Blood sugar monitoring: demystifying what is happening

ACCU-CHEK_360_ViewForm

Check on the above link to find a great tool that can help pinpoint what is going on with your diabetes . No, it is not a computer program, it is a simple handout that can be used to help you identify “what is happening” to your blood sugars . By recording blood sugars on it and taking it to your next doctor’s visit, you and your doctor can get an improved look at what is happening to blood sugars. The tool is called accucheck 360. You track blood sugars intensively for 3 days…7 times each day. You test pre and post meals and at bedtime. It is amazing when you graph those numbers what a picture it can paint for both you and your doctor to determine if anything specific needs to change about your management. Is medication still working as it should, are your meals too heavy, should you increase your activity more? It is easier than you think. Testing 7 times a day for 3 days may sound overwhelming, but it has been shown to actually help reduce the number of times need to test overall.  When more accurate interpretation of blood sugar results can be made you should get better control overall. It should help you feel like testing really makes sense. Those finger pricks are providing feedback that can make a difference. Try it a few days before your next visit to your health care providers, you will both like it.
If you are interested in taking a more active role in controlling your disease and understand it a little more fully, contact me .

50 Blogs- a good landmark for us!!!

Yes, I was more surprised than ever to find out that there have been 50 blogs created so far on the MONS blog. We have touched on a number of topics, hopefully you have found them helpful. The take home message should be that this blog is interested in helping you achieve optimal health at any age and any medical history.

Not all of us will have “perfect” health and everyone will have varying definitions of “optimal health” . Optimal health is being as healthy as we can be at any stage of our lives.

Nutrition plays an integral part in the process

as does being active ,

taking appropriate (prescribed )medication,

getting sufficient sleep and visiting your physician regularly.

So starting with blog 51- this blog- look for continued information to” roll out” twice a month, generally the 2nd and 4th Friday of the Month. September topics will focus on tips for healthy work in the kitchen ( some cooking and some non cooking) tips for those of you who have “hung up your frying pan”. We’ll start with a discussion of “healthy shopping” and look at tips for stocking your pantry, and even throw in a few recipes for those of you who like to cook. The blog will center on tips for those of us who are just cooking for 1-2, but many of the tips could be applied to a family situation also.

An up date on class list ( Diabetes Self Management Education) for those of you who would like to attend:

Fredericktown class at Dr Elder’s has been postponed to October 4 and 6 1:00-5:30. An order is required from your physician.

Coshocton classes will be at Coshocton Family Physician group September 13 and 15 12:30-5:00

Columbus Classes are November 1,8,15 at Studio 55 in Upper Arlington 9- noon.

Marion sessions have been rescheduled.

Enjoy the remainder of the Labor Day weekend, it is always sad to see the summer wind down. Florence

http: //flosnutrition.blogspot.com 

can provide information for you and recipes for good health.

Diabetes Self Education

I have been asked by Health Education On Demand to help them field test on line education materials about Diabetes. I am excited to offer this to all blog readers. There is no cost to it, but I would like your feedback on the quality of the information and how easy/hard it is to use.

I have checked with the company to make sure that your privacy is protected. That is important to me. The only info that I would need to sign you up is your name and email address. I have spent about 4 hours this afternoon previewing materials that they have available and have selected those pieces that I believe would be of assistance to you in learning about Diabetes.It will come in installments, so you can casually read it as it interests you. No pressure

So often we turn to the internet to provide information about diabetes, but I always get concerned that patients that I deal with are getting accurate information and not “old wives tales”. The materials gathered are all from well established sources. There is a variety of types of media that are represented from YouTube to narrated power points to pictorial representations. So there is something for every type of learner..

Email me at floschermer@gmail.com to sign up. I just need an email address and your name- first and last.  I would love to see what you think of it.