What is glucagon? Hypoglycemia–or extremely low blood sugar–is a condition that most commonly affects people with type 1 diabetes. If left untreated, hypoglycemia can turn serious or even fatal. Most of the time, low blood sugar can be treated with a small, sugar-rich snack or 15-20 grams of glucose tablets. But what happens when this […]
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Tag: blood glucose
Tips for Traveling with Diabetes
Managing a chronic health condition can be a challenge, even from the comfort of your own home. It can be especially challenging when you are on vacation–out of your element and living out of a suitcase. With some forethought and planning, you can have a safe and healthy trip and have some fun as well. […]
Tips for Coping with Gestational Diabetes
A study published this week in the journal Diabetes Care showed that rates of gestational diabetes among Canadian women nearly doubled from 1996 to 2010. It’s no secret that the rates of diabetes are on the rise, and this fact applies to prenatal health, too. If you’ve been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, read on for […]
What to think about when buying an insulin pump
Thanks to new improvements in technology, insulin pumps are becoming a more common way for diabetes patients to manage their blood sugar. If you are considering an insulin pump, here are a few important things to think about before you start shopping around. What is an insulin pump? An insulin pump is a battery-operated device […]
The Low-Down on Low Blood Sugar: Hypoglycemia 101
So, what’s the deal with hypoglycemia? Not to be confused with hyperglycemia, it’s a condition that occurs when your body has abnormally low blood sugar level (less than 70). According to the American Diabetes Association, it is characterized by the following symptoms: Mild Symptoms: Shakiness Palpitations Sweating Dizziness Fast heartbeat Hunger Blurred vision Decreased concentration […]
Diabetes + Kidney Disease: What You Need to Know
Nephropathy: what’s that, you say? Because of the extra stress that diabetes puts on the kidneys, people with diabetes can be more prone to getting kidney disease, also known as nephropathy. It’s mostly caused by the long-term effects of hyperglycemia, which happens when your blood glucose levels are consistently above normal. Nephropathy can damage how […]
Blood sugar and diabetes: what’s the relationship?
Most people know that diabetes and blood sugar levels are related, but knowing all the details can be the key to successful management of diabetes. If you remember from our previous post, diabetes results when blood glucose (or “blood sugar”) is too high. Insulin plays an important role in blood glucose levels because insulin is […]