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Diabetes Tools You Need to Know About

Managing diabetes can be easier when you equip yourself with a little help.

“Find the right tool for the right job,” is an axiom that floats around repair shops. The same idea fits when it comes to managing diabetes. Here are some suggestions for your toolbox so you can live a more carefree life, even with diabetes.

Electronic Logs
Computer programs such as the bG Monitor XM (blood glucose monitor) can help you document food intake, keep track of medications, monitor weight, and more. These programs allow you to see trends and monitor blood glucose two hours after a meal. They link to handheld devices, so you can add information no matter where you are.

Glucose Meters
Meters have come a long way, now with results in as little as five seconds. Some models permit testing in the forearm or thigh, instead of the fingertip. Plus they store up to 365 readings in memory, which can be downloaded and used in conjunction with diabetes management software programs. The key with choosing a glucose meter is to have it match your needs and lifestyle. For example, if you have arthritis, you should choose a meter that doesn’t require dexterity to insert and remove test strips.

Insulin Pumps
An insulin pump is a small device that delivers insulin continuously to the body. When used correctly, these devices often allow people with insulin-dependent diabetes to gain even better blood glucose control with just one skin puncture every three days, instead of four to six injections a day. Insulin pumps of the past were cumbersome to operate. Now pumps, such as the OmniPod Insulin Management System, have attachments inserted in a patient’s abdomen that include a glucose infuser and a transmitter that’s sort of like a PDA.

Recipe Evaluator
Meal planning is perhaps the most overwhelming part of diabetes care. But the American Diabetes Association has developed Cook’n Diabetes software to analyze recipes for nutritional content, including fat, carbohydrate, protein, calories, sodium, and more. It also contains more than a thousand recipes. As a bonus, this tool can automatically adapt recipes to feed any number of people. For more information, visit www.diabetes.org.

Certified Diabetes Educators
The trained diabetes educators must hold a current license as a registered nurse, registered dietitian, or other qualified health care professional. They also require at least two calendar years of experience and a thousand hours of diabetes patient and self-management education. Initial visits may last an hour or more as the educator helps you understand the disease, reviews your treatment and medication use, and plans meals. To find a certified diabetes educator, call the American Diabetes Association at (800) 342-2383 or the American Association of Diabetes Educators at (800) 832-6874.