OMG now diabetes wants to take away my caffeine!!

What will I have to eliminate from my diet next?

There have been conflicting reports on caffeine and diabetes so we’ll keep the topic live on this article.

For most people regardless of if they have diabetes or not, part of their morning routine is to sit with a nice cup of coffee to start their day. Coffee as we all know contains caffeine which is a stimulant. This is why coffee wakes so many people up in the morning.

Caffeine and Diabetes: What we thought

It was originally thought that caffeine does not affect your blood sugar when it is consumed in moderate amounts. However within the past few years, research has come out showing that caffeine makes diabetes worse. In fact researchers from Duke University Medical Centerdiscovered a strong link between caffeine consumption at mealtimes and higher blood glucose and insulin levels.

Caffeine and Diabetes Study

James D. Lane, PHD did a study and discovered this. He took 10 people who had type 2 diabetes and had them stop drinking coffee. On one morning the patients took pill that contained 250 mg caffeine and then another one at lunch. This equals about 2 cups of coffee at each meal. On some mornings they were given a placebo pill with no caffeine in them. What he saw was that on days where caffeine was consumed, the blood sugar levels were 8% higher than on the days they didn’t have caffeine.

Additional Caffeine Studies

Ironically enough, there have been several studies that show that coffee drinkers, especially heavy coffee drinkers have a lower risk of diabetes. This baffled quiet a number of people. How can coffee both protect against diabetes yet also worsen diabetes? You need to remember that it is not the coffee that does it but rather the caffeine in the coffee that is no good if you have diabetes. In fact some studies are showing that there are other components of coffee, excluding caffeine, which may be beneficial in the long term reduction of diabetes risk. For some reason though, the anti-diabetes compound that many scientists feel are in coffee, they do not offset the harmful effects that come with the caffeine included in coffee. There was a study done where caffeine was put into decaf coffee (the decaff coffee has no effect on blood sugar levels after being drank) and there was still the rise in blood sugar levels after it was consumed.

What Should Diabetics Do?

So what does this mean for you if you suffer from diabetes? Well for starters, you do not have to give up your morning cup of joe, but you should consider switching over to decaf. As said before, coffee itself does have some benefits for diabetics but the risk that comes with the caffeine in regular coffee is not worth the risk. You also need to stop drinking anything that has caffeine in it. This includes many soft drinks. Some diabetics who are able to control their blood sugar levels can tell if they have to high of a level. If you are like this, you probably can continue to drink your regular coffee in moderation. But remember the second you feel your blood sugar level going high, you have to switch to decaf.

It is a hard thing for many people to give up their caffeine, but in the end it is going to help you better manage your diabetes.

My grocery shopping trip

Ok, so I went shopping when I had a sugar craving. I first hit up the vegetables. Bought salads and green leafy veggies. Yum. All was going well.

  Then it happened.

  I turned down the sugar isle without even realizing it. On the left were all kinds of dessert toppings. Carmel sauce. Whipped cream. Sprinkles. Candy. On the right were every type of ice cream you could think of. My eyes were fixated on the Ben and Jerry's peanut butter cup.

  Just then, a devil popped up onto my left shoulder. It spoke.

  "Ya know Dan," it started, "if you poured half a jar of caramel syrup and topped it off with whipped topping, that ice cream would put you in a state of nirvana."

 Just then, an angel appeared on my right shoulder. It also spoke.

  "Don't listen to him! He wants to kill you. Get out of this aisle and go find yourself some healthy organic food."

  But the devil retorted: "Organic food is expensive! And bland. It will bore you to death.'

 Angel: "To death is where you will be headed if you eat sugar"
 Devil:  "Lies! And besides, everyone dies eventually. If you eat ice cream tonight, you will not die!"
Angel: "Dan, that ice cream will only make you ----"

  I positioned the tip of my thumb to my middle fingernail. I put it next to the angel and flicked it off my shoulder.
  "Tonight we ride!" I shouted as the devil and I put the ice cream, syrup and whipped topping into the grocery cart.

Disposal of medical waste

You should use an approved container for your used lancets (aka "sharps") with a bio-hazard sticker clearly displayed on the container. Be sure to take it to a facility where it can be incinerated and the lancets can be sterilized and re-sharpened for re-use.

Why are they called lancets?

They are called lancets because they are shaped more like a knife blade that lances you rather than a pin point that pokes you. Here are some microscopic photos of a lancet tip:

Checking glucose level with a used lancet on an unwashed skin area

I have been to 2 different diabetes education courses to learn about my disease. Both courses were accredited by the ADA. Both taught me that each and every time I check my glucose level, I must first wash the area that is going to be checked. Then I have to get the meter ready. Then I sterilize the lancet area with an alcohol pad. Then I switch out the old lancet and put in a new one. Then I can finally check

How many times have I checked with a used lancet on an unwashed skin surface? Countless numbers of times out of sheer laziness.

If any other diabetics that read this do the same, please comment about it below. Thank you.

Meter Comparison

Check out the link below to find the best glucometer for you!

http://www.diabeteswellbeing.com/blood-glucose-meters/

http://www.comparediabetictestingsupplies.com/

How to test your blood sugar by Wikihow

How to Test Your Blood Sugar

You have been diagnosed with diabetes and you do not know how to take your blood glucose levels, or you want to test your blood glucose for another reason, use the following steps.

Steps

1. 1
   Become familiar with the directions that came with the meter and lancing device. Different meters can vary wildly in how they operate: some now have a continuous "cassette" of test strips, and some have advanced functions such as pattern recognition. Most blood glucose meters will be similar to that shown in this article, however.
2. 
   2
   Take a test strip out and place it in the glucose meter. You should find that the meter switches on automatically and prompts you to add a drop of blood.
3. 
   3
   Look at the screen to check that the number displayed is the same as the code on the packet of strips. This step may not apply to some meters which are automatically coded.
4. 
   4
   Take lancets out and place one in your lancing device with the dial set to the depth of your choice.

   • Pull off the top of the lancet device and put the lancet into the device.
   • Push the lancet into the device until you hear a click, or can feel that it is pushed down all the way into place.
   • Most lancets will have a small cap over them, hiding the needle: be sure to remove this before placing the lancing device cap back on.
5. 
   5
   Wash hands with soap and warm water. Never use hand wipes or hand sanitizer, as these can affect the result.
6. 
   6
   Dry hands well and gently rub the finger you have chosen to prick. It is a good idea to rotate which finger you use for tests, as overusing a finger can cause it to become sore and more difficult to get blood out of.
7. 7
   Angle your hand toward the floor to get the blood flowing in the direction of your fingertip.
8. 8
   Prick the side of your finger (pricking the side doesn't hurt as much as the tip). Pull back the end, freely-moving section of the lancing device and press the opposite end to your finger. Press the button that releases the lancet.

   • Different lancing devices may operate differently to this: read the manual.
9. 
   9
   Gently squeeze the finger to release a drop of your blood. Don't squeeze too hard.
10. 10
    Apply the blood to the end of the test strip. There will be a countdown and then your glucose level will show on the screen.
11. 
    11
    Dispose of your lancet and test strip carefully in biohazard container or sharps bin. Using a new lancet each time reduces the pain involved in pricking your finger.
12. 
    12
    Record your blood glucose result in your glucose diary. Keeping a diary can help you to spot patterns, and discuss your results with your healthcare team.