A Quick Note From Gary...

The Cheerios Challenge

A few weeks ago, our clinical team (Jenny, Alicia, Dana, Annette, Kristen, Kathryn, and yours truly) decided to try something a little different. Everyone complains about how difficult it is to manage blood sugar when eating things like cereal in the morning, so we decided to have a little competition. We all had the same cereal for breakfast (in the same amount) to see who could manage their blood sugar the best. The details and results are posted online on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.

Who won doesn’t really matter. Everyone did a surprisingly good job. And interestingly, everyone did it a little differently. Some combined their cereal with other foods. Some changed up their insulin timing. Some built in a little exercise. And some used adjunct medications to help prevent the ginormous spike that usually follows foods like breakfast cereal.

The real point is that we had FUN doing it. Living with diabetes does not have to be a daily slog of never-ending rituals and routines. There are plenty of ways to jazz it up: Trying out new technologies, applying different approaches, decorating your stuff with colorful decals, or tackling a personal challenge.

If your diabetes management could use a spark, let us know. As clinicians who live with T1D day-in and day-out, we know how it feels. I’m sure we can find some creative ways to keep you interested, engaged and invigorated. Our phone number is +1 (610) 642-6055, or email info@integrateddiabetes.com.

Together we can beat diabetes. And have some fun doing it.

Welcome to the Team!

Integrated Diabetes Services is proud as punch to add Dana Roseman to our clinical team. Dana is a Certified Diabetes Care & Education Specialist (formerly known as “CDE”) and Registered Dietitian.

Meet Dana

Recipes for Type 1 & Type 2 Diabetes

• Baked Ziti and Summer Vegetables
• Plum Kuchen
• Grilled King Salmon with Tomato-Peach Salsa
  
• Grilled Vegetable Gazpacho

Hungry or Low? How much do blood sugars really affect our mood?

I jokingly call my diabetes my first child because it sometimes acts like a toddler with demands that put my 3-year-old to shame.

Resources And Simple Steps to Improve Diabetes Management

Instead of flailing blindly in pursuit of better blood sugar management, I hope this list of simple steps and resources helps give a more tangible approach to your diabetes management goals.

Ask Dana:  Simple Solutions to your Diabetes Dilemmas

Dear Dana,

I used to have pretty good control of my blood sugars after I ate but now I am struggling to manage my high blood sugars after almost every meal. The only thing that has changed is that I am now eating a gluten-free diet. Could that make a difference? 
- Colleen Portion, Chicago, Illinois

Some Useful Online Recipe Nutrition Calculators

A common question I get asked during our group classes, is how do I calculate the carbohydrates, protein, and fat in my homemade meal?

I have a list of online/app nutritional calculators that may help!

Optimizing Control IQ- Part 2

I wanted to share some additional optimization workarounds for the Tandem Control IQ system that I have found effective.

Weight Gain During the Covid-19 Shutdown

Raise your hand if the Covid-19 stay at home order caused you to make different dietary choices than you previously would have (I’m raising my hand).

Rapid Acting Insulin is so Slow, We Need Snails to Speed it Up!

Although they may be slow, sea snail venom has been used to create a new type of insulin that could provide a 'safer and more effective' treatment for type-1 diabetes.

Metformin ER Recall Information

FDA issues voluntary recall of some metformin products: What does this mean for me?

Gyms are Beginning to Reopen. Is It Safe to Go During the Covid Pandemic?

Some tips if you decide to return to the gym right away!

NEW QUESTION:

From insulin to equipment & supplies to healthcare services, out-of-pocket costs are a perpetual concern for just about everyone with type-1 diabetes. According to a recent study of a U.S. national commercial database, what is the average annual out-of-pocket spending for a person with type-1 diabetes?

The Survey Says!

In last month’s Diabetes Bites, we asked which video meeting program you prefer the most.

There were 126 responses.

• Skype 4%
• Zoom 66%
• Facetime 16%
• Google Hangouts 11%
• Microsoft Teams 3%

I think the Zoomers have it. Our clinicians make extensive use of Zoom for conducting patient appointments, so we went ahead and subscribed to the professional version. This lets us do some cool things like extended group meetings (so multiple family members can participate from different locations), screen-sharing (so that we can look at data reports and educational materials together), and premium audio (so we can actually hear each other). Best of all, our patients can benefit from these professional features without having to pay anything extra.

Small Steps …… Big Rewards

Our new normal. So strange. The only thing we can ever count on is change. I never knew working from home would be more difficult than being in our office. Papers all over my dining room table, papers on the floor, under my feet, files galore around me. That is my new normal.

I have come to realize as a very routine person, working from home should follow that same pattern. I believe many of us are in the same position. I have learned to try to stay with my same workday except for getting up 45 minutes later, which accounts for my commute, otherwise the same. This way I feel more myself. I miss everyone in our office who are so much a part of my daily life. No one likes their life disrupted. and I am no exception.

Organizing something each day in my makeshift office has helped. Looking out at my beautiful flowers each day reminds me seasons change and the world goes on.

I am fortunate that I speak to many people every day who share their stories with me. I know that the work we do makes a difference. Our patients need our help and understanding, especially during these trying times. Scheduling to have an appointment while we all are multitasking more than ever is daunting. I want to ease that burden. Call the office 610-642-6055 or E-mail me nancy@integrateddiabetes.com. I will help.

Diabetes needs attention and we do just that, from our homes or in the office. The commitment is the same. Our clinicians are working harder than ever, longer hours to see that all patients receive responses as soon as they can. I can promise this… Integrated Diabetes Services has the most dedicated clinicians. I am proud to represent them.

Be Safe

Best Always

Nancy