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Age and Muscle Loss (and How You Can Prevent It)

Isn’t getting older fun? Among other delights to look forward to is age-related muscle loss. As we age, our muscles shrink — especially after the age of sixty-five. Previous research has noted that the bodies of older people build muscle less efficiently than the bodies of younger people. That’s only half the bad news. (Or maybe a third. Losing muscle increases a person’s chance of serious injury from a fall — and that’s very bad.) New research from the University of Nottingham in England has found that the bodies of older people are also not as good at preventing muscle … Continue reading →

What is Pre-Diabetes?

A family member was recently diagnosed with pre-diabetes. Pre-diabetes is when your blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. Pre-diabetes is a new name for an existing condition: impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose. Those names come from the test used to determine the blood sugar levels. Why the new name? Because calling it “pre-diabetes” gives patients a much clearer view of what the test results mean. A person with pre-diabetes is on his or her way to full blown diabetes. A person with pre-diabetes may already be experiencing some … Continue reading →

Interpreting Blood Sugar Levels

If you have diabetes, your doctor has probably asked you to monitor and record your blood sugar levels on a daily basis. So you do your finger pricks, record your blood sugar levels, and bring the chart to your doctor at the next visit. But do you know what all those numbers really mean? Testing your blood sugar levels periodically throughout the day will give you an idea of how your glucose levels change based on what you do and what you eat. Exercise should help lower your blood sugar levels. Your food choices can send your blood sugar level … Continue reading →

No More Excuses…A Type 1 Diabetic Climbs Mount Everest!

Since I have two sons with juvenile diabetes, I often hear “I’m a diabetic,” excuses. “Mom, I have to eat this cupcake right NOW. My bloodsugar is low.” “Mom, can’t you excuse me from the 1.5 mile run at school, since I’m a diabetic?” Well, now I’m armed with proof positive that diabetics can do anything. And I mean anything. Will Cross doesn’t let chronic illness get in the way of achieving his dreams. Thirty years ago he was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes (type I) at the age of nine. Now, a 39-year-old father of six, he became the first … Continue reading →

Diabetes & Exercise

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When you are talking about diabetes there are two different types. Type I is the one associated with insulin injections because the pancreas does not make enough. Type II is also known as adult onset diabetes. People diagnosed with type II diabetes are often prescribed with exercise and weight control as a way to help you with your insulin resistance. Type II risk factors include: · Inactivity · Obesity · Hypertension · High Cholesterol It’s important to note that you do not need all four of these behaviors to be at risk for Type II diabetes. Inactivity alone is a … Continue reading →

Caring For the Elderly: The Health Police

Kristyn wrote a great article a few weeks ago about being the Blood Sugar Police. It really struck a chord with me because while she cares for a son with diabetes, I am helping care for a grandmother with diabetes. I live with my eighty year old grandmother, and am one of her primary caretakers. We have good days and bad days… and the bad days can be really bad. “Why don’t you just leave an old lady alone to die?” That’s my favorite quote. (Not really.) It’s what she says when someone is nagging her to take her medicine, … Continue reading →