January 2023
A Few Choice Words
Nobody likes being told what to do. As humans, we prefer to have some say in our choices.
The good news is that diabetes self-care is chock-full of options. For example, Avoid hypos or hypers? This has been debated by top clinicians at academic institutions for years. Even with the latest medications, technologies and management approaches, there remains a tradeoff (albeit less of a tradeoff than in years past). Work to avoid the highs and potential long-term issues, and you will likely suffer more lows in the short-term. Focus on avoiding the lows, and hyperglycemia increases. The key for most is finding a healthy balance. Limit or don’t limit carbs? There are schools of thought on both sides, and a number of pros/cons associated with each. Quality glucose management can be achieved with either approach. Carbs certainly present challenges, so it takes more insulin-juggling to keep the bloodsugars in-line. The question is, is the extra work worth it? Focus on weight loss or fitness? Achieving and maintaining a “healthy” weight is a sought-after goal for most people with diabetes. Much has been said recently about the true health benefits of weight loss compared to the value of physical fitness. Researchers are finding that a“weight-neutral” approach, focusing on improved musculature and cardiovascular fitness, produces long-term health benefits that are at least as good as a weight-loss approach. Again, there are pros and cons to each. Personal preference is of the utmost importance. At Integrated Diabetes Services, we’re all about working with you to achieve your goals. We don’t have preset targets for everyone. And we recognize that there is often more than one way to achieve those goals. When that’s the case, we’ll provide you with the information and resources you need to make the best choice and then implement it. I hope you enjoy this edition of Diabetes Bites. Be sure to check out our clinicians’ columns, the news articles, as well as the “fun stuff” towards the end. And if any of your New Year’s goals involve your diabetes, please reach out. We recognize that you have choices when it comes to healthcare providers, so thank you for the opportunity to serve you. Here’s to having choices!
