Articles | Diabetes Healthy Solutions

Good Blood Sugar Levels

So what is considered to be a good blood sugar level?

Maintaining good blood sugar levels is the optimal way of being able to keep up with maintaining your diabetes and keeping your body healthy. Good blood sugar levels are generally been said to be good when they fall in between the 80 to 125 range. Otherwise, if they fall below you could be hypoglycemic and if they fall too high then you can be hyperglycemic. Both of which can start causing medical problems and diabetes complications, which if left untreated can lead to a lifelong medical battle.

Ideal blood sugar levels vary from person to person because everyone is so different. Everyone’s body type is different which makes their blood sugar vary as well.

There are general guidelines that have been set by the American diabetes association regarding criteria by which doctors and physicians go by when determining what is considered a good blood sugar level, a low blood sugar level, and what is considered high.

Having a chart that allows people to know what their good blood sugar levels are will allow them to feel good when they meet those areas and they know that they are maintaining their diabetes.

Normal Blood sugar Levels

For a large portion of healthy people, these levels would be the normal blood sugar levels:

Between 4.0 to 5.4 mmol/L (72 to 99 mg/dL) while fasting.

Up to 7.8 mmol/L (140 mg/dL) 2 hours after eating.

For diabetics, these would be the blood sugar level targets.

Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/L for people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

After meals: under 9 mmol/L for people with type 1 diabetes and under 8.5mmol/L for people with type 2 diabetes

Why are Good Blood Sugar Levels so Important?

It’s really important that you make every effort to keep your blood glucose levels under control as best you can. If you have levels that are too high and they remain high for long periods of time, this will certainly increase the risk of developing complications of diabetes.

So What are the Main Complications of Diabetes?

Nerve Damage (diabetes neuropathy): Diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain occurs when the diabetic or person is having trouble seeing, using their muscles and limbs, and is in just a great amount of pain from overworking them.

Retinal Disease: Diabetes is the leading cause of preventable blindness.

Heart Disease: Together, heart attacks and strokes are the most important complications of diabetes type 2. They are also among the most preventable.

Foot Damage: Diabetics are more susceptible to foot problems than healthy people. When Diabetics cut themselves, or have an ulcer or even just a blister, this can lead to infection and if not treated can certainly cause life-threatening problems.

High Blood Pressure: Diabetes makes the blood vessels stiffer and in turn they are less able to relax, increasing the pressure inside the blood vessels

After all who wants to worry about their blood sugar numbers all the time when you can find what works best for you so that you can be stress-free and know that you have your diabetes under control?

Make sure you visit your healthcare member and find out what your blood sugar levels should be – Most of the time when a person first finds out that they are diabetic, the doctor will ask them to monitor their blood glucose levels for a certain period of time and then they will have them come back into the office and compare them in order to find what good blood sugar levels are for them.

Life Expectancy with Type 1 Diabetes

An overview of how diabetes type 1 impacts your lifespan and how to naturally remedy it.

Diabetes, no matter what the type, is never a good thing health-wise. Those who suffer from it are left vulnerable to a host of other ailments and diseases that affect their overall life expectancy. Though prevention, by living healthy, is always the best course of action, those who are afflicted with diabetes should know that this isn’t the end of the road.

With the right information, a good treatment plan, and full-proof determination to get healthy: life expectancy and quality will improve sooner than one might realize.

Type 1 Diabetes

Also known as juvenile diabetes, this is the kind of diabetes that occurs through genetic complications or even viruses. It is known to afflict the young or adolescents but can arise in adults too.

It is caused by the inability of the pancreas to produce enough insulin – a hormone needed to allow glucose to enter cells and create energy. Though there is currently no known cure for type 1 diabetes, a combination of insulin shots and a healthy diet can effectively manage the condition and live normally.

Life Expectancy of those with Type One Diabetes

Much of the factors that affect the life expectancy surrounding those with type one diabetes is the maintenance of proper insulin and sugar levels in the body constantly. This means rigorously watching what one eats and safeguarding the supply of insulin.

This gets even more complicated when one considers the financial strain that treatment puts on a person. Some people with diabetes simply cannot afford to pay for the cost of insulin.

These along with environmental and dietary factors can greatly reduce the life expectancy of a person dealing with type 1 diabetes. In a 2015 report by HealthDay News, men lose up to 11 years of life expectancy compared to men without the disease. And, women with type 1 diabetes have their lives cut short by about 13 years. This comes off the heels of a study published in the Jan. 6 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

How To Deal With It

As stated above, there is currently no known cure for type 1 diabetes though the research continues. There are, however, several proven methods to effectively manage the disease and live life as normally as possible. These treatments include:

Taking insulin. This is the main course of action and, sadly, insulin shots will likely be a necessity for the rest of the afflicted’s life.
Carbohydrate, fat, and protein counting. This makes sure that the levels of sugars in your body are optimal. Anything excessive or deficient can lead to complications.
Frequent blood sugar monitoring. Also part of ensuring the optimal levels of glucose in the body.

Natural Remedies

Apart from the normal medical advice, some natural remedies are shown to help or be just as effective. These can include:

Aloe vera.
Bilberry extract.
Bitter melon.
Cinnamon.
Fenugreek.
Ginger.
Okra.

These herbs and natural remedies can either be consumed through eating or in the form of tea depending on where they best lend themselves. Along with these, be sure you’re eating healthy foods. A balanced diet that avoids any junk foods, fast foods, or sugary treats helps manage the symptoms and extend life expectancy as much as possible.

Another perfectly natural way to deal with it is by exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy weight. All this should be part of the overall plan to give a person with type 1 diabetes as many resources to live as long and normally as possible.

Bottom line

And that was the life expectancy of a person with type 1 diabetes along with some advice on how to best manage it. Though it might seem that type 1 diabetes is a lifelong sentence, it should not be a lifelong burden.

Many people have come to live long and fulfilling lives with the disease and there really should be any reason why you can’t do the same.

Armed with the remedies that nature can provide, good information, and a little determination, there’s no doubt type 1 diabetes doesn’t stand a chance against you.

Read more about Juvenile diabetes HERE!

Mail Order Diabetic Supplies

In this digital era, the World Wide Web is being widely used by numerous people across the globe to work or even to buy items including groceries, and have them delivered to their preferred destination. Therefore, it also makes perfect sense to purchase all your diabetic supplies online and have them delivered to your preferred destination.

How Does Mail-order Diabetes Supplies Work?

Mail order supply basically entails purchasing goods or services from suppliers via mail, phone calls, travelling agents, websites, or mobile applications and having them delivered through mail delivery.

This allows people with diabetes to order supplies like test strips, lancet devices, lancets, blood glucose meters, replacement batteries for the blood glucose meter, and control solutions without having to visit physical outlets.

The supplies are then delivered directly to the customers’ home address or a nearby retail location for the customer to pick up. Some suppliers also deliver the products through third parties such as their traveling agents who then deliver supplies directly to the customer.

Why Should I use Mail-order for My Diabetic Supplies?

Convenience

Mail order diabetic supply is a convenient way of shopping because the customer enjoys the convenience of having products delivered at their doorstep. This saves the customer a lot of time also allows them to handle other important aspects of their lives.

A wider range of supplies

Another added advantage is that online suppliers avail a wider range of product variety than stocks available in most physical pharmacies. Moreover, it is always easier to search for a particular product online than having to visit different stores when you can’t find what you are looking for in one shop.

Cost-friendly

The mail-order supply system eliminates middlemen who tend to inflate costs in a bid to make larger profits. This makes mail-order diabetes supplies cost-friendly and more reliable to customers, compared to shopping at physical diabetes supplies stores.

The supplier is also not required by law to add sales tax to the price of the goods unless they have a physical presence in the customer’s residence. This makes the method very cost-friendly to both the customer and the supplier.

Customer support

The supplier is also able to advertise any extra products or new services they might have introduced through the mail order. Some companies call to remind you to reorder your supplies or send email reminders. Others make your work easier by allowing you to set up automatic shipment so that you avoid going through the same process every time you need supplies.

Does Mail-order Have any Shortcomings?

Despite its numerous benefits, mail-order diabetic supply systems may have some detriments. Here are some factors to consider before opting for mail-order supplies:

The procedure can be time-consuming causing unnecessary delay since the customer cannot dictate when the supplier will send the products. The supplier’s vehicles of transport may be delivering in other areas and thus take time before supplying to a customer from another area.
Lack of personal contact is also a setback since the customer does not see the supplier. In the event that the customer may be having a query on how to use a product then they are unable to interact actively with the seller.
The customer also lacks the opportunity to inspect the goods before they are packed. Thus, in the event there is a mix-up of the products, the customer receives the wrong package.
Mail-order diabetic supply delivery can be a risky business largely because of the risk of fraud. Fraudsters can set up a fake account online and swindle customers especially when they are required to pay before goods are delivered. Suppliers can also be swindled when they are asked to deliver the goods on credit and the customer then fails to pay for goods delivered.

As a result, most suppliers no longer supply products on credit. This is a disadvantage to customers who must bear the risk of potential loss because they must pay for goods upfront for them to be delivered.

The bottom-line

It is important to note that mail-order diabetic supplies work best for people who know exactly what they need and how much of it. It’s also recommended that customers know the normal price ranges of the products they need to avoid paying exorbitantly high prices.

If you have been recently diagnosed with diabetes and are yet to familiarize yourself with the products, it’s best to consult your doctor before making any purchases.

Read about Liberty Medical Diabetic Supplies HERE!

The Obesity Epidemic and Juvenile Diabetes

In recent years, there has been a sharp increase in the number of people with type 1 diabetes who are also obese. Even though obesity has been strongly linked to the pathogenesis as well as initiation of type 2 diabetes and a risk factor for complications, very little is known about its role in the development and progression of type 1 diabetes.

Recent studies suggest that obesity plays a role in the development of cardiometabolic complications, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance in type 1 diabetes.

These co-morbidities may require to be addressed using therapeutic strategies in the context of insulin therapy which has been shown to promote weight gain. Therefore, there’s an urgent need for guidelines for the management as well as prevention of type 1 diabetes.

These clinical recommendations are being developed using a trans-disciplinary research approach addressing molecular mechanisms, metabolism, neuropsychology, novel therapeutics, and lifestyle.

What is the relationship between obesity and juvenile diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes, which is also known as juvenile diabetes, is a chronic immune-mediated condition that is characterized by the loss of beta cells in susceptible subjects.

Beta cells are mainly responsible for producing insulin in the pancreas. The main genes contributing to juvenile diabetes susceptibility are located in the HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) class 2 locus on chromosome 6.

The Human Leukocyte Antigen genes have been linked to about 50% of the familial clustering of juvenile diabetes.

Obesity and overweight are related to type 1 diabetes in various aspects. In addition to being a risk factor for juvenile diabetes, obesity can also be a challenge when it comes to managing and treating the disease.

Moreover, obesity and overweight increase the risk of micro and macro-vascular complications in juvenile diabetes. Such challenges typically arise in adolescence and may become even more common in adults.

Essential points

Obesity has been known to be a predisposing factor and concurrent phenotype for type 2 diabetes. However, its physiological attributes, consequences, and prevalence in juvenile diabetes are poorly understood.
As the prevalence of type 1 diabetes increases in the United States and many other parts across the globe, it is important to develop specific guidelines for the treatment and prevention of obesity and the achievement and maintenance of optimal glycemic control in type 1 diabetes.
The characteristics and role of energy balance in juvenile diabetes are not completely defined and are likely to be affected by both medical therapy and glycemic control.
Studies show that potential driving mechanisms of obesity in juvenile diabetes include microbiome, epigenetics, genetics, enteroendocrine hormones, and effects on various organs, organelles, cells, and tissues.
Developing well-defined weight management approaches in people with juvenile diabetes requires a multi-disciplinary research strategy that includes expertise in endocrinology, epidemiology, translational metabolism, exercise physiology, clinical psychology, nutrition, advanced analytics, and mathematical modeling.

The impact of obesity and overweight on juvenile diabetes

It is evident that more studies need to be conducted to understand the role of the whole activity spectrum which includes sedentary behavior, sleep, and physical activity on youth with type 1 diabetes who are obese or overweight.

For example, although research clearly shows that fear of hypoglycemia can be a barrier to engaging in physical activity, its effects can be compounded for young adults who are obese or overweight and have a negative activity toward exercise.

Sedentary lifestyle

Youth with type 1 diabetes may also be predisposed to weight gain as a result of supplementing carbohydrates to avoid hypoglycemic events as a result of physical activity. Addressing the role of sedentary behavior, especially reducing screen time, is one intervention strategy that can help expend calories without affecting variability in blood sugar levels.

Poor sleep quality

Obesity and overweight may have negative effects on sleep, especially in youth with type 1 diabetes. A 2006 study on adolescents and children revealed that sleep duration has an inverse relationship with obesity in youth, and being overweight increases the risk of a wide range of sleep problems.

Studies show that variations in blood sugar and nocturnal hypoglycemia alter sleep patterns in young adults with type 1 diabetes and thus they face a higher risk for obesity and poor sleep quality than those without diabetes.

Diabetes educators and nurses play a very important role in helping children and adolescents develop appropriate lifestyle behaviors to tackle the prevalent issue of obesity and overweight in youth with type 1 diabetes.

Although clinical care in juvenile diabetes has focused more on accurate carbohydrate counting and good metabolic control, weight control has been grossly overlooked.

Caregivers and healthcare professionals have paid less attention to issues related to sedentary behavior, sleep, and physical activity.

Read about Smartphone Diabetes Management Apps!

The bottom line

Given the high incidence of obesity and overweight in children and youth with type 1 diabetes, additional studies are needed to explore the consequences and antecedents of excessive weight in type 1 diabetes.

Although this article has identified viable lifestyle modifications for weight management including sedentary behavior, sleep, and physical activity, there’s a need for further research to inform effective intervention strategies for this vulnerable population.

Check out the TOP 5 Diabetes Carb counter Apps HERE!

Lastest Info on Inhaled Insulin

Latest Information on Diabetic Inhalers

Post updated: 20th May 2023

People with diabetes, researchers, as well as doctors, agree that conventional injected insulin is effective when it comes to managing diabetes. They’ll also probably agree that getting insulin into the body through anything other than an injection would be better.

Insulin can’t be administered through pills, but how about inhaling it. The effectiveness of insulin inhalers for managing diabetes means that insulin aerosolization (using compressed air to convert insulin into particles that can be inhaled and absorbed through blood vessels in the lungs) is a viable treatment option for type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Although previous attempts to produce insulin inhalers have been unsuccessful, lessons were learned and modern insulin inhalers are again a thrilling area of modern diabetes technology.

How Does Inhaled Insulin Work?

Whilst the idea of inhaled insulin has been around for several decades, researchers only made it possible in the 1990s. With inhalers much like the ones used by asthma patients, people with diabetes simply breathe a fine aerosolized insulin powder into the lungs where it is absorbed into the blood through blood vessels.

Some diabetic inhalers work by converting dry compressed insulin into particles that can be inhaled. Other inhalers use the breath to activate insulin stored in powder form.

Modern Inhaled Insulin

The first inhaled insulin known as Exubera was approved by the FDA in 2006. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes patients could use the drug to control blood sugar.

However, Exubera didn’t catch on with customers and it was taken off the market in 2007. Later, concerns were raised that the drug might cause lung cancer and other lung problems. Patients also thought the canister was too clunky and big. (Afrezza is smaller and easily portable).

Afrezza, an inhaler with rapid-acting pre-measured insulin, was approved by the FDA in June 2014. It is an inhaler that is taken before meals and is approved for use in the U.S. However, Afrezza should not be used for diabetes-related complications like DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis).

Inhaled insulin can have several side effects such as a cough, low blood sugar, and a sore or scratchy throat. People with type 1 diabetes still need to use long-acting insulin, to help control their blood sugar. Moreover, inhaled insulin should not be used by people who smoke or have lung diseases such as COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) or asthma.

Ultra-rapid Acting Insulin

Ultra-rapid-acting inhaled insulin means that insulin that is breathed directly into the lungs enters the bloodstream quicker and acts faster than injected insulin.

Rapid-acting insulin injections usually have their peak activity 30 to 90 minutes after injections but the Afrezza inhaler has its peak activity 12 to 15 minutes after use.

In the future inhaled basal (slow-acting) insulin could become a reality, however, there’s no indication that it will be available in the near future. Therefore, people who take long-acting insulin need to continue taking basal dose injections.

Benefits of Inhaled Insulin

Studies show that insulin inhalers have become increasingly successful in insulin delivery and controlling blood sugar levels. Clinical studies of the recently approved Afrezza show proved it to be successful in reducing incidences of severe hypoglycemia in patients compared to rapid-acting insulin injections that are most commonly used to control blood sugar.

Whilst previous devices, such as Exubera, were cumbersome and large, modern insulin inhalers are notably smaller and more portable.

One of the key advantages of inhaled insulin is its non-invasive nature. Unlike injections, which can be painful and inconvenient, inhaled insulin delivers insulin directly to the lungs through a handheld inhaler. This method eliminates the need for needles, reducing the discomfort associated with injections and making it a more comfortable option for individuals who fear or dislike needles.

Moreover, inhaled insulin provides a rapid onset of action. It allows for the quick absorption of insulin into the bloodstream, resulting in faster blood sugar control. This is especially beneficial for mealtime insulin dosing, as it mimics the natural release of insulin in response to food consumption.

Another advantage of inhaled insulin is its flexibility and convenience. With inhalable insulin, people with diabetes can discreetly administer insulin whenever and wherever necessary, without the need for privacy or special equipment. This flexibility empowers people with diabetes to better manage their condition, leading to improved adherence to insulin therapy.

Furthermore, inhaled insulin offers a more precise dosing option. Inhalers are designed to deliver precise doses, allowing for accurate insulin administration. This can help individuals achieve better glycemic control, reducing the risk of hypo or hyperglycemia and promoting long-term health.

Disadvantages of Insulin Inhalers

In recent clinical trials of Afrezza, the inhaled insulin drug was outperformed by daily injections, in terms of reducing HbA1c levels. Fortunately, the deference was a mere 0.4% or 4 mmol/mol.

Insulin doses for inhaled insulin are not easy to vary as for injections. Injections can deliver insulin doses by half-unit increments but Afrezza, the latest inhaled insulin device, can only deliver doses by 4-unit increments.

A few concerns exist such as the long-term effects of using insulin inhalers on people who have breathing problems as well as people who smoke.

Although there’s no evidence that inhaled insulin increases the risk of lung cancer, the Food and Drug Administration in the United States continues to monitor inhaled insulin devices such as Afrezza just in case evidence of lung cancer causation emerges.

Precautions

Be sure to consult your doctor before using Afrezza to ensure that you’re making a sound and ‘safe’ decision. Tell your physicians if you are taking any medicines or have any allergic or unusual reactions to medications, including Afrezza. This will help your doctor determine whether doses need to be changed as well as how often you use your medications.