Can you help me with this?
Everyone has different needs for calories and carbohydrates. It's crucial to eat the same amount of carbohydrates at each meal to keep your blood sugar at an acceptable level. Keep in mind that you also want to eat a moderate amount of protein and a reasonable amount of fat in each meal as well. The bottom line is, you have to keep your carbohydrate intake consistent at each meal.
So to do this, look at the label on the foods you will be eating. Pay attention to "total carbohydrate". This gives the collective amount of carbohydrate in the food including the sugar that you mentioned. Don't focus only on the sugar content, it's the total carbohydrate content that you should care for. Ultimately, the total carbohydrate is what effects your blood sugar level. Now, when you read these numbers and you have no idea whether it is a desirable total carbohydrate number or not, this is where you'll have to do your homework. I suggest looking at the Glycemic Index, this is a chart that tells you how each food affects your blood sugar. For example, regular white potatoes can have a glycemic index of 69 and sweet potatoes have a GI of 44. You would think sweet potatoes would raise your blood sugar level quicker than white potatoes, but no, this isn't true. You don't have to memorize the index, but you can print out a small 3 by 5 version to carry with you that won't consume your entire pocket.
Be sure to find out the recommended total carbohydrate intake for you with the help of your dietitian or physician. You can also reference the recommended dietary allowance of 130 grams.
I hope this helps, best of luck to you!
To good health,
Priyanka
Everyone has different needs for calories and carbohydrates. It's crucial to eat the same amount of carbohydrates at each meal to keep your blood sugar at an acceptable level. Keep in mind that you also want to eat a moderate amount of protein and a reasonable amount of fat in each meal as well. The bottom line is, you have to keep your carbohydrate intake consistent at each meal.
So to do this, look at the label on the foods you will be eating. Pay attention to "total carbohydrate". This gives the collective amount of carbohydrate in the food including the sugar that you mentioned. Don't focus only on the sugar content, it's the total carbohydrate content that you should care for. Ultimately, the total carbohydrate is what effects your blood sugar level. Now, when you read these numbers and you have no idea whether it is a desirable total carbohydrate number or not, this is where you'll have to do your homework. I suggest looking at the Glycemic Index, this is a chart that tells you how each food affects your blood sugar. For example, regular white potatoes can have a glycemic index of 69 and sweet potatoes have a GI of 44. You would think sweet potatoes would raise your blood sugar level quicker than white potatoes, but no, this isn't true. You don't have to memorize the index, but you can print out a small 3 by 5 version to carry with you that won't consume your entire pocket.
Be sure to find out the recommended total carbohydrate intake for you with the help of your dietitian or physician. You can also reference the recommended dietary allowance of 130 grams.
I hope this helps, best of luck to you!
To good health,
Priyanka
Recently Diagnosed
Hi folks.
Stay tuned for a much needed recipe review. It's been too long!
Q: I am trying to find a class for our grandson. He is 19 and has a part-time job but no insurance. He just found out last week that he is a type 1 diabetes after losing a lot of weight and his blood sugar was 523. He is on insulin but needs to go to a class to manage is diabetes without going hungry. Where do we start? Any suggestions would help us a lot.
Answer:
I would highly recommend that you pay a visit to www.eatright.org
This website is controlled by the American Dietetic Association (ADA), America's largest organization of Nutrition and Health professionals. To begin with, you can educate yourself and your grandson through the site. See below for the specific link I have provided for you to check out the ADA diabete's webpage.
As for diabetes classes, the first two places to try would be a local dietitian, or a hospital that can direct you to a schedule of their wellness/diabetes management classes. Always go to qualified health professionals when enrolling in health classes. Not only will they be helpful and direct you in the right path but you can guarantee that they are knowledgeable, and this leaves little room for being given the wrong information.
http://www.eatright.org/Public/content.aspx?id=6818
Best of luck,
Priyanka
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