Living with Diabetes

A diagnosis of diabetes often comes as a shock, and people struggle to come to terms with the bad news. There are many emotions: grief, confusion, denial, disbelief, anger, anxiety, sadness, guilt and feelings of being overwhelmed. A technique called... Full Answer

People with diabetes can improve their health with simple lifestyle changes. Exercise and diet can reduce and sometimes even eliminate the need for medicine, and giving up cigarettes -- no need to lecture you about that! Yes, diet and exercise do have... Full Answer

If you have diabetes, take these steps to help keep your kidneys healthy: Meet blood sugar targets as often as you can. Have an A1c test at least twice a year, but ideally up to four times a year. An A1c test measures the average level of blood... Full Answer

Alcohol and drugs can have an immediate effect on blood glucose (BG) levels. They can affect a person's awareness of a low BG as well as her ability to treat a low BG. Often people who have consumed alcohol say the feeling is similar to a low BG --... Full Answer

Beyond all the health and safety concerns about alcohol, if you have diabetes and are on diabetes medications that lower blood glucose, you need to practice caution. The action of insulin and some diabetes pills, sulfonylureas and meglitinides (Prandin),... Full Answer

If you have diabetes, here are guidelines for how often you should see your eye doctor: Type 1 diabetes diagnosed before age 30: Five years after diagnosis; at least annually thereafter Type 1 diabetes diagnosed at age 30 or older: At time of diagnosis... Full Answer

There have been several published scientific studies—randomized, placebo-controlled trials—of cinnamon in patients with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes. Most involved relatively few people (between 20 and 60) and lasted a short time (a... Full Answer

Sharp, shooting pains that travel from one area of the body to the next are often caused by an irritated or pinched nerve.You describe pain in both shins.Do you feel the shooting pains in one shin or the other at different times? If so, it may be nerve... Full Answer

The year-end holiday season is a difficult time for everyone trying to watch their waistline. It’s a particular challenge for people with diabetes, who need to carefully monitor their carbohydrate intake. Planning ahead is the key to... Full Answer

Getting a good night’s sleep is healthful in many ways, especially for people with type 2 diabetes. Studies have shown that people with diabetes who sleep comfortably through the night have lower blood sugar levels than those who don’t. Full Answer