How to test your blood sugar
When it comes to managing diabetes, it is all about blood sugar. If your blood sugar (or “blood glucose”) levels get too high or too low, it can drastically alter your mood, your well-being, and even your long-term health. There are many ways to monitor blood sugar. Some people use glucose meters wi...
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Blood glucose meter accuracy
In partnership with: BY T'ARA SMITH (BEYOND TYPE 2) Article originally published on Beyond Type 2 We know blood glucose meters are pretty necessary for managing Type 2 diabetes. How else can we track our blood sugar? Going to the doctor every three months or so certainly isn’t the way, thoug...
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Sharps and sharps container disposal
Improper disposal of lancets, insulin syringes, infusion set cannuals and other medical sharps can cause needlestick injuries, especially for garbage collectors. Please throw your used sharps away safely. Keep in mind that anything sharp should not be simply thrown in your household trash. Depend...
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Alternate site blood sugar testing
Whether testing alternate sites or at the fingertip, try the Accu-Chek® FastClix lancing device—the only 1-click lancing device with a drum. Some blood glucose meters allow you to use a blood sample from a nonfingertip or alternate site such as your palm, forearm or upper arm.1 Because the skin of these areas contains fewer nerves than the fingertip, alternate site testing may be more comfortable.2 It's important to know that while blood from your fingertip can be tested at any time, there are times when alternate site testing may not give you the most accurate result. When...
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Diabetes and insulin pumps
If you're tired of daily insulin injections, an insulin pump may be a good fit for you. Even though some people worry that they don't want to be "attached" to something all of the time, many people find that the pump provides greater freedom than multiple injections each day.1 What's more, using...
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Travel with diabetes
Whether you're trying on a new hemisphere or just enjoying a weekend away, we have a few quick reminders that can help you get there ready to enjoy the destination. Use diabetes as an excuse to overpack. Traveling for a week? That equals six pairs of shoes and two weeks of diabetes supplies. T...
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Diabetes apps
A mobile app can be an extremely useful tool, helping you manage your day-to-day life with diabetes. There are a lot of apps out there, but here are some of the ones we found that had high ratings, were free or affordable, and had an easy-to-use format. For example, the mySugr logbook app call...
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Diabetes and carbohydrates
Has your doctor talked to you about watching the carbohydrates in the foods you eat? For a long time, people thought that counting carbohydrates wasn't necessary for those with type 2 diabetes, but that thinking is changing. If you have a target number of carbs to eat at each meal or snack, accurately estimating carbohydrates can help you keep your numbers within your target range.1 It may help you avoid gaining weight and, by keeping your blood glucose in range, help you feel your best.2,3 Keep in mind that these carb and blood glucose targets aren't the same for everyone—what works for yo...
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How to test your blood sugar
When it comes to managing diabetes, it is all about blood sugar. If your blood sugar (or “blood glucose”) levels get too high or too low, it can drastically alter your mood, your well-being, and even your long-term health. There are many ways to monitor blood sugar. Some people use glucose meters wi...
Read More
7 diabetes hacks you can try today
The diabetes community is great at sharing—especially when they come up with an idea for making life a little easier. Consider these tried-and-true tricks and shortcuts for managing your health and gear. Show emergency info on a locked phone. You may have your ICE (in case of emergency) contac...
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Blood glucose meter accuracy
In partnership with: BY T'ARA SMITH (BEYOND TYPE 2) Article originally published on Beyond Type 2 We know blood glucose meters are pretty necessary for managing Type 2 diabetes. How else can we track our blood sugar? Going to the doctor every three months or so certainly isn’t the way, thoug...
Read More
Diabetic diet and nutrition tips
Food plays such a huge role in the life of a family. The dinner table is where we sit down to catch up at the end of a long day and holidays would not be the same without the usual spread of delicious eats. Recipes for those dishes might be passed down from generation to generation. But when you come home with a diabetes diagnosis, it can feel like a roadblock to participating in these important traditions. The truth is that you can still enjoy these times with your family. The only thing that changes is how you support your blood sugar management with food and activity. What foods are good...
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Sharps and sharps container disposal
Improper disposal of lancets, insulin syringes, infusion set cannuals and other medical sharps can cause needlestick injuries, especially for garbage collectors. Please throw your used sharps away safely. Keep in mind that anything sharp should not be simply thrown in your household trash. Depend...
Read More
Diabetes and carbohydrates
Has your doctor talked to you about watching the carbohydrates in the foods you eat? For a long time, people thought that counting carbohydrates wasn't necessary for those with type 2 diabetes, but that thinking is changing. If you have a target number of carbs to eat at each meal or snack, accur...
Read More
When to see a doctor
Nobody wants to call the doctor for every little thing—but we know that treatments for diabetes-related health problems are more effective if you start early. So when should you see your doctor? Here are a few guidelines:1 Pain, numbness, weakness or tingling — especially in the hands, fe...
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Diabetes exercise and workout
Diabetes and exercise is a topic of its own, and sometimes managing blood sugars around exercise and activity turns out to be more challenging than the workout itself. On the one hand, it’s hard because your body reacts completely different depending on the time of day and how fit you are. And on the other side, it’s hard because your blood sugar behavior varies depending on what kind of exercise or activity you’re doing. But exercise is so good for you that it’s worth the trouble. It’s a surprisingly powerful tool in your diabetes toolbox. What effects does exercise have on the body...
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