Diabetes Self-Management

editor’s note

Dear Readers, Ready for a refresh and reset after all the hustle and bustle of the holidays? You’ve come to the right place! Health-related goals are among the top lifestyle changes many aim to achieve for the new year, with eating better, exercising more and losing weight rounding out the top three most popular resolutions. If you’re among the nearly half of Americans who has committed to a resolution this year, you’ll want to check out our roundup of advice that can help you make positive strides for 2020. Learn our top tips for getting organized and taking control of your diabetes routine (page 26), find out how to enhance your fitness program with resistance exercises (page 46) and more. The beginning of the year is also the time when many new health…

diabetes self management

Editorial Director, Wellness DivisionDiane Fennell Associate Editor Matthew Bernat Food Editor Amy P. Campbell, MS, RD, LDN, CDE ART & PRODUCTION Art Director Carolyn V. Marsden Senior Designer Scott Brandsgaard SALES & MARKETING Vice President, Media Solutions Stuart Crystal | scrystal@madavor.com Senior Media Solutions Manager Bob Beucler | bbeucler@madavor.com Senior Media Solutions Manager Kathy Jones Rizzi | krizzi@madavor.com Client Services | clientservices@madavor.com Social Media and Marketing Manager Tim Doolan Marketing Associates Shawn Daniel, Tommy Goodale Content Marketing Supervisor Anthony Buzzeo Content Marketing Associate Sarah MacDougall EDITORIAL BOARD Pamela Allweiss, MD, MPHCDC Division of Diabetes Translation Amy P. Campbell, MS, RD, LDN, CDEBoston, Massachusetts Robert S. DinsmoorSouth Hamilton, Massachusetts David E. Goldstein, MDProfessor Emeritus, University of MissouriHealth Science Center, Columbia, Missouri Laura Hieronymus, DNP, MSEd, RN, MLDE, BC-ADM, CDE, FAADEAssociate Director, Education & Quality Services, UK HealthCare, Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentuckyy Virginia Peragallo-Dittko, RN, BC-ADM, CDE, FAADE,…

diabetesselfmanagement.com

Protecting Your Kidneys Diabetic nephropathy (kidney disease) is the leading cause of kidney failure in the United States. Fortunately, there are a number of measures you can take that have been scientifically proven to protect your kidneys and lower the risk of developing diabetes-related kidney disease. What Is the Mediterranean Diet? If you’re living with diabetes, you may have heard about the potential health benefits of the Mediterranean diet. In this video, get five top tips for trying a Mediterranean-style meal plan. Blood Sugar Chart The fasting blood sugar, 2-hour post-meal blood sugar and HbA1c are important ways to indicate how well a person’s diabetes is being managed. Learn more about recommended blood sugar ranges. A Guide to the Mediterranean Diet Interested in trying the Mediterranean diet to kickstart your nutrition in 2020? Learn about the many…

type 2 remission possible with doable weight loss

People who achieve a weight loss of 10% or more in the first five years after being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes have the best chances of the condition going into remission, according to new research from the University of Cambridge. The findings indicate that it may be possible to “reverse” type 2 diabetes without extreme dieting or lifestyle interventions. More than 30 million people in the United States have diabetes, and 90% to 95% of those affected have type 2 diabetes, which is characterized by insulin resistance and insufficient insulin secretion. Risk factors include overweight and obesity, family history of the disease, hypertension (high blood pressure), impaired glucose tolerance, metabolic syndrome and low levels of physical activity. Previous research has indicated that type 2 diabetes remission is possible by following an…

artificial pancreas passes test

The results of a six-month test of an artificial pancreas system have just been reported in The New England Journal of Medicine, and the findings are impressive. The artificial pancreas system combines two devices from two companies. The first device is the t:slim X2 insulin pump made by Tandem Diabetes Care, a San Diego-based company that specializes in products for diabetes patients. The t:slim X2 is equipped with a feature called Basal-IQ, which looks 30 minutes ahead and suspends insulin delivery to help lessen the time and frequency of episodes of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Employing Basal-IQ technology requires the use of a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), which is where the second device comes in. The CGM used in the trial was the G6 Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) System, a product…

fda approves rybelsus, first oral glp-1 medicine for type 2

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first oral GLP-1 medicine for blood sugar management in adults with type 2 diabetes. Manufactured by Novo Nordisk, Rybelsus (semaglutide) oral tablets are the first drug in their class that do not need to be injected. A member of the class of medicines known as GLP-1 inhibitors, it works by increasing feelings of fullness, slowing stomach emptying, increasing the release of insulin, and decreasing the release of glucagon (a hormone that raises blood glucose). Rybelsus is approved for once-daily use in 7-milligram or 14-milligram doses. According to the manufacturer, “A savings card program will be available at the time of launch for eligible commercially insured patients to keep out-of-pocket costs down to as little as $10 a month.” “Patients want effective treatment options…