Sherri Shafer, R.D., CDE returns to Diabetes in Control after an extended hiatus. In keeping with our publisher’s focus on prevention she has contributed a feature on Preventing and Treating Type 2 Diabetes with Weight Control and Exercise. Weight Matters Weight control has been shown to reduce the risk of …

Vegetarian diets can be very healthful if well planned. Vegetable-based diets tend to provide more fiber, less cholesterol, and less saturated fat than meat-based diets. For these reasons, vegetarians tend to be at lower risk for getting several diseases, including heart disease, some forms of cancer (breast and colon), hypertension, …

Approximately 50 million Americans have hypertension. That is one out of every four adults. If you are African American, make that one out of three. High blood pressure tends to run in families. It strikes more often in people over 35 years old, and by age 65, more than half …

Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) with home blood glucose monitors is essential. The blood glucose (BG) results are used to assess the efficacy of therapy, and to provide data by which to make management decisions. Typically, patients who use insulin should be SMBG at least 3-4 times per day. Some …

Antioxidants have received a lot of attention in recent years, in relation to wellness and disease prevention. More studies are needed to better understand how antioxidants may affect diabetes management and treatment.  Several vitamins and minerals are classified as antioxidants. An antioxidant is a substance that reduces cellular damage. Our …

The use of sugar, sweeteners, and sugar substitutes has often been a topic of hot debate. Until recently, using sugar has been discouraged in diabetic meal planning. Current scientific studies have not supported the necessity of completely abstaining from sugar, and now it’s becoming widely accepted that sugar may be …

Blood sugar control: Exercise helps to lower blood sugar in two ways. First of all, exercise decreases insulin resistance, the hallmark of type 2 diabetes. Secondly, exercise increases glucose disposal. An exercising muscle simply uses more sugar than a resting muscle. Weight control: Besides burning glucose, exercise burns fat, which …

At least half of all Americans are overweight or obese. Excess weight poses many health risks. Obesity increases the chance of developing numerous diseases, including:

The fastest-growing segment of the American population consists of individuals aged 60 and older. In 1994, one out of every eight individuals in our country was over 65 years old. By the year 2020 it is estimated that one out of every six people will be over 65 years old.

Pregnancy is a wondrous and exciting time. It’s a time of change, both physically and emotionally. With the proper attention and prenatal medical care, most women with diabetes can enjoy their pregnancies and welcome a healthy baby into their lives.