HEALTHY LIFESTYLE · OCTOBER 2018
03
Avoid drinking alcohol on an empty
stomach. Alcohol can lead to low
blood sugar. By drinking alcohol on an empty
stomach, you're increasing the risk of low
blood sugar. Feldman advises that those
with type I diabetes “stick to the limit” when
they choose to drink. The American Heart
Association guidelines recommend no more
than one drink per day for women, and two
drinks per day for men. Eat a balanced meal
or a protein-, carb-, or fat-rich snack before or
while you have a drink. The effects of alcohol
can last up to twelve hours, so you’ll want to
make sure your glucose levels remain steady
over the duration. You can help that by eating
carbohydrate-containing foods.
TYPE I DIABETES:
HOW TO AVOID THE
BLOOD SUGAR PITFALLS
W
hen you’re a diabetic,
controlling your blood
glucose levels is your
number one priority. It’s a
fundamental part of living a full life with
this disease. Unfortunately, blood glucose
levels are never stagnant. They fluctuate
up and down based on your overall
health, your diet, and many different
conditions. These swings can make you
feel ill and increase your risk of long-term
health complications. For example, if you
suffer from hypoglycemia (low blood
sugar), it can potentially lead to serious
complications, such as seizures and loss
of consciousness, if the condition is left
untreated. Complications like that make
blood sugar management incredibly
important to manage, particularly for
those who’ve been newly diagnosed with
diabetes.
Newly diagnosed diabetics, specifically
those diagnosed with type I diabetes,
frequently require a new regime that
includes insulin treatment. This can be an
overwhelming adjustment for them and
requires an entirely new way of life, new
habits, and new ways of eating and cooking.
Because of the difficulties that come with
trying to manage glucose levels, the newly
diagnosed, and even more experienced
diabetics, often fall prey to common pitfalls.
Here is a list of ways to avoid the pitfalls:
01
Don't carb load to correct a low
blood sugar reading. According
to registered dietician Ann Feldman,
overeating when your blood sugar has
dropped can cause a sharp swing in
the opposite direction, which can be
dangerous. Her advice is to follow the “15-15
rule” when treating low blood sugar—if
your blood sugar has dropped to 70mg/
dl or less, eat or drink 15 grams of a fast-
acting carbohydrate. Her suggestion is to
take four glucose tablets or 15 grams of
glucose gel, or drink appropriate amounts
of soda or fruit juice. Better yet, eat small
amounts of raisins or hard candies to boost
your blood sugar levels. Be sure to recheck
your levels to make sure you haven’t
inadvertently exceeded ideal amounts.
Don’t just assume all is well until you’ve
verified that’s the case.
02
Don’t give yourself an excess
amount of insulin to counteract the
high blood glucose reading. Overtreatment
can actually cause your blood sugar levels
to drop too low. If you need to treat your
high glucose, give the insulin time to adjust
and work for you, not against you. Don’t
stack your doses with multiple injections,
especially if it’s been less than three hours
since your last dose. Instead, look at your
insulin-to-carb ratio.
04
Remember that sugar-free drinks and
certain foods will affect your blood
sugar levels. People often don’t understand
that "sugar-free" and "carb-free" are not the
same thing. Monitor your carbs and learn the
difference between good carbs (avocados,
fruits, some vegetables) and bad carbs
(sweets, potatoes, white breads, etc.), as one
type will increase your blood sugar while the
other will help to keep it at optimal levels.
05
06
Don’t skip meals. Your body needs fuel
to function properly. Feed it right.
Pay attention to the fats in your food,
not just the carbohydrates. Eating too
much fat (30 grams or more) can cause a rise
in blood sugar levels.
07 Remember to adjust your diet or insulin
dose when you exercise. Aerobic exercises
may cause blood sugar levels to drop while
anaerobic exercises, like weight training, may
cause your blood sugar to rise.
08
Try not to become stressed over the
management of diabetes because it
can actually make glucose levels more difficult
to control. Some people will see spikes.
Others will see drastic lows. Neither situation
is ideal. Ask questions. Learn what works for
you and don’t let it take over your life.
09
Take care of your mental and
emotional health. Yes, there are
changes you’ll have to make, but they aren’t
the end of the world. Find an outlet for your
stress and anxiety, communicate your issues
with someone, exercise, practice yoga, learn
to meditate, or do whatever makes you feel
good.
Diabetes is a condition you have; it’s not who
you are.
By Dr. Ritu Goel
24 HEALTHY MAGAZINE