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Your Guide to Diabetes Supplies: Glucometers
Glucometers are one of the most commonly prescribed diabetes supplies. Understanding how to use a glucometer and interpreting the results accurately is essential for effective diabetes management. By using a glucometer, people with diabetes can track their blood sugar levels and adjust their diet and medication regimen accordingly. This article covers the functionality of a glucometer, instructions for use, and tips for troubleshooting common issues with glucometers. What is a Glucometer? A glucometer measures blood glucose levels using a small blood sample obtained by pricking a finger with a lancet. Results are displayed within seconds on the meter’s screen, allowing…
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Diagnosing Type 1 Diabetes in Adults
The UK T1D Immunotherapy Consortium recently updated their guidance on diagnosing type 1 diabetes (T1D) in adults. This is particularly important as a large portion of new onset T1D in adults are misdiagnosed as Type 2 diabetes (T2D). An accurate diagnosis matters. It can shape selection and advancement of treatment, understanding of natural disease progression, and expectations around the efficacy of diet and lifestyle. Most importantly, a misdiagnosis can be incredibly frustrating and discouraging for patients. Clinical Features While there is no single feature that distinguishes T1D from T2D in adults, presence of the following parameters suggest the need…
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Nutrition Strategies for Managing Postprandial Glucose
Managing blood sugars after meals can be tough. The rise is often steep and unexpected, leaving individuals scrambling to intervene—more rapid-acting insulin, a brisk walk, a liter of water—sometimes even a call to the doctors office.
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CDCES and Primary Care: A Healthy Partnership
It’s no secret that diabetes is on the rise. The CDC estimates that over 37 million Americans (or roughly 11% of the US population) have diabetes, while another 96 million live with prediabetes.¹ Combined, almost 50% of Americans live with some sort of metabolic dysfunction. At the same time, primary care providers are on the decline...
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DSME/T: The Gold Standard in Diabetes Education
Managing diabetes is a lot like caring for a newborn—relentlessly needy, impatient, and often irrational. It requires numerous daily decisions and a general high level of engagement and attention. I remember hearing at a professional conference that “if patients did everything their doctors asked of them it would take over 2.5 hours per day.” That’s a lot of time to be doing anything, let alone managing diabetes. To best equip patients with tools to manage diabetes, the American Diabetes Association (ADA), American Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (ADCES), and the Academy for Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) have updated their…
