Tag: Diabetes

Motivational Monday: Let Nothing Stop You From Your Goals

It’s the first Monday of the new year, the perfect time to start implementing our health goals that we’ve set for ourselves.

Don’t give up if you don’t get it right at first. Keep trying and stay consistent.

Nothing can stop you from meeting your health goals!

📝 What health goals are you working on this week (emotional, physical, or mental)?

📝 What will you do to keep yourself accountable?

Until Next Time,

The Genetic Diabetic

Remembering Grandma

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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

My First Vlog: Know Your Role, Purpose and Why

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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

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If Not Now, When?

World Diabetes Day 2021 theme from the International Diabetes Federation

The availability of insulin and other elements of diabetes care remains out of reach for millions who need them. People with diabetes are at risk of severe and life-threatening complications, especially if they do not receive adequate support or treatment. Complications include:

🔸Heart Attack
🔸Stroke
🔸Kidney Failure
🔸Blindness
🔸Lower Limb Amputation

What can be done to improve access to diabetes care worldwide? It all starts with our lawmakers. We need to keep our state and federal lawmakers accountable in ensuring that our healthcare system:

🔹Provide basic health care at a reasonable cost to people with diabetes

🔹Develop policies to improve prevention of type 2 diabetes

🔹Enhance screening to ensure timely diagnosis and prevent complications resulting from diabetes

🔹Develop mechanisms to engage people with diabetes in the development of diabetes policies

As we’re voting for newly elected officials today, make sure the candidate you’re voting for is willing to support health equity for all.

Until Next Time,

The Genetic Diabetes

Wellness Wednesday: Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults

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

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Food and Nutrition Friday: Hydrating Foods

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

Wellness Wednesday: Diabetes and Dehydration

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