Changing the Narrative
Compare your results with the machine from the doctor’s office when you attend your doctor’s appointment. This will reveal if there are any discrepancies.
Until Next Time,
The Genetic Diabetic
It has been exactly 20 years today since my grandmother passed away. My grandmother was a fierce, intelligent woman who held our family together.
I was a teenager when my grandma’s health declined. She had congestive heart failure, diabetes, and was legally blind. As a teen, I did not understand the extent of her health problems nor how they related.
Now that I’m living with the same diabetes diagnosis, I understand what my grandma was going through, how diabetes and heart disease are linked and how those issues can potentially limit your life.
It’s my mission to share what I’ve learned with people with diabetes and their loved ones. There is a family history of diabetes on both sides, and I just want to do my part in changing the narrative.
On this day of remembrance, I want to encourage you to keep your health in check: learn more about your condition, maintain a healthy diabetes management routine, and if you need help, don’t be afraid to ask. Don’t let diabetes limit your life.
Until Next Time,
The Genetic Diabetic
Hey everyone!
It’s been awhile since I’ve posted! A lot has been going on, but I’m currently working on updating the blog and adding some new features.
One of the new features I’ve added includes the ability to add video so I can now do Vlogs in addition to blogs which I’m extremely excited about.
In this video, I discuss the roles of influencer, advocate and ambassador and why it’s important to know your role, purpose and why.
Click on the video above to view my first Vlog 😀 Feel free to leave a comment below of your thoughts.
Until Next Time,
The Genetic Diabetic
A GAD antibody test can detect LADA through the detection of elevated levels of pancreatic autoantibodies in patients with diabetes who do not require insulin. These antibodies also predict the rate of progression towards insulin deficiency.
Latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) is known by its unofficial name, type 1.5 diabetes. The body’s own immune system attacks and kills the beta cells that produce insulin in the pancreas. However, the process of destroying all beta cells takes longer in people with LADA than it does in people with type 1 diabetes.
As you lose the ability to make insulin, your body is unable to control your blood sugar levels. You may not need treatment for many months or years after diagnosis like those with type 1 diabetes.
LADA usually begins after you turn 30, and doctors sometimes misdiagnose it as type 2 diabetes.
In fact, up to 15% of people who are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes actually have LADA. Being misdiagnosed puts people at risk for diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and other long-term complications.
Furthermore, if the person does not know they have autoimmune diabetes, they will not be screened for other autoimmune diseases, such as thyroid or celiac disease, which are more common in people with LADA than those with type 2 diabetes.
LADA symptoms are similar to those of type 1 or 2 diabetes. Usually if you don’t get better within a few months of taking oral diabetes medications, your doctor might suspect LADA.
LADA is diagnosed with a blood test. Because LADA is an autoimmune disease, individuals with LADA usually test positive for at least one islet autoantibody (a protein produced by the immune system). Tests can be performed on your blood to check for autoantibodies to GAD, IA-2/ICA512, insulin, and ZnT8. These tests vary in cost depending on your insurance coverage.
As soon as oral treatments, exercise, and diet plans fail to control your blood sugar, speak with your healthcare provider about insulin therapy.
Sources: DiaTribe and EnM (Endocrinology and Metabolism)
Until Next Time,
The Genetic Diabetic
No matter what’s happening during this last week of October, know that we’ve got this and we’re here to support each other!
✅ What are your goals for the week?
✅ How are you implementing rest and self-care in your schedule?
Share in the comments below!
Until Next Time,
The Genetic Diabetic
Every member of this community is here because they or someone they know is battling diabetes.
Diabetes is a life-long condition that takes work for us to manage. What may work for us one day might not work the next. So many factors contribute to our numbers fluctuating. There’s always a chance that the condition will progress even if you do everything you can.
However, we still have three options for how to approach the way we handle this:
– Giving up and don’t do anything about this condition
– Giving in and doing the least we can to treat this condition
OR
– Giving our best and not only control our condition, but do our best to learn about diabetes and to try and discover ways to stop its progression by doing our best. Additionally, even when treatment fails, you don’t give up or give in.
This week’s Motivational Monday’s Message:
Don’t give up.
Don’t give in.
⭐️Give it all you’ve got⭐️
Until Next Time,
The Genetic Diabetic
Today, we’ll talk about how to stay hydrated with the food we eat!
Soups and Broths
A great way to hydrate your body is by drinking soups and bone broth. Soups based on broths like non-creamy chicken noodle soup, french onion soup, vegetable soup, and bone broths can help provide total fluid needs and are high in sodium, which is beneficial to your hydration. Sodium is lost through perspiration, and it must be replaced. If you’re athletic or highly active, replacing sodium is especially important.
Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
Food is able to meet about 20% of your hydration needs, which is why eating fresh fruits and vegetables can enhance your hydration levels. Fruits and vegetables also have various minerals and fibers that promote a healthy metabolism.
Here are some fruits and vegetables and their water content percentages:
Cucumber- 96%
Watermelon- 96%
Pineapple- 95%
Celery- 95%
Lettuce- 95%
Blueberries- 95%
Tomatoes- 94%
Pear- 92%
Grapefruit- 90%
Melon- 89%
If you have trouble keeping hydrated, these are great options for preventing dehydration and keeping your blood sugar levels at a reasonable level!
Until Next Time,
The Genetic Diabetic
Dehydration can be very dangerous for people living with diabetes
The risk of dehydration increases for individuals with diabetes since high blood glucose levels decrease hydration in the body.
Drinking water helps keep your hydration and blood sugar levels in check. Besides fighting dehydration, it can also help remove excess glucose.
People with diabetes should drink plenty of fluids – 1.6 liters (L) or 6.5 cups a day for women; and 2 L or 8.5 glasses of water per day for men.
In addition to water, there are a number of other drinks that are also effective for preventing dehydration and increasing fluid intake. Examples include caffeine-free herbal teas, sugar-free sparkling water, almond milk, and sugar-free coffee.
Drinking sodas, energy drinks, fruit juices, and sweetened drinks is not recommended since they contain a lot of sugar and will increase your blood sugar levels.
What does your water/liquid intake look like?
A. 8 or more cups
B. 6-7 cups
C. 5-4 cups
D. 3 or less
What is your drink of choice?
Share your answers below in the comments!
Until Next Time,
The Genetic Diabetic
