It is the Ascensia Breeze 2 system. We will see how it goes. So far it is very easy to use and seems friendly. As friendly as a blood sugar measuring device can be, haha.

I have no idea what the cost of the supplies are but I will find out in the morning when I go to get the disc refills. It uses a 10-strip disc cartridge so it is no touch and convenient. The lancets that it came with look the same as my old ones but they felt so much better. I guess I can splurge and buy their name brand, especially if it stays pain free. No more sore fingertips!!!

I will keep you posted. My first reading was 126 at 7:30PM, that was unfortunately before dinner. I have to figure out why it was a bit up. Part of the ongoing process.

Post from: Blisstree

I Own A New Ascensia Breeze 2 Glucometer- Any Comments?

You don’t need to spend hours at the Gym and spend thousands of dollars on equipment, just get yourself out there for a brisk after dinner walk and use some cheap sand dumbbells or soup cans. Heck, I even use my kids as a barbell sometimes and do sit ups with them on my legs.

Studies have shown that simply walking at a brisk pace for 30 minutes or more on most days can lead to significant health improvements. Add simple strengthening exercises two or three times a week and the benefits are even greater.

My big thing is that the exercise not only lowers my blood sugar but gives me that physical release that I need. Oh boy, do I need it.

via Science Daily

Post from: Blisstree

30 Minutes A Day To Combat Type 2 Diabetes

There is all kinds of recent research that states diet soda can be linked to diabetes and heart disease. Some even claim that diet soda will put you at a higher risk for weight gain than regular, full caloried, all the sugar having, sweet soda. Hmm, I don’t know which way to go on this one.

It has been proven in the past that caffeine can affect your blood sugar. So, this leads me to my next question. Would it make a difference if we were to drink caffeine free diet coke versus a plain ol’ diet coke? What have you found? Personally, I do drink a diet Coke a day, in lieu of a cup of coffee in the afternoon. I have to have a pick me up in the hours leading up to dinner due the fact that my kids still get up at all times of the night. And by the way, when will that stop?

I am going to compare a few studies that I have found on the subject of debate. My issue with so much of the research done on this matter is that the people being screened and observed have so many other lifestyle choices that can lead to diabetes and heart disease. Who is to say that the diet soda alone caused the increased risk factor for developing diabetes? If you have anything, share it with me. This seems like fairly important information, since so many of us substitute diet soda’s over full sugared drinks.

Post from: Blisstree

Diet Soda Might Not Be Kosher Among Diabetics

University of Warwick Medical School researchers said they were aware there seems to be a point of no return in the onset of diabetes and scientists have speculated exposure to high glucose levels quickly creates a metabolic memory in which diabetes persists long after the glucose levels are corrected.

So, there you have it. Even if your blood sugar goes right back down after that big ol’ chocolate marshmallow dounut, yeah I’m talking to you, you can still be doing long term damage.

Are you telling me to give up the dounut fetish? Uh huh, and yup! No, really, that stinks, ’cause I LOVE a good breakfast sweet. But I will be good if you can. Especially if it means that my cells will behave with no long term complications. You don’t want your cells to be “locked” into a diabetic state after only limited high glucose exposure, do ya?

Ugh, it is SO hard to be good all the time, but power in numbers right?

via Science Daily

Post from: Blisstree

Cells Can Be Locked Into A Diabetic State With Minimal Glucose Exposure

In a clinical study in Sweden, the research group has now compared 14 patients who were advised to consume an ‘ancient’ (Paleolithic, ‘Old stone Age’) diet for three months with 15 patients who were recommended to follow a Mediterranean-like prudent diet with whole-grain cereals, low-fat dairy products, fruit, vegetables and refined fats generally considered healthy. All patients had increased blood sugar after carbohydrate intake (glucose intolerance), and most of them had overt diabetes type 2. In addition, all had been diagnosed with coronary heart disease. Patients in the Paleolithic group were recommended to eat lean meat, fish, fruit, vegetables, root vegetables and nuts, and to avoid grains, dairy foods and salt.

This isn’t a huge news flash. It is basically what every dietitian and nutritionist teaches diabetics. What’s so ironic is that with evolution, we have lost our “diet way”. So channel your loin cloth wearing ancestors and get moving in the right direction. Your blood sugar will thank you for it!

“If you want to prevent or treat diabetes type 2, it may be more efficient to avoid some of our modern foods than to count calories or carbohydrate,”

via Science Daily

Post from: Blisstree

The Cave Man, Stone Age Diet Is Good For Diabetics…

This beautiful little device is about the size of a cell phone and uses infrared beams to penetrate the skin and read the blood sugar.

Out of the many components in the blood, the beam is able to identify bits of glucose through the frequency, or wavelengths, they transmit and the amount of blood sugar present would be displayed on the instrument in 10 seconds.

It blows my mind. Now I will agree, 85% is not dead on, but I think they are headed in the right direction. How long do you think it will be before we have access to a gizmo like this?

Post from: Blisstree

A Prickless Device That Measures Blood Sugar

I should have prefaced that with a little tidbit about me, well actually it is one of those TMI (too much information), but necessary in the story. I had to have a complete hysterectomy after the birth of my third daughter, so all of it is gone in there. The specifics are too much to go into on this post, it is for another time, but the point is that I do not get a monthly cycle anymore.

I am one of those people that believes that you still feel all the signs and symptoms of a period, and you will never convince me otherwise. Whether it is physical or emotional I could tell you the date without a calendar and just listening to my body. With that being said, my blood sugars took a drastic dip this past weekend, they were in the toilet with no rhyme or reason. And it would have totally been my monthly cycle time.

So, is it related? When I woke this AM to the highest blood sugar in the past week or so, I realized that I was not so “hormonal” anymore. I know in menopause, women’s blood sugars can fluctuate on the low side, but I should be done menopause by my labs. Who knows, maybe it is just some far reach to wrap my brain around this whole up and down thing.

I still have another 5 weeks till I see the endocrinologist. I will keep on keepin’ track of my blood sugars, diet, exercise and body changes. Ugh, it is frustrating though having to wait and watch while my body doesn’t want to cooperate. Not that it is horrible by any means, many have it way worse of then me. It is not the end of the world, just annoying and worrisome.

Post from: Blisstree

Could Hormonal Changes Be Affecting My Blood Sugar?

After feeding the kids lunch yesterday, I started to feel a little bit off. I hadn’t eaten lunch yet. I was sipping on a diet coke and all of a sudden my fingers felt funny, like I couldn’t hold the phone. I put it down and sat down at the table. Well, it just got worse from there. I started seeing floaters across my eyes, was sweating and my head felt very fuzzy.

I asked my middle daughter to get my glucometer, after I calmed my self down. I checked my first finger, 540. Are you kidding me??? No, I thought, “it can’t be”! I had my daughter check 5 more fingers. Yup, it was true. Well, “I guess that would explain the fuzziness”.

So, I called my hubby and hysterically explained the situation. He calmed me down and said he would be leaving work very soon. I put the cordless phone next to my daughter and wrote the number 911 on a piece of paper and told her if mommy went to sleep and couldn’t wake up to call that number for some help. Thank goodness she is a very smart 4 1/2 year old!!

My hubby was home within a half an hour and my daughter didn’t need to use the ol’ 911. But it did take at least 5 hours for my blood sugar to come below 300. Scary stuff! I made an appointment with the doctor for Friday AM and hope that I don’t need to visit the ER before that.

I have no idea what happened or why my body has decided to rebel against me. We will see what the future holds. It is very scary though, especially when you know too much.

Post from: Blisstree

My Sugar Was 540 This Fine Wednesday, I Am Scared!

Was I good? Nope, not even the slightest bit. Did I gorge myself on sugar filled goodies? Oh yeah and I enjoyed every last minute.

I will not check my sugar this evening, as I do not want to know the results. Now, I should state that even when I am “bad” my blood sugar has never gone above 156. I am lucky I guess.

With easter right around the corner, I am sure there will be more than enough candy in my house. Since I have made myself sick today on that ol’ milk chocolate, I venture to say that it is out of my system.

I am going to chant, “no more chocolate” over and over again!

Post from: Blisstree

Should A Diabetic Really Eat This Much Chocolate?