Normal Blood Sugar Levels and Diabetes

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Welcome!
We invite your participation and emphasize that the very fact of being diabetic demands that we must be constantly involved in the control and management of our diabetes. Please see the “Caution” at the end of this List of Topics.

List of topics, click for access:

About Us, What you need to know
Explains the purpose and objectives of this web site.

First, A Summary of Diabetes in America Today

News:    Avandia, Do Benefits Outweigh Risks?

The Need to Achieve Normal Blood Sugar Levels
Simply a list of what is needed to control blood sugars

The Need to be Active to Lower Blood Sugar Levels and Lose Weight
Discusses adding exercise where possible to daily activities

The Role of Exercise to Achieve Normal Blood Sugar Levels

Currently Accepted Blood Glucose Levels in Pregnancy Pose Risks to Mother and Child
Changes in diagnosis and treatment criteria recommended.

What are Normal Blood Blood Sugar Levels?
Summarizes the normal levels reported by various sources.

Normal Blood Sugar Levels, Every Diabetics Dream
New developments towards an artificial pancreas

Diabetes and Glycemia – Lower Than Normal Blood Sugar Levels

Type-2 Diabetes, Carbohydrates, and Higher Than Normal Blood Sugar Levels
What leads to Type-2 diabetes

Vitamin D, a New but Old Supplement to Combat Diabetes and Other High Blood Sugar Diseases?
Research points to the need for higher intake of Vitamin D

Vitamin D and Diabetes, Video Presentations

An Explanation of Diabetes, Glucose and Insulin
Explains the role of insulin and its interaction with glucose and the body’s cells.

About Prediabetes
A condition in which blood glucose levels are high but not high enough to be diabetes.

Blood Testing for Diabetics
The simple procedures that enable the glucose levels in the bloodstream to be monitored.

Insulin, Glycogen, and Glucagon
Discusses the role of these important chemicals in the body.

High Blood Sugar Levels and Diabetic Neuropathy
A doctor’s advice for my problem of cold feet

National Diabetic Associations
National Diabetic Associations listed by country.

Converting: Mg/dL to Mmol/L
The United States uses different units to report blood glucose levels.

Diabetes and Foot Problems, Prevention is the Key
A guest poster’s advice on footcare

Caution:
This site does not provide medical advice. That is the role reserved for the medical profession and I have no medical qualifications to do so. If you have diabetes you must be under the care of a doctor or your health and perhaps your life is at risk.

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Diabetes and foot problems usually go hand in hand. It is more difficult for diabetics to heal because of the decreased circulation and higher blood sugar levels.

That does not mean that you have no choice but to sit and wait for the foot-specific complications of diabetes to occur. You can keep your feet healthy and avoid the many complications of diabetes related to the feet by keeping a few simple things in mind.

Prevention is the best treatment for diabetes and foot problems. And protecting your feet is the best way to prevent problems from developing. Reduce chafing as much as possible, doing so is important because the feet of diabetics are delicate and can be damaged very easily. This can very  lead to both foot ulcers and other problems. In order to prevent chafing, seamless socks or mens compression socks should always be worn beneath any footwear you happen to be using.  Another benefit to compression socks is that they can help ease the symptoms of poor circulation.

Proper foot sanitation is a necessary method of preventing complications. Diabetics may also suffer from frequent infections of various kinds, and one of the most likely places that these infections develop is the feet. The reason that infections such as these are as dangerous  is that if the infection spreads to an open wound, it can quickly spread and further impair the wound’s ability to heal. In addition to making sure that the water for washing the feet is not too hot, because you may have lost some sensitivity in the feet,  wash the feet regularly to help preventing infections.

The link between diabetes and foot problems is well known. To avoid the development of foot problems, the best thing that a diabetic can do is to prevent them in the first place. In order to ensure the continued health of your feet, it is very important that you take extra care of them.

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Higher than normal blood sugars
Most persons with diabetes normally check their blood sugar levels at least once each day, usually in the morning before breakfast when the stomach is “empty”. The need is to see whether their blood sugar levels are within the normal range, always with the expectation and hope that they are not above the normal blood sugar levels that signify the loss of control of the diabetic condition.

Lower than normal blood sugars
Perhaps because it is not a very frequent occurrence, especially in adults or in children over 10 years of age, the possibility of having an episode of lower than normal blood sugars is often overlooked. But it does happen, most diabetics have experienced those uneasy feelings leading up to the realization that blood sugars are too low and are causing an unpleasant experience and perhaps ending with a slightly traumatic shock to the “system” that’s sets you back for a while. Although most cases are mild and can be treated easily and further damage prevented.

The warning symptoms that give the alert can vary but my personal experience is of having a queasy nauseous feeling, trembling hands, slight perspiration and a general feeling of something in process of going wrong that might be leading to a faint or dizziness. Others have reported shakiness, nervousness, light- headedness, anxiety, confusion, difficulty in speaking, and sleepiness. With diabetes, without a measuring device, you usually cannot tell when your blood sugars are above normal levels but when they are below normal you certainly know because of the feelings of malaise mentioned above.

In extreme cases, a frightening situation to be avoided
All persons with diabetes and their families should know what has to be done in the event that an episode caused by lower than normal blood sugar levels is occurring. If the diabetic can take the necessary actions themselves, that is very good but that may not always be the case, that is why others should be aware of what has to be done, otherwise the condition will worsen, possibly to the extent that it can be life threatening, a frightening possibility. For children at school, teachers and staff should also be prepared with the knowledge of what to do and have appropriate food items close at hand.

If blood sugars are lower than 70mg/dL (4.0 mmol/L)
When a diabetic person’s glucose blood measuring meter is available, it takes just a minute to confirm blood sugar levels. If the reading is 70mg/dL (4.0 mmol/L) or lower, it is too low and is a hypoglycemic condition, a doctor’s name for low blood sugars.

If levels are too low the remedy is quite simple: food or drink is required to quickly provide needed glucose. That can be accomplished with any of the following:

• a half glass or half cup of about 4 ounces of apple, orange, or other natural fruit juice or sugary non-diet soft drink
• a teaspoon of honey or sugar
• 5 or 6 pieces of hard candy
• an 8-ounce glass or cup of milk
• an energy snack bar or glucose drink that can provide about 15 grams of carbohydrate quickly

Such items should always be readily available in the home of a diabetic person and appropriate similar items should be assembled if staying overnight elsewhere or traveling away from home base. When the consequences of a hypoglycemic event are known, common sense can be the guide – but always have an emergency supply available just in case.

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Diet, Exercise, and Weight Loss

The three main strategies to achieve normal blood sugar levels – the aim of every diabetic — are Diet, Exercise, and Weight Loss. The dietary approaches through meal planning and an understanding and explanation of the choice of food items, calories, nutritional categories, Glycemic Index, and such, are covered on my websites Diabetic Menu Guide and Diabetic Food List + Plus.

Exercise and weight loss are naturally linked because exercise requires energy that can be measured in calories and body weight loss, usually measured in pounds, can also be equated to calories. Since most diabetics are overweight, national diabetes associations recommend an increase in exercise activities to achieve a healthy bodyweight.

Food calories and body weight
The generally accepted equivalent number of calories to one pound of body weight is 3500. Meaning in simplistic terms, that in order to lose one pound of body weight requires a calorie deficit of 3500 calories, either through consuming fewer calories or increasing physical activities or a combination of both.

Caution
Consult your doctor when starting a program to substantially increase activity levels or decrease dietary intake of calories. You may be advised to monitor blood sugar levels more carefully before and after exercise to see what effects are caused, if any, by the exercise. All diabetics must be under the continuing care of a physician.

Exercise can range from outdoor activities such as the most basic forms of walking, jogging, bicycle riding, or for some who are younger and more agile there are the competitive sporting activities, tennis, basketball, or golf for example.

Indoor activities may require membership to a health club or a gym where there is specialized exercise equipment available. This can be beneficial especially where a personalized exercise and weight loss program is designed for each individual.

Some equipment can be acquired for use in the home, the simple items such as weights, skipping ropes, exercise balls or the more complex items such as stationary bicycles and treadmills. These can be very good in regions where weather makes it less comfortable to exercise outdoors. Whatever contributes to your main objective of losing excess weight and managing your blood sugar levels in order to reduce the risk of suffering the complications that are faced by all persons who have diabetes.

Don’t rush, avoid possible injury or lowering blood sugar levels too much

The main thing is to get moving and shed excess pounds but in a sensible and gradual way, not by fast and crash diets. For walkers maybe a pedometer would be of use as a  guide to how many paces have been covered. For more strenuous exercises such as jogging, perhaps even a simple portable blood pressure measuring device would be worthwhile. Certainly avoid the risk of doing too much too soon. When a comfortable level has been reached the pace an be increased and also the number of times to work out each week.

Keep an emergency pack of supplies in your bag with an energy snack and some suitable drink such as apple juice in case you experience those feelings that tell you your blood sugars are becoming too low. Know your limitations.

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