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Diabetes Vocabulary

Having diabetes can mean learning a whole new set of vocabulary. If you or someone you love has diabetes, you’ll be learning the names of drugs, different tests, complications, and more. Here are some words and phrases you might run into: Blood urea nitrogen: a waste chemical excreted by the kidneys. Above-normal levels can indicate kidney damage. Diabetic nephropathy: kidney damage associated with diabetes. Diabetic neuropathy: nerve damage associated with diabetes. Fructose: a simple sugar that occurs naturally in honey and fruit. Glucagon: a hormone that can be injected to raise the blood sugar level of a person with hypoglycemia … Continue reading →

Kids And Juice—Are They A Healthy Mix?

I love Jamba Juice. It’s a type of smoothie made from a concoction of real fruit, fruit juices, and either sherbet, frozen yogurt, plain yogurt or soymilk. Seems like a healthy combo, right? I thought so… and when I discovered my toddler daughter loved them just as much as her mommy I made sure to put Jamba Juice on the top of our snack-time list. Cue the squealing brakes. That practice halted a few months ago when I read one regular serving of the delicious drink contained more sugar than is recommended by the USDA to consume in one day. … Continue reading →

For Parents of Diabetic Kids: What is Hypoglycemic Unawareness?

My son Garrett had a frightening experience in a class at school one day. Suddenly he was having difficulty writing. He had a hard time remembering how to spell simple words, and started to feel strange. Dizzily, he walked to the front of the classroom and approached the teacher. He opened his mouth to speak, but couldn’t remember how. He stood in front of the teacher trying to say something, anything, but the words wouldn’t come. Finally a look of understanding crossed the teacher’s face. “You’re a diabetic, aren’t you?” she asked, and quickly led him to the cafeteria, where … Continue reading →

The Jewelry That Gives Peace of Mind

Have you ever considered what might happen if your child had a medical emergency and you weren’t around? And if your child couldn’t speak due to a disability or because he was unconscious, how could he get help? William Y. Rial, Former President of the American Medical Association has said, “Even if your children are old enough to understand the seriousness of their condition, why gamble on the ability to communicate in a situation in which they may be unconscious or too ill to speak? If your children suffer from any condition that could endanger them or complicate treatment in … Continue reading →

What Babysitters and Caregivers of Diabetic Kids Should Know

When your young child is a diabetic, it can be unnerving to leave him or her with a babysitter. So many things could go wrong. What if your son experiences insulin shock while you’re away? What if your daughter develops hyperglycemia and gets a stomachache? How will the caretaker know what to do? And how do you encapsulate what has taken you months to learn into a quick, easy lesson for a sitter? It seems impossible, which is why many parents choose to just stay home with their child. Classes for Caregivers are Provided at Your Child’s Diabetic Clinic or … Continue reading →