After being diagnosed with diabetes, every meal became a complicated math lesson.
Barbara Goldsmith had to become vigilant about everything she put in her body. The Edinburgh resident meticulously counted carbohydrates, too many of which can spike her blood sugar level and wreak havoc on her body.
She calculated how much she has eaten, and immediately following a meal, factored in housework, gardening or some other activity so that her sugars dont rise to unsafe levels.
On top of the four different medications she takes, diabetes has shifted everything in Goldsmiths life. But changing her lifestyle has been her only option.
Lauren Witt unpacks the blood sugar monitor that she keeps with her at all times. The 29-year-old was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes five years ago, and utilized the Johnson Memorial Health Diabetes Care Center in Franklin to learn about testing her glucose levels, managing her diet and adapting her lifestyle to the disease. Ryan Trares
The blood sugar monitor and testing strips that Lauren Witt keeps with her at all times. Witt, 29, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes five years ago, and utilized the Johnson Memorial Health Diabetes Care Center in Franklin to learn about testing her glucose levels, managing her diet and adapting her lifestyle to the disease. Ryan Trares
Lauren Witt sets up the blood sugar monitor and testing strips that she keeps with her at all times. If her blood sugar, or glucose, reaches a certain level, she may need an emergency shot of insulin. The 29-year-old was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes five years ago. Ryan Trares
Lauren Witt sets up the blood sugar monitor and testing strips that she keeps with her at all times. If her blood sugar, or glucose, reaches a certain level, she may need an emergency shot of insulin. The 29-year-old was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes five years ago. Ryan Trares
Lauren Witt sets up the blood sugar monitor and testing strips that she keeps with her at all times. If her blood sugar, or glucose, reaches a certain level, she may need an emergency shot of insulin. The 29-year-old was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes five years ago. Ryan Trares
The different types of insulin that Lauren Witt keeps with her at all times in case of a diabetic emergency. The 29-year-old was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes five years ago, and utilized the Johnson Memorial Health Diabetes Care Center in Franklin to learn about testing her glucose levels, managing her diet and adapting her lifestyle to the disease. Ryan Trares
Lauren Witt, 29, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes five years ago, and utilized the Johnson Memorial Health Diabetes Care Center in Franklin to learn about testing her glucose levels, managing her diet and adapting her lifestyle to the disease. Ryan Trares
Watch what you eat and how much you eat. If you have medication, take it. Watch your sugar, and try to stay active. Those are the main things, she said. I dont know what would happen to me if I dont do that.
More and more Johnson County residents such as Goldsmith are living with diabetes or are on their way to developing it in the future. The disease has become worryingly more prevalent throughout Indiana, growing by more than 50 percent from 2000 to 2009.
Battling the growing epidemic has required a multi-faceted approach. Health officials have focused on educating patients about ways to avoid the disease, stressing diet and exercise, and teaching how the sugars we consume impact the body.
The hope is to stem the increase of new cases, while helping people already diagnosed live healthier and minimize the impact.
Diabetes is a global epidemic. Its out of control, said Dr. Gaston Dana of Johnson Memorial Internal Medicine Specialists. Once you develop it, you have it for life. By realizing that you can make changes in lifestyle that can significantly impact that, you can possibly stop that.
Diabetes is broad term for diseases characterized by high levels of glucose, or sugar, in the blood. The disease is caused by defects in insulin production, how insulin acts in the body, or a combination of both. Insulin is a hormone necessary for the regulation of blood glucose levels.
When insulin production and action in the body works improperly, complications such as heart disease, stroke, amputation and blindness can occur. At its worst, the disease can cause death.
The disease can come in varying forms. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the immune system attacks beta cells in the pancreas, the only cells in the body that make insulin to regulate glucose.
Type 2 is the more common form, accounting for between 90 and 95 percent of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. The bodys cells start resisting insulin and not using it properly, which eventually causes the pancreas to lose the ability to make it.
Diabetes levels in Indiana, particularly Type 2, have risen sharply since 2000, climbing from 6 percent of the population to 12.9 percent. In Johnson County, 11 percent of people have the disease. Treating diabetes costs Indiana $6.6 billion in medical costs each year, according to the American Diabetes Association.
I would say its over 50 percent of our patient population that is dealing with diabetes, Dana said.
Many of those people are referred to the Diabetes Care Center at Johnson Memorial Health, where specialists help patients adapt to what is a consuming and jarring diagnosis.
No one wants to have this diagnosis. Probably 50 percent of the people who sit in front of me are angry and in denial, said Carla Duncan, a registered nurse at the Diabetes Care Center. Theyre not hearing a word that I say, so you have to find a way to connect to them.
The staff works to ensure their patients understands what their disease is and what theyll be going through. They explain the genetic factors of the disease, how things such as being overweight, skipping meals or smoking can turn the hereditary aspects of diabetes on. Medication and how it can impact the disease is also covered.
The key is to help people understand how the disease is managed now, Duncan said.
A lot of the people who come here have preconceived ideas and old beliefs about diabetes. My grandma did this, it worked for her 50 years ago, why are you telling me something different now,' she said. So just making people realize that what we knew 50 years ago is different than what we know now about diabetes.
Lauren Witt was 24 when she was diagnosed with diabetes. She noticed that she was losing a lot of weight, despite still eating the same amount she always had. Her vision would get blurry, and on one occurrence, she passed out.
A blood test confirmed that her glucose levels were incredibly high. Once doctors determined that she had Type 1 diabetes, she was referred to Duncan to help manage the disease. She helped Witt learn to take insulin, count carbohydrates and learn more about nutrition.
(Duncan) has been so helpful. I call her my diabetes mom. She always takes care of me, and I can count on her to help with whatever questions I have, she said.
In the five years since diagnosis, Witt has adapted every part of her life around the disease.
It affects everything I do. When I wake up, I need to make sure sugar is decent, that I didnt get too low during the night. When I exercise, I have to have something to eat with me because my blood sugar can drop quickly. And everything I eat I have to count, she said. A lot of people dont know a lot about food, so to learn actual nutrition helped me comprehend everything better.
Lifestyle is a huge focus for patients with diabetes, Duncan said. Many of the people they see dont exercise, eat poorly or smoke, contributing to and exasperating the situation. Misconceptions about the disease also have to be overcome.
People have to adjust the food they consume, when and how much they eat, factor in exercise and adapt to the medications.
Changing your lifestyle is probably the hardest thing in the world. We want everybody else in the world to change, but not us. When were told to change, it gets very uncomfortable, Duncan said. The key to being successful at this is helping the patient get to that point in their life, when they say theyre ready to change.
Goldsmith was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes around 2005 but refused to change much about her life. She had always eaten whatever she wanted and didnt do much exercising.
Though she was told to watch her concentrated sugars, she didnt pay attention. She kept gaining weight, reaching 171 pounds at the most.
I knew I was diabetic, but I just didnt do anything about it. I didnt watch myself. Thats what got me out of control, she said.
But during a checkup with her doctor, a blood test revealed that Goldsmiths glucose levels were almost twice the normal levels.
(My doctor) was very upset with me. She put me on medication, and sent me to Carla, she said. Without their help I wouldnt be where I am today.
Duncan schooled Goldsmith on portion control, how to count her carbohydrates so that too much wouldnt spike her glucose levels.
Living a more active lifestyle was also very important. Goldsmith hurt her back, which prevents her from walking long distances or running. But after she eats, she makes sure to do housework, finish the dishes, take care of laundry anything to keep moving.
The more I move around after I eat, the better my blood sugar numbers will be. If you eat a meal and sit down, let it absorb, it will screw up your numbers, she said.
Following Duncans advice, Goldsmith lost 40 pounds and dropped to 133. Her blood sugar levels have stabilized and she feels better than she has for years.
In addition to her diet and exercise, she takes one pill after breakfast, and three others after dinner to help her body regulate her blood sugar. Three times a day, she has to test her blood to monitor her sugar levels.
Medical professionals measure blood sugar to determine if a patient has diabetes. A normal blood glucose level is below 5.7 percent, while diabetes is diagnosed if that level is 6.5 percent of above.
Patients need to know how different factors affect their blood sugar, how to test it and what those numbers mean.
Even most people who have had diabetes for many years cant tell me what their blood sugar should be, Duncan said.
Duncan and her staff also work with people who come to the center with prediabetes their blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not yet reaching the level to be considered diabetes. The condition can often be reversed with lifestyle changes, such as improving your diet and getting more exercise.
They have to know how to do that, though, Duncan said.
Weight loss, exercise, diet. Most people with prediabetes need to lose a little bit of weight, probably arent as active as they need to be, she said. Our goal is more about lifestyle. By changing lifestyle, we can change that diagnosis back to normal to prevent the diagnosis of diabetes until later in life.
If you go
Diabetes education series
What: A series of workshops and informational meetings presented by the Johnson Memorial Health Diabetes Care Center teaching people about diabetes, blood sugar and other aspects of nutrition and the disease.
Where: Johnson County Public Library, Franklin Branch, 401 State St.
Next session: 1 to 3 p.m. June 22, focusing on sugars and carbohydrates, reading a food label and balancing your plate.
Additional workshop: 1 to 3 p.m. Sept. 28
Cost: Free. No registration necessary.
Information: (317) 346-3846 or JohnsonMemorial.org/Diabetes
Read the original post:
Diabetes cases on the rise - Daily Journal - Daily Journal
- World Diabetes Day 2024 - World Health Organization (WHO) - December 6th, 2024
- The WHO Global Diabetes Compact - December 6th, 2024
- Diabetes - World Health Organization (WHO) - December 6th, 2024
- Kumamoto University researchers discover groundbreaking antidiabetic compound - EurekAlert - December 6th, 2024
- Med's David Kaelber comments on GLP-1 agonists, which provide benefits like managing diabetes and weight loss - The Daily | Case Western Reserve... - December 6th, 2024
- Jordan Chiles Is On a Mission To Raise Awareness for Early Type 1 Diabetes Screening - Verywell Health - December 6th, 2024
- There's A Tasty Food That May Reduce Your Risk Of Developing Type 2 Diabetes, Study Shows - HuffPost - December 6th, 2024
- Empagliflozin Linked to Lower Risk of Diabetic Retinopathy Progression - Medpage Today - December 6th, 2024
- GLP-1 Medications Associated with Reduced Likelihood of Dementia Compared to Other Diabetic Meds - Epic Research - December 6th, 2024
- Sanders Slams Greed That Led to Surge in Obesity, Diabetes in US - The Well News - December 6th, 2024
- Eli Lilly to Expand Facility to Meet Demand for Diabetes, Obesity Treatments - The Wall Street Journal - December 6th, 2024
- New Study Teases Out Chocolate and Diabetes Connection - Medpage Today - December 6th, 2024
- Diabetes tool turned wellness trend: Is a glucose monitor right for you? - KARE11.com - December 6th, 2024
- Reporter doesnt have diabetes but wore a glucose monitor anyway. Here's what she learned - CNN - December 6th, 2024
- Lilly's Zepbound (tirzepatide) superior to Wegovy (semaglutide) in head-to-head trial showing an average weight loss of 20.2% vs. 13.7% - Investors |... - December 6th, 2024
- I dont have diabetes, but I wore a glucose monitor for six weeks. Heres what I learned about food (and anxiety) - CNN - December 6th, 2024
- Higher niacin levels linked to lower cardiovascular risk, but not in those with diabetes - Healio - December 6th, 2024
- This Type Of Chocolate Could Reduce Type 2 Diabetes Risk By 21% - NDTV - December 6th, 2024
- New Study Links Safer BPA Alternatives to Obesity, Diabetes, and Hormone Disruption - SciTechDaily - December 6th, 2024
- Turns Out Dark Chocolate Has a Health Benefit That's Shockingly GreatAnd Totally Unexpected - Well+Good - December 6th, 2024
- Global report on diabetes - World Health Organization (WHO) - October 22nd, 2024
- Ultra-processed food may be particularly harmful for people with diabetes, scientists warn - The Independent - October 22nd, 2024
- New drugs may be able to treat multiple problems beyond diabetes - The Straits Times - October 22nd, 2024
- Best Fruits for Diabetes (and What To Avoid) - Health Essentials - October 22nd, 2024
- Cutting Sugar May Reduce Your Diabetes, Stroke, and Depression Risk - Healthline - October 22nd, 2024
- Can Diabetes Care Teams Improve Patient Outcomes and Value? - Medscape - October 22nd, 2024
- Oral Semaglutide Reduces MACE Risk in People With Type 2 Diabetes and CVD - MD Magazine - October 22nd, 2024
- High expression of CNOT6L contributes to the negative development of type 2 diabetes - Nature.com - October 22nd, 2024
- Recent Advances and Therapeutic Benefits of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) Agonists in the Management of Type 2 Diabetes and Associated Metabolic... - October 22nd, 2024
- Dental teams could detect undiagnosed diabetes in more than one million people with new care pathway - Nature.com - October 22nd, 2024
- Groundbreaking Innovations in Diabetes Care: Highlights from the 2024 Diabetes Technology Meeting - Beyond Type 1 - October 22nd, 2024
- COVID-19 linked to type 2 diabetes onset in children - Medical Xpress - October 22nd, 2024
- The effect of adding pancreatin to standard otilinium bromide and simethicone treatment in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with irritable bowel... - October 22nd, 2024
- Does microdosing Ozempic work? What experts are saying about the diabetes drug also used for weight loss - Medical Xpress - October 22nd, 2024
- The Link between GLP-1 Drugs and Diabetic Retinopathy Is Not So Clear | AAO 2024 - Managed Healthcare Executive - October 22nd, 2024
- The overexpression of human amylin in pancreatic cells facilitate the appearance of amylin aggregates in the kidney contributing to diabetic... - October 22nd, 2024
- RNAO releases updated guidelines for diabetic foot ulcer care - Benefits and Pensions Monitor - October 22nd, 2024
- COVID-19 raises the risk of type 2 diabetes in children, study reveals - News-Medical.Net - October 22nd, 2024
- Semaglutide: What impact does it really have on heart health? - Medical News Today - October 22nd, 2024
- Glucose monitors for diabetes have finally been funded but a chronic workforce shortage will limit the benefits - The Conversation - October 22nd, 2024
- Early vs Late Fast Window: Is One More Effective? - Medscape - September 13th, 2024
- Breakthrough T1D Walk to Cure Type 1 Diabetes - KATU - September 13th, 2024
- Foods That May Increase Kids' Risk of Type 1 Diabetes Revealed - Newsweek - September 13th, 2024
- Beds and Herts patients to be re-tested in diabetes results error - BBC.com - September 13th, 2024
- This common habit increases your diabetes risk by 50%; Heres how to fix it - The Economic Times - September 13th, 2024
- Elevated risk of pre-diabetes and diabetes in people with past history of COVID-19 in northeastern Nigeria - BMC Public Health - September 13th, 2024
- Study links bananas, oats and yoghurt to greater diabetes risk in susceptible children - The Guardian - September 13th, 2024
- Could the Norton research teams studying diabetes and Alzheimer's come up with a cure? - Courier Journal - September 13th, 2024
- Weight loss, better beta-cell function tied to long-term glycemic control with tirzepatide - Healio - September 13th, 2024
- Study finds weekly insulin injections as effective for diabetes as daily shots - UPI News - September 13th, 2024
- Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus: Are we losing sight of overall health? Heres what the science says - The Conversation - September 13th, 2024
- With once-a-week dosing, insulin efsitora alfa delivers similar A1C reduction compared to daily insulin in adults with type 1 diabetes - PR Newswire - September 13th, 2024
- Dining with Diabetes workshops offered - The Courier-Express - September 13th, 2024
- Researchers uncover connection between two common diabetes drugs with implications for foot ulcer healing - News-Medical.Net - September 13th, 2024
- The menopause can increase your likelihood of developing heart disease, type 2 diabetes and hypertension but exercise can help lower risk - The... - September 13th, 2024
- Artificial pancreas shows promise in people with type 1 diabetes on kidney dialysis - MSN - September 13th, 2024
- How an Indian executive battled flesh-eating disease and diabetes, and won - South China Morning Post - September 13th, 2024
- India brings early Diabetic Retinopathy detection to the last mile with Artificial Intelligence - PR Newswire - September 13th, 2024
- Why this diabetes drug may be the answer to NASA search for radiation protection - Texas Public Radio - September 13th, 2024
- The National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the American Diabetes Association Promote Nutrition Security and its Role in Preventing and Managing... - September 13th, 2024
- He took up running rather than take diabetes medication. It worked - South China Morning Post - March 18th, 2024
- Eli Lilly cracks down on the use of weight loss drugs Mounjaro and Zepbound for cosmetic reasons instead of for diabetes and obesity - Fortune - January 9th, 2024
- Transforming Corporate Health: Fitterfly's Success in Tackling Diabetes and Weight Issues - Business Standard - January 9th, 2024
- For Those With Diabetes On Medicare Part D, Insulin Is $35...If Its Covered - Forbes - October 27th, 2023
- Biologist Douglas Melton: I was studying frogs until my son was diagnosed with diabetes then I started looking for a cure - EL PAS USA - October 27th, 2023
- Diabetes and Hearing Loss with Concept by Iowa Hearing | Paid Content - Local 5 - weareiowa.com - May 9th, 2023
- COUNTY COLUMN: Learn to Live well with diabetes at The Well - Norman Transcript - May 1st, 2023
- Want to Cut Type 2 Diabetes Risk? This High-fat Food Can Be the Answer, According to New Study - Revyuh - May 1st, 2023
- Diabetes: What It Is, Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Types - March 13th, 2023
- A number of healthtech startups claim they can reverse Type 2 diabetes. But caveats apply, caution doctors - Economic Times - March 13th, 2023
- Tampa doctor who lost brother to diabetes calls insulin price cut a 'game changer' - ABC Action News Tampa Bay - March 5th, 2023
- New study suggest people previously infected with COVID-19 could have increased risk for diabetes - CBS Los Angeles - February 16th, 2023
- Diabetes Symptoms, Causes, & Treatment | ADA - October 15th, 2022
- A nutritionist with type 1 diabetes shares the top 5 'food swaps' she eats to manage her blood sugar - CNBC - October 15th, 2022
- Diabetes and the gut: How a bacterial protein may impact insulin - Medical News Today - October 15th, 2022
- Milton teen involved in launch of diabetes support program - Milton Daily Standard - October 15th, 2022
- Providers Now Have Free Access to Latest Diabetes Technology in One Place - PR Newswire - October 15th, 2022
- 5 Modifiable Factors in Women with History of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus That Can Reduce the Risk of T2D - Pharmacy Times - October 15th, 2022
- BCMH the stoy of Diabetes and Determination - 921News - October 15th, 2022
- Can skipping a meal lead to diabetes and fat around abdomen? - The Indian Express - October 15th, 2022