It's never too soon to take control of your health. Start today. Here are the resources to get started with Dr. Richard K. Bernstein's plan for diabetes management.
ADA's Standards of Medical Care In Diabetes - 2018
The newly released ADA Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes 2018 was just released. What were the first impressions? And more importantly, what can be done about it?
12 Tips to Stop Overeating
With the holidays fast approaching, we're faced with more opportunities than ever to overeat. What causes the urge to keep eating in the first place and how can we avoid overeating in the future?
Ideal Treatment of Hypoglycemia - Plus Alternatives
There is no denying that pure glucose or dextrose (the crystalline form of glucose) is by far the fastest and most accurate way to treat a low blood sugar level.
Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution book states:
"Glucose, the sugar of blood sugar, does not have to be digested or converted in the liver to anything else. Unlike other sweets, it's absorbed into the blood directly thought the mucous membranes of the stomach and gut. Furthermore...we can compute precisely how much a fixed amount of glucose will raise blood sugar." Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution book (2011) p. 339
Glucose tablets are portable, measurable, predictable and fast-Acting. It's the ideal combination.
But they lack one important criterion: readily available.
In my experience living on three continents within the last two years and working with people all over the world, I've learned that glucose tablets are not frequently available outside of the USA and Canada. In North America, we seem to assume that the same goods are available everywhere. They're not.
Glucose tablets are nearly impossible to find in some places of the world or so exorbitantly priced that they're out of reach of many.
So while not ideal, we do what we have to do.
As an alternative to glucose tablets, you can use 'Dr. Bernstein Approved' candy similar to 'Smarties" in the USA.
(Please note, these are different than Smarties in Europe). Dr. Bernstein also recommends 'Bottle caps" or SweeTARTS candies (or similar) as alternatives and lists these on page 343 of Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution book. These small candies often contain nearly 100% glucose/dextrose and similar candies can be found in many countries.
Avoid any candy with a sugary shell such as Skittles, M&M's, Rocklets and many others, particularly chocolates, as these will be digested much slower due to the waxes and fats contained.
You also want to avoid treating a low blood sugar level with food or beverages. Food is not measurable, predictable or fast acting. When treating hypoglycemia with food, we usually end up eating far too much (defeating the Law of Small Numbers) before the symptoms of our low blood sugar are alleviated and as a result, creating a rebound-high.
Another approved alternative is glucose/dextrose powder which is normally more accessible than tablets.
Glucose powder and/or Dextrose granules are a great way to treat a low blood sugar level at home. You can measure the appropriate amount of powder/granules to treat your blood sugar level and mix with water to drink. Alternately, if you want to create a great chemistry experiment, you can attempt to make your own glucose tablets at home.
I've also tried powdered glucose packets available at some pharmacies that recommend pouring into the mouth directly. I DO NOT RECOMMEND these, nor do I recommend pouring ANY powdered glucose directly into your mouth because of the probability of aspirating (breathing in) the powder. Been there. Done that. Not fun.
Out of all of the options, the most accessible thing that I've found worldwide is sugar...
And I wrote about it here while living in Argentina for 5 years. While table sugar is not ideal because of the fructose/glucose combination which slightly slows the absorption, it's available in small packets which meets the requirements of portable, measurable, readily available and fast-acting (although as I mentioned, slightly slower than pure glucose).
Is TABLE sugar ideal to treat a low? No
Will it work? Yes
There are many tips and tricks to diabetes management-- which is obvious by the sheer size of Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution book. We always want to remember the Law of Small Numbers and in the treatment of hypoglycemia, the key requirements of small, measurable, predictable corrections.
But I will never be a purist about glucose tablets. Glucose tablets are amazing and I highly recommend glucose tablets if you have access to them.
But if you can't get glucose tablets, look for the approved alternatives listed above.
Then there are other alternatives, like sugar, that I see as the lesser of all the other evils.
I will never say that glucose is the ONLY way to effectively treat a low blood sugar level because I've been there for years - without any access to glucose tablets - and using what I could to keep the corrections small, measurable and predictable.
We all do what we have to do.
For more information on Hypoglycemia and the Treatment of Lows (including a chart on how to calculate your corrections based on body weight) click the red link to the diaVerge article.
If you're interested in making a change towards more optimal diabetes management and don't know where to start, or have questions, we'd love to help you improve your diabetes management and quality of life. More info at diaVerge Diabetes Education & Coaching.
If you still haven't read Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution book or want to buy another copy as a gift to your doctor or a friend, click the link to buy it on Amazon.
World Diabetes Day 2017
Today is World Diabetes Day and we want to give back to two organizatons that are helping to support the present and future for those of us with diabetes.
My New Body - Life After An Insulin Pump
Why would anyone willingly give up their insulin pump? I recently did and I'm reveling in my new-found freedom of multiple daily injections.
Lisa La Nasa for Diabetes Daily
Lisa La Nasa of diaVerge.com is a regular contributor to DiabetesDaily.com and their incredibly large worldwide audience. Here are links to all of the exclusive content written for Diabetes Daily that you won't see anywhere else.
So I Walked Into Walmart...
My experience at Walmart, with a stranger looking for advice about blood glucose meters, made me question all of what we are taught as people with type 1 diabetes.
T1D Will Travel - Airports & Airlines
Ever wonder what it's like to travel with diabetes and low carb eating? Lisa has done it and challenged herself to pack no food or snacks for the long international flights and 10 days in Spain. How did it go? Did she have success? Read more here.
Explaining The Low Carb Lifestyle
What to do when someone questions you about low carb eating? What do you say and does it even matter? Know your audience and approach it with ease, but in the long run, what you're doing is for you.
Spring Training Video Series
We've posted all 15 of our Spring Training Series videos here, along with links and useful information that was discussed in each video. If you're looking for a quick daily guide to get started with low carb for diabetes, this is it!
Warm Weather & Low Carb - How I Arrived Here
The desire to move, to change, to grow, to learn is sometimes unquenchable. No matter what the experience, clarity comes with time. "If You Plant A Seed Today, It Won't Grow By Tomorrow. But If You Water And Feed It Everyday, Eventually You Will See The Flowers!" - Victoria Uzzell
Hey, Sugar! (How Sugar Has Taken Over The World)
Sugar is everywhere in the modern world, but do we really know the affect of sugar on our bodies or our minds? How much is too much sugar in the American diet? We discuss how the food industry is trying to deceive the consumer and how it's far too easy for most people to consume too much daily sugar.
Low Carb Diabetes Influencers
These people are dedicated to spreading knowledge about low carb for diabetes management. They work tirelessly as doctors, nurses, professors, researchers and community-builders. Thank you to each of these people, and the many more who are not listed here, for your work as a "Low Carb Diabetes Influencer."
Let Food Be Thy Medicine
We've been told by advertisers that we're too busy to cook fresh meals. We've believed that convenience foods are in our best interest. We've been tricked. Large food corporations are funding our medical organizations with sponsorships. What happens if we DON't buy into that? What can we do instead?
Dr. Bernstein Interview Part 3 - Family, Autoimmunity & Our Continuing Battle
In the third and final part of of our interview with Dr. Richard K. Bernstein, we discuss the autoimmune issues that he and his family experience, his view of the "low carb battle" we are waging and the interview wraps up with his favorite and most dramatic subject.
Dr. Bernstein Interview Part 2 - History, Personal Discoveries & Stress
Part two of our interview with Dr. Richard K. Bernstein. We discuss stress, exercise, overeating, the role of amylin, and more. Find out what Dr. B enjoys for stress relief.
Dr. Bernstein Interview Part 1- How We Can Help
Lisa of diaVerge.com conducted an hour long in-person interview with Dr. Richard K. Bernstein. Read about her experience and an interview excerpt on how we can help Dr. B continue his practice and spread his knowledge and research. Full interview to be posted later this week.
A Million Factors That Influence BG Levels
There are many factors that influence blood glucose spikes. Here we look at a few of those factors and how they can often work together to create unexpectedly hight blood glucose levels.
Fruit: Friend or Foe?
How does fruit affect your blood glucose control? Should you be eating it? What about the nutrients in fruit? The guide to Dr. Bernstein's recommendations regarding fruit.