Have you heard the comparison of how we take better care of our cars than we do our bodies?  Well, this is definitely not the case for me.  And, I realize I just might be in the minority here.  So as you can imagine, I am sitting at the auto tire store waiting and waiting…. 

My teenage son had a flat tire last night with my car.  Now I should have known this was going to happen because the tread was wearing down.  I just thought I had a little more time.  So because I choose to ignore this tire a little bit longer, I inconvenienced not only my son, and myself, but my coworkers as well.  People needed me and I let them down.  Has this happened to you?  I can’t help but relate this to the way we take care of our bodies.   If we neglect ourselves and our diabetes, what is the fallout?  What is the aftermath of our procrastination?   Will our work suffer?  What about our family and friends that may depends upon us? We know better.  We know preventative maintenance is important for both our bodies and our cars, and especially for people with diabetes. 

Just like the maintenance checklist my mechanic gave me, did you know there is a list of diabetes health maintenance checks that we should be following every year to stay well?   

Click here to see the list. 

So think about that diabetes wellness appointment you have been neglecting.  I know we are busy, but I have found that if you just call and get the appointment on the calendar, we usually follow through.  Keep up with your preventative diabetes maintenance or you may be letting your family, friends, coworkers and most importantly, your body, down.  

So, what is your next appointment you will be scheduling?

1. Don’t buy the specialty “diabetic” or “dietetic” foods.   They are usually more expensive and not necessarily better for you.  You need to check the label and compare with the regular product.   Most of the ‘diabetic’ foods still raise your blood glucose levels and can have a laxative effect if they contain sugar alcohols.

2. Buy fresh fruits & vegetables that are in season and use at the beginning of the week. Then switch to frozen or canned near the end of the week when all your fresh produce is gone.  Watch for sales on the produce that is in season at your local store or consider a Farmer’s Market.

3. Buy in bulk.   This can save you money.  But be aware there have been studies that show that people who buy food in bulk and have a lot of extra food storages in your cupboard, tend to eat bigger portions.  It is psychological.  When you see an abundance of food, our mind says, “I have plenty, I can have more” or “I need to eat this up, I have so much on the shelf”.

4. Make your meals stretch further.   Add frozen non-starchy vegetables to your dishes, especially casseroles, stews and stir-fry’s.     Try adding frozen broccoli, green beans, carrots, mushrooms, spinach, peppers, or cauliflower.  These have minimal effect on your blood sugar.

5. Try Meatless Mondays.   Beans are inexpensive compared to meats. Plus they are low in fat, high in protein and fiber.  Keep in mind, a serving size of beans (1/2 cup cooked) is considered 1 starch and 1 lean meat.  

As I ate an orange this morning and looked at my sticky fingers, I wondered how much the sweet juice residue could affect a blood sugar for someone with diabetes.   What if you didn’t wash your hands before your next blood sugar check?

Years ago people with diabetes were all told to use alcohol to wipe their finger before they check, but that has changed.  Over the last number of years the diabetes meter manufacturers recommend just using soap and water. Part of this rationale was because it was thought that if the alcohol mixes with the blood, it can change the level of your glucose reading, plus it also dries out your fingers and it just plain stings!  

Do people with diabetes still wash their hands before checking every time?   After all, my fingers look clean.  How much could the blood sugars be affected?   

Well, I found a recent study in Diabetes Care that noted when participants tested their fruit-exposed hands without washing, 88% had blood sugar levels that were at least 10 percent off from their clean-hand readings.  They suggest that if you have fruity-fingers, and cannot wash your hands go ahead and wipe away the first drop of blood. 

What do you think?  And have you ever tried your own experiment to find out? 

^Hyerlink:

^{http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/34/3/556.abstract}

As the weather becomes increasingly warmer, winter shoes are put aside and sandals are now the footwear of choice.  During cold weather, we cover our feet with socks and heavy shoes. In doing this we also cover up foot problems that our feet may have..

As we start gearing up to wear those pretty little sandals, we now want to spend time on the problems that have been hidden all winter.

Let’s start with the Top Ten Foot Health Tips:

1.)  Don’t ignore foot pain—it’s not normal. If the pain persists, see a doctor.

2.)  Inspect your feet regularly. Pay attention to changes in color and temperature of your feet. Look for thick or discolored nails(a sign of developing fungus), and check for cracks or cuts in the skin. Peeling or scaling on the soles of feet could indicate athlete’s foot. Any growth on the foot is not considered normal.

3.)  Wash your feet regularly, especially between the toes, and be sure to dry them completely.

4.)  Trim toenails straight across, but not too short. Be careful not to cut nails in corners or on the side; this can lead to ingrown toenails.  Persons with diabetes, poor circulation, or heart problems should not treat their own feet because they are more prone to infection.

5.)   Make sure your shoes fit properly

6.)  Select and wear the right shoe for the activity you are engaged in (i.e. running shoes for running).

7.)  Alternate shoes—don’t wear the same pair of shoes every day.

8.)  Avoid walking barefoot—your feet are more prone to injury or infection at the beach or when you are wearing sandals.  Always use sunblock on your feet just as on the rest of your body.

9.)  Be cautious when using home remedies for foot ailments; self treatments can often turn a minor problem into a major one.  

10.) If you have diabetes, it is vital that you see a podiatrist at least once a year for a check-up.

Hopefully these tips will start to get those feet sandal-ready!!  Share with us what tip(s) you follow.

One easy way to save money when buying your blood glucose supplies is to check not only your “pharmacy” benefit but your “medical” benefit, as well for the best price.

Are you confused?  Did you know there was a difference?

A Pharmacy Benefit is a benefit within your insurance plan that covers prescriptions and some medical supplies. This benefit charges you a co-pay. Your Pharmacy benefit is also sometimes referred to as your “drug card” benefit and is the only benefit checked at your retail pharmacy.

A Medical Benefit is a benefit within your insurance plan that covers medical services and medical supplies. This benefit charges you a co-insurance.

What does that mean to you?  Your Medical benefit co-insurance can sometimes be cheaper than your co-pay with a Pharmacy benefit.

For example, let’s say you need a three month supply of diabetes testing supplies and your Pharmacy co-pay is $15. Every month when you go to the Pharmacy, you will have to pay that $15 co-pay, totaling $45.  Let’s say you also have a Medical benefit, which is 10%.  When you obtain your three month supply of diabetes testing supplies using your Medical benefit, you will only have to pay 10% one time.  Because of this, sometimes the Medical benefit can be less expensive.

So you need to check both your Pharmacy and Medical benefit!  How?  By calling a company like CCS Medical because this is what we specialize in doing – checking both your Pharmacy and Medical benefit to ensure you have the lowest payment possible..  Your local Retail pharmacy will only check your Pharmacy benefit, which may not cover your diabetes testing supplies or be your lowest cost option! 

Tell us, have you checked both your Medical benefit AND your Pharmacy benefit for the best price?

Do you have someone in your life that is acting like the Diabetes Police? 

Do they make comments every time you reach for a cookie?   Or maybe it is you!   Maybe you are the Diabetes Police in your home.

We all mean well, but it really doesn’t help to criticize people with diabetes for eating too many carbs or sitting on the couch watching too much TV.   The lifestyle for someone with diabetes applies to all Americans, whether you have diabetes or not.   Eating healthy, maintaining your weight, exercising and reducing your stress are all habits everyone should practice.  Be sure to look at your own health behaviors before criticizing someone else’s.

We really need to support one another to ALL be healthy. 

So how do you support someone with diabetes? 

You need to be careful, or your words will sound like nagging.  Instead, think of yourself as a cheerleader or a team player.  Focus on the positive healthy behaviors, no matter how small.  Think of suggesting healthy actions that you can do together, such as going for a walk after dinner when blood sugar is at its highest level or how about visiting a dietitian, together.  If your family member or friend with diabetes has gotten off track, help them get back on.   Provide encouragement by together helping them set small realistic goals. 

This way we can ALL be healthier!

I admit it - I’m a shoe lover! 

Unfortunately, I like all the shoes that are not healthy for my feet. I have an advantage over diabetics though. I can tell when the shoes are not fitting right and creating sores on my feet!

Diabetics are told over and over to wear appropriate shoes to keep from getting these sores. But what are appropriate shoes?  If you are diabetic here are a few tips for appropriate footwear selection:

• Properly fitted shoes can help prevent diabetic foot ulcers - Your shoes should not be too tight. Stand on a piece of paper and draw an outline of your foot, then place your shoe on top of the outline. A properly fitted shoe should be roomy enough not to squeeze your foot into the shoe. The toe box of your shoes should be high enough so that the shoe does not rub on your toes.
• Athletic running or walking shoes can reduce pressure damage to the feet. If you are a diabetic with neuropathy or have had a foot ulcer or amputation, you should wear custom-made shoes with cushioned inserts.

When buying new shoes remember to check every hour during the first few days to look for red spots on your foot as this indicates that the shoe is not fitting correctly and can cause ulceration. 

Happy shoe shopping!

We have all seen them, right?  Those brightly colored, plastic, clog-like shoes with the holes in them.   Maybe you even own a pair!

As the weather warms up, I am starting to see more and more of them showing up again this spring.   I look at them and I wonder what the attraction could be?   Is it for comfort?  If you have diabetes, are they safe?  

For as long as I can remember health care professionals instruct people with diabetes to only wear closed toe shoes, with good support and a firm sole to protect the feet.  I worry about the holes in these shoes and the exposed heel.   What if a pebble was to sneak up from behind and get into the shoe?  Knowing that 60-70% of people with diabetes have neuropathy, I worry that someone may not have the feeling in their feet to detect an object that could get inside and cause potential damage. 

There are even have some designed for people with diabetes which “relieve diabetic discomfort”.  On a positive note, they do have a larger toe box which can provide enough depth and width as to not crowd the toes and cause pressure areas which is important.  I guess they are better than flip-flops or going barefoot, right?

Tell us what you think.

^Reference:

^{http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/diabetes-statistics/?utm_source=WWW&utm_medium=DropDownDB&utm_content=Statistics&utm_campaign=CON.}

^{http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/22/8/1354.full.pdf}

^{http://www.pwrnewmedia.com/2009/aofas91008/assets/AOFAS_Diabetic%20Foot%20Guidelines.pdf}

As I was pulling on my compression stockings this morning, I realized that it is not an easy task even for people who are not faced with physical challenges!

For those with Venous Insuffiency this is a daily chore for the rest of their lives. 

To help make this sometimes unpleasant task easier here are some helpful hints.

• Stockings are easier to apply if put on immediately upon rising.
• Use rubber gloves to don stockings--- this significantly improves grip and is a great help to those that have decreased strength in their hands.
• Consider using a commercial device designed to facilitate stocking application.
• Use a silky stocking “liner”
• Use a layered approach with either two-piece stockings or two layers of lower –compression stockings, (two layers that provide 15 mmHg of compression with each layer.)

What other helpful tips have worked for you?

1.       You Can’t Have Sweets Anymore

FALSE.   Yes, you can have sweets!   You just need to learn how to do it.   Enjoying sweets can be part of a healthy meal plan.   Do you have a meal plan or have your learned how to count carbs?  If not, meet with a registered dietitian (RD) or a certified diabetes educator (CDE) to learn how.  Click here to find a CDE near you.

2.       Type 1 Diabetes is the ‘Bad’ Diabetes

FALSE.   There is no ‘bad’ diabetes.  One type is not worse than the other.  Some people think that because they don’t have type 1 diabetes that they don’t have to take it as seriously.  Really, the ‘bad’ diabetes would be any one whose blood sugars are not controlled.   You can even have type 2 diabetes and be on pills, but if your sugars are not consistently controlled, it can lead to long term complications.  So, it doesn’t matter if you are on insulin, or pills, or diet controlled.   What matters is the level of your blood sugar.

3.       Diabetes is not that serious.

FALSE.  Diabetes causes more deaths than breast cancer and AIDS COMBINED!   Just about everyone knows someone with diabetes or have it in their family.  Diabetes is not always visible and a great deal of the damage caused by high sugars does not show up right away.  Long term complications can take a couple years to develop and then can affect someone’s quality of life forever.   Diabetes needs to be taken seriously by controlling the blood sugar by whatever means possible.

^{Reference:www.diabetes.org}

^{CDE link - http://www.diabeteseducator.org/DiabetesEducation/Find.html}