Diagnosis: There are more than 16 million Americans with diabetes, and about one third are undiagnosed. Harvard Medical School has just upgraded its “Diabetes: A Plan for Living” report, see www.health.harvard.edu/reports .
Serum Glucose One has diabetes mellitus (DM), Type I (Insulin requiring DM), or Type II, Non-insulin Requiring Diabetes Mellitus, (NIRDM), also called Adult Onset MD, if the fasting blood glucose is over >126 mg/dL on more than one occasion or >200 mg/dL once. Once diagnosed you must learn how to check your own glucose level several times a day, until DM is completely controlled.
Mg blood glucose was about 140 for a few years, before I was Dx with diabetes. I already had diabetic neuropathy with numbness of feet, and tingling of fingers and toes, which should have been prevented.
Glycohemoglobin also called Glycated Hemoglobin, (HbA1c), shows the binding of higher than normal amounts of glucose to hemoglobin in red blood cells (RBC) from 120 days ago, when the RBC was formed. As these cell accumulate in the blood, the HbA1c level in the total of the RBCs in the blood slowly goes up and it is proportional to the serum glucose level during the previous 6-12 weeks. A value of 13-20 % reflects poor diabetic control. Non-diabetic is less than 7 %. When the fasting blood glucose is <126 mg/dL the HbA1c is abnormal in 20% of cases tested, which makes it an excellent test for latent diabetes. Those with a positive family history of diabetes should have a HbA1c annually. Those with risk factors for diabetes, especially those over 50, with obesity, from overeating and/or a sedentary life style, and/or all with unexplained neuropathy symptoms need to be tested every 3-6 months. Why, because this is one disease in which early control makes a tremendous difference and complications can be prevented and if already present the symptoms can be can be prevented from progressing. (Abstracted from Wallach J, Interpretation of Diagnostic Tests, 7 ED 2000).
Glucose Tolerance Test should be done if the above tests are normal—May be more sensitive than the two above and provide a diagnosis when one is essential and expected in those with neuropathy with or without burning feet (erythromelalgia).
My first HbA1c was 10%, at the time of my NIRDM Dx, again too later!! After six months of Rx it was 6.5%, a non-diabetic level. But even now I must use real care to prevent more damage to my nerves. Recently saw a new academic endocrinologist, who recommended that I increase my medicine since I usually have an erythromelalgia (EM) flare after a pasta dinner. The timing of 2-3 hours after dinner corresponds with the peak blood glucose level from the carbohydrate load. By adjusting my medicine to my prevent such peaks in the evenings. IT HAS WORKED, no EM.
In those diagnosed with diabetes, ALL must go on a specially designed diet. Most diabetic centers and hospitals provide a diabetic nurse educator and/or a nutritionist/dietitian to help patients cope. Counting calories one way or another is vital. Content of meals and snacks must be correlated with your serum glucose levels done during the day. You must get this part right, something one can not be left to his/her own devises. Frequent small feedings is commonly recommended and helpful.
I have been through three such services and learn something new each time and I have lost 100 pounds and have been able to keep if off for 7 years. Why, because only you can lose weight for yourself. This is a must, it is work, but the rewards are great, a better quality of life and significantly less complications down the road.
Most people think it is impossible to diet, so review the following list of snacks that do not break the diet.
TAKE THE AMOUNT OF EACH FOOD EQUAL TO 100 CALORIES
|
FOODS |
QUAN |
CAL |
SAT. FAT |
Na |
TOTALCARB |
FIBER |
SUGAR |
PROT |
|
BEVERAGES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SKIM
MILK |
1 cup |
90 |
0 |
130 |
13 |
0 |
12 |
8 |
|
2%
MILK |
8 oz |
130 |
3 |
130 |
13 |
0 |
12 |
9 |
|
V8
JUICE SF |
1 can |
40 |
0 |
95 |
7 |
1 |
6 |
1 |
|
HERSHEY
HUGS |
¾ cup |
150 |
1 |
140 |
27 |
0 |
22 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CEREAL |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OATMEAL |
½ cup |
150 |
½ |
0 |
27 |
4 |
1 |
4 |
|
WHEATIES |
1cup |
110 |
0 |
220 |
24 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
|
ALL
BRAN |
½ cup |
80 |
0 |
280 |
22 |
10 |
4 |
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BREADS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PF
WHEAT GERM |
1 slice |
90 |
0 |
130 |
15 |
2 |
<1 |
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CRACKERS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
STONED
WHEAT |
2 |
60 |
0 |
70 |
10 |
<1 |
0 |
2 |
|
WHEAT
THINS |
16 |
140 |
1 |
75 |
20 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
JJ
FLATS- Sesame |
1 |
50 |
0
|
135 |
10 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
JJ
FLATS Multi-Grain |
1 |
50 |
0 |
120 |
11 |
1 |
<1 |
1 |
|
HM
OATMEAL Grams |
8 |
120 |
0 |
140 |
22 |
1 |
7 |
2 |
|
TRISCUIT |
7 |
140 |
1 |
75 |
22 |
4 |
0 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CHEESE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MAGGIO
STRING |
1 |
60 |
5 |
135 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
|
LAUGHING
COW |
1wdg |
70 |
4 |
370 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
|
TIGER
SWISS |
1wdg |
60 |
2 |
240 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
|
TIG
Sw VARIETY |
1wdg |
90 |
3 |
370 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
|
BH
PROVOLONE |
1oz |
100 |
4.5 |
240 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
|
PHIL
Free (Kraft) |
2
Tbsp |
30 |
0 |
200 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
COOKIES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BISCOTTI |
4 |
140 |
1 |
85 |
26 |
1 |
15 |
2 |
|
MURRAY
Sugar F |
3 |
120 |
1.5 |
115 |
20 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Entenmann Light (OAT-MEAL) |
2 |
100 |
0 |
150 |
23 |
1 |
14 |
2 |
|
CROQUANTS |
1 |
80 |
0 |
0 |
18 |
0 |
6 |
1 |
|
WALKERS
ShortB |
1 |
100 |
4 |
75 |
11 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TREATS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
HUNT
TAPIOCA Pudding Fat Free |
1 can |
90 |
0 |
160 |
20 |
0 |
14 |
2 |
|
JELLO
Sugar Free |
1 |
10 |
0 |
45 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
RAISINS |
1 box |
45 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
11 |
10 |
0 |
|
SMARTFOOD
Pop Corn |
5/8 oz |
100 |
15 |
210 |
9 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nuts |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SMART
SNACK Peanuts |
1 pac (0.7
oz) |
100 |
1 |
100 |
7 |
2 |
3 |
7 |
|
CASHEW
PLANT |
1 oz |
170 |
2.5 |
120 |
8 |
2 |
<1 |
5 |
|
PEANUTS
Salt F |
1 oz |
160 |
2 |
0 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
7 |
|
SUNFLOWER
Kernels |
¼
cup |
160 |
1.5 |
200 |
8 |
3 |
0 |
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SPREADS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Smucker’s Red. Fat1 |
2tbsp |
190 |
2.5 |
190 |
14 |
2 |
4 |
8 |
|
APPLE
BUTTER |
1tbsp |
20 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
|
ALL
FRUIT |
1tbsp |
40 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
8 |
0 |
|
PEACH
SALSA |
2tbsp |
15 |
0 |
85 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
|
INCREDIBLE Black Bean Dip |
2tbsp |
60 |
0 |
160 |
160 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MEATS BOARS HEAD |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BLACK
Forest ham. |
2oz |
60 |
0 |
580 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
10 |
|
PARTRAMI
Turkey |
2oz |
60 |
0 |
390 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
|
KIELBASA |
2oz |
120 |
4 |
440 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CUP OF SOUP |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
KNORR |
1cup |
130-50 |
0 |
650-90 |