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Getting Blood Glucose in Control by the End of the Summer

Nancy Legget-Frazier, RN, MSN, CDE, and Robert J. Tanenberg, MD, FACP

Jul 1, 2005

So, you have decided you want to do all it takes to get your type 2 diabetes in control—by the end of the summer. Congratulations! But how?

You’ll need to identify what you could be doing (or not doing) to prevent good blood glucose control. Here are some suggestions for you to consider. Follow them, and you’ll be on your way to meeting your goal.

What Are You Drinking?

Don’t drink regular sodas, sweet tea (if you live in the South, you know how very sweet that can be!), Kool-Aid with sugar, more than half a cup of juice at a time, or more than two cups of milk a day. Instead, drink water, diet sodas, Crystal Lite or Wyler’s Lite, unsweetened tea or coffee or Kool-Aid made with artificial sweeteners.

Summer Brings Fresh Fruits

How much fruit or starchy foods are you eating? Too much of these foods can cause high blood glucose levels. Consult with your certified diabetes educator and dietitian to review your meal plan and determine the ideal amount of carbohydrate for your meals and snacks.

Limit Your Sweets

Be sparing with the cake, pies, cookies, candy and ice cream. You can eat small portions on special occasions like birthdays or holidays; cut out a serving of starchy food and use the sweet as a substitute. If you do not substitute, you will be getting too much carbohydrate.

Start Up or Maintain a Regular Exercise Program, If Your Doctor Approves

Get serious about this; walking around the block twice a week is not enough! Work up to 30 minutes a day of exercise, 5 days a week. Or get a pedometer and aim for 8,000 to 10,000 steps each day. Or swim laps five days per week. Physical activity can help control blood glucose levels, weight and blood pressure, and it makes you feel and look good, too.

Use Your Insulins Wisely

If you are a type 2 who is on an a basal/bolus insulin program with Lantus and you take a rapid-acting insulin like NovoLog, Humalog or Apidra at meals, consider whether you are eating snacks without taking any rapid-acting insulin. Rapid-acting insulins are designed to be used whenever there is carbohydrate intake. Skipping this insulin when you eat, even just a snack, may result in a high blood glucose.

Record Readings and Doses In Your Logbook

It’s important to record your blood glucose readings and medication doses (especially if you take varying doses of insulin) in a logbook and evaluate them later for patterns. And don’t forget to bring your book and meter to your regular visit with your physician or diabetes educator.

Enjoy Your Summer

Set your diabetes self-care goal now, and with a little extra work and attention over the summer, you should be in great shape before the holidays. And don’t forget to have a little fun!

Categories: Blood Glucose, Diabetes, Diabetes, Food, Insulin, Lantus, Type 2 Issues

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Jul 1, 2005

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Getting Blood Glucose in Control by the End of the Summer

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