Popular Articles on Diabetesnet.com
What Type of Diabetes Do I Have?
When you were diagnosed, you were probably told you had either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. Clear-cut and tidy. Since diabetes typically occurs in two types, you have to fit into one of them. Many people fit clearly into one of these categories, but others do not. And those who clearly fit one type when diagnosed may find these clear lines begin to smudge over time. Are there really only two types?
Carb Factor - The 2.6 Rule
The 2.6 Rule (formerly the 500 or 450 rule) is a great way to estimate how many grams of carbohydrate will be covered by one unit of Humalog or Novolog insulin. This is your insulin to carb ratio (I:C or ICR) or your carb factor.
Rising Cost of Insulin in the US
Wisconsin Public Television has a broadcast worth viewing about the financial challenges of living with Type 1 diabetes. A profile on a Wisconsin woman, Julia, notes that in the U.S., a three-month supply of insulin costs a patient $1,800, some 6 to 10 times higher than the cost of insulin just across the Canadian border.
Glycemic Index and Diabetes
The glycemic index measures how fast a food is likely to raise your blood sugar. This can be helpful. For example, if your blood sugar is low and continuing to drop during exercise, you would prefer to eat a carb that will raise your blood sugar quickly. On the other hand, if you would like to keep your blood sugar from dropping during a few hours of mild activity, you may prefer to eat a carb that has a lower glycemic index and longer action time. If your blood sugar tends to spike after breakfast, you may want to select a cereal that has a lower glycemic index.
A Different Kind of MoTo Move - MoToMove #14
The motivation to move our diabetes into good places that keep us secure and on target can appear from a variety of epiphanies. The one I am talking about today is a little different from the standard issue prescription of eating fresh and healthy foods, participating in exciting physical activity and staying up to date with new medications and diabetes technology.