Diabetic Digest - September 30, 2015

Readers:

I'm kind of a lazy guy. I don't really exercise like I should. When I do take some time to exercise I always run into problems, like the other day...

I was being lazy, as usual. I kept putting off doing yard work until it was out of control. I got up and headed outside and started doing a heavy duty landscaping rehab job on my yard. It was four continuous hours of lawn mowing, weed whacking, and weed pulling - I was running on empty. My blood sugar was dropping like a rock and no matter what I ate it just didn't seem to want to even out.

I really need to make exercise a regular thing and I also need to adjust my insulin accordingly so that I don't have problems with my blood sugar bottoming out. Staying in control is important. Sometimes diabetes is not always easy to manage, but being consistent and smart about it are what helps me to stay healthy and keeps my blood sugar in its normal range.

It's just better to be smart than it is to be sorry.

Regards,
Steve

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Comments? Questions? Email Steve


*-- Diabetic News --*
Artificial pancreas provides real-time monitoring of insulin

STOCKHOLM, Sweden - A new "artificial pancreas" system can vastly improve glucose control in people with type 1 diabetes, according to new research presented at a conference on diabetes and treatment for the condition.

The new study eases concerns about how such a system would work in the real world, as opposed to in a lab setting, where exercise, diet and other factors can be controlled completely. The research shows, however, the system works better than traditional methods for patients to monitor their blood glucose.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder characterized by the pancreas producing too little or no insulin for the body. The artificial pancreas monitors glucose levels in the blood, delivering insulin when the body needs it.

The researchers presented results of a study to trial the device at the annual conference of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes in Sweden.

"The artificial beta cell, or closed-loop insulin-delivery system, expands on the concept of sensor-responsive insulin delivery," researchers wrote in a study documenting trials of the device, which is published in the New England Journal of Medicine. "The closed-loop system differs from conventional pump therapy and threshold-suspend approaches in that it uses a control algorithm that autonomously and continually increases and decreases the subcutaneous delivery of insulin on the basis of real-time sensor glucose levels."

In the study, researchers worked with 58 patients who had type 1 diabetes -- 33 adults used it day and night, and overnight by 25 children and adolescents -- who first used the artificial system for 12 weeks. The system includes a sensor to test patients' glucose levels and calculates when the appropriate time is to increase the level of insulin. All of the participants then used traditional sensor-augmented pump therapy for 12 months as a means of comparison.

The adults' glucose levels stayed within their target ranges 68 percent of the time when using the closed-loop system, as opposed to 57 percent of the time when patients were monitoring and dosing themselves. With the children, blood glucose levels stayed within target ranges 60 percent of the time with the closed-loop system but only 34 percent of the time when increased insulin injections were not automatic.

"We found that extended use of a closed-loop system at home over a period of 12 weeks during free daily living without close supervision is feasible in adults, children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes," the researchers wrote. "Improvements in glucose control and reductions in the burden of hypoglycemia were observed."


*- Diabetic Recipe -*
Bagel Pizza
Servings: 2
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes
Total: 20 minutes

Ingredients
1 4-ounce plain bagel, cut in half
1/4 cup pizza sauce
1 ounce part-skim shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 tsp oregano
salt and pepper, to taste

Directions
1. Preheat broiler. Position top oven rack 4 to 5 inches below source of heat.
2. Spread each bagel half with 2 tablespoons of the pizza sauce. Sprinkle evenly with the cheese, oregano, salt, and pepper.
3. Place prepared bagels on a baking sheet and broil for 2 1/2 to 3 minutes, until cheese melts and sauce bubbles.

Nutrition Information
Per serving (4-ounce bagel): 204 calories (14% calories
from fat), 10 g protein, 3 g total fat (1.6 g saturated fat), 34 g carbohydrate, 2 g dietary fiber, 8 mg cholesterol, 379 mg sodium
Exchanges: 1/2 medium fat meat, 2 carbohydrate (2 bread/starch), 1 vegetable

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