
- With Mayo Clinic diabetes educators
Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.
Nancy Klobassa Davidson and Peggy Moreland
Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., B.S.N, C.D.E
Nancy Klobassa Davidson is a registered nurse who has worked in diabetes education for 17 years. She is a certified diabetes educator (C.D.E.) and is currently in graduate school working on a Master of Science in nursing (M.S.N.) and health care education.Nancy works with adults who have type 1, type 2 and other forms of diabetes. Nancy is coordinator of the Diabetes Unit's intensive insulin therapy program within the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism, & Nutrition at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Nancy has worked extensively with insulin pump therapy and continuous interstitial glucose sensing.
Peggy Moreland, R.N., M.S.N.
Peggy Moreland is a certified diabetes educator (C.D.E.) in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism, & Nutrition at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.Peggy graduated with a Master of Science in Nursing and Health Care Education from the University of Phoenix and is a member of the American Association of Diabetes Educators and the American Diabetes Association. A certified diabetes educator (C.D.E.), Peggy enjoys working with patients to set and achieve diabetes self-management goals.
Latest entries
- Preventing diabetic retinopathy
Feb. 4, 2012
- Teens with diabetes: Transitioning to adult care
Jan. 20, 2012
- Diabetes: Setting goals
Dec. 30, 2011
- Diabetes: Don't forget to laugh
Dec. 21, 2011
- Generational influence and controlling impulses
Nov. 17, 2011
Living with diabetes blog
-
July 26, 2011
Know your blood glucose target range
By Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.
Wow, what a tremendous response to the new diabetes blog. You are showing the huge impact diabetes has on an individual's life, family, community, and society as a whole.
Peggy and I would like to thank all of you for sharing your stories about living with diabetes. As you all know, diabetes is a complex issue and there are many facets involved in managing and living with the disease.
In viewing the comments, we would like to thank you for sharing your personal experiences, challenges, burdens, and successes. This is your opportunity to share information and tips, and Peggy and I plan on choosing a couple items each week to respond to.
This week I would like to talk about the blood glucose target range. What should it be? A normal fasting blood glucose target range for an individual without diabetes is 70-100 mg/dL (3.9-5.6 mmol/L). The American Diabetes Association recommends a fasting plasma glucose level of 70–130 mg/dL (3.9-7.2 mmol/L) and after meals less than 180 mg/dL (10 mmol/L).
Individuals with hypoglycemic unawareness (limited or no awareness of low blood glucose symptoms) may require a lower target range. Your healthcare provider may personalize your blood glucose target for specific medical conditions. Blood glucose targets should be in a healthy range to prevent diabetes complications, but also keep you safe from serious low blood glucoses.
Remember, blood glucose targets are targets. Diabetes is a balancing acting and blood glucoses will fluctuate; even sharpshooters don't hit the bull's-eye every time.
Once again, thank you. Keep the comments coming. We will try to address some of your concerns in the upcoming weeks.
- Nancy
102 comments posted
January 10, 2012 1:51 p.m.
My Glucose test reading is 106 considered H . Should I make any changes at this time in Diet?
- Phyllis
December 20, 2011 8:38 p.m.
I'm glad I found this blog. I want to recommend Stevia and Agave Syrup if you REALLY need to sweeten anything. Artificial sweeteners like Splenda and others are poison to your liver. Be careful with diabetes meds because Diabetes is very lucrative for doctors and the Pharmacology business. Keeping you dependent on meds makes everyone rich, but keeps you sick. Combine them with Reading a lot about natural alternatives that help control blood sugar like regular exercise, cinnamon, lemon juice, ginger, and others. Get plenty of antioxidants through blueberries and strawberries, get Omega 3's and get more info. I notice that many bloggers are worried about their glucose readings. Combining natural remedies with your meds may be the answer. I'm vexed because I was recently diagnosed with metabolic syndrome (I have my blood pressure controlled now, thank God) and no doctor told me any side effects of the meds. I never took any meds for chronic conditions for 54 years, so I am new in the market. We should be informed. I didn't dare take Zocor after reading them, and I really think they were unnecessarily recommended. I was borderline, I'm working that through diet. Thanks for the opportunity to share here.
- Mary Ann
September 14, 2011 11:19 a.m.
I am not diabetic. But my glucose level was 128 at my last blood work at the doctors office. He said that since my A1C is good at 5.4 I shouldn't worry. What say you? Thanks.
- Nan
August 8, 2011 12:10 p.m.
diabetes for some reson seems to be an illness that most people dont mind having like to know all about and happily manage ourselves. my problem is understanding the difference between to much blood suger and to little? ie to mars bar or not to mars bar? love. tony. x.
- anthony
August 4, 2011 6:55 p.m.
is there such a rx to prevent diabetice,a friend is on a medication and she isnt even borderline- a nurse pract. perscribed the rx and she is losing more hair than normal her taste buds are compromised and she is loosing weight.
- polly
August 3, 2011 4:08 p.m.
I've been able to keep my Haic at apx 6 on a very low carbo control.....included in my diet is a product called Dreamfields , a pasta that some how digests only 5% of the carbs. After 2hrs my blood sugar is around 140 where my doc. says it should be......any comments to the effacy of this product..thanks
- Jerry
August 2, 2011 10:39 a.m.
I'm so glad to get your thoughts on Diabetic Range. I know now that I am within that range. I thought for awhile I was too high.
- Joyce
July 27, 2011 1:36 p.m.
I have read that low iron in the body can give abnormally HIGH blood glucose readings, will iron supplements help?
- Chuck
July 26, 2011 11:22 a.m.
Ed and those who use mmol vs mg/dl for blood glucose readings: In the United States, blood glucose is measured in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). In many other western countries, blood glucose is measured in millimoles per liter (mmoles/L) (such as England, Canada, and Australia). You can do your own conversion as follows: Divide the (USA)blood glucose mg/dl value by 18 to get the metric value: (mg/dl / 18 = mmol/L). Multiply the metric value by 18 to get the decimal value: (mmol/L x 18 = mg/dl).
- Nancy and Peggy
July 25, 2011 3:46 p.m.
7.2 mmol/L = 130 mg/dl
- Nancy and Peggy
July 23, 2011 3:44 p.m.
Your figures appear to be the ones you use in the US. Here above the frost line we seem to use a different scale. My reading after a meal is usually 7.2 Where does that sit against your scale. Is there any way to convert from the US figures to those used in Canada????
- Ed
April 2, 2011 10:08 a.m.
I have had type II for approximately 15 years. At 69 years of age, 5'10" and 200 lbs, all of a sudden my morning readings are above 300 (this morning 345). I do not eat late in the evenings and my breakfast usually consists of ceral (sweet-n-low) and soy milk,sometimes a small apple or bananna. During my average day I eat light and often (good food) & my sugar is always above 200. I recently went to my doc and my AIC was over 7. I take glocofage(850)-two pills twice a day. MY MAIN QUESTION is how do I get my sugar down when it is well over 300?? Just more pills does not work...
- Larry
March 28, 2011 9:52 a.m.
My husband is going through throat cancer surgery and treatment. My emotions are on a roller coaster. One night I woke to find that my blood sugar had dropped to 57. I took sugar and a banana and brought it back up, but now I live in fear every night that it will drop again so I wake once or twice a night and take readings. I don't know what caused it or how to be sure it doesn't happen again. A nurse practitioner told me to have a glass of milk and a few crackers with peanut butter before going to bed. Also to take only half of my 5mg oral medication. Should a type 2 diabetic have a light snack before bedtime? How can I calm myself and go back to a restful nights sleep. Does extreme emotional distress cause unstable blood sugar readings?
- Barbara
March 12, 2011 12:25 p.m.
I have had tow fasting BG of 107 since menopause occurred 5 months ago. The tingling in my legs has improved since I began counting carbs and testing to keep BG numbers down. My A1C is 5.7. I am concerned with BG readings of 178 an hour to hour and a half after meals at times. Fruit and any bread..even whole grain..shoots it up. A Glucose tolerance test showed 170 at 2 hours...wasn't checked at one hour or three. Can I have hidden diabetes?
- Beth
February 27, 2011 12:24 p.m.
I am age 48, a recent addition to the diabetic population. I have always been healthy, eat right, however I was not very active. I weigh 150 pounds and I am Five Feet & 1.5 Inches tall, so I am overweight for my height. I have had high blood pressure since I was 26 years old. I am on medicine for my blood pressure, but was totally unprepared for the news of being a diabetic. My doctor's nurse called me with the news. It has been 1 week and no phone call has been received yet from the Diabetic Nutritionist to inform me as to what diet I need to follow. I looked up the diabetic info. and found your web site. Thank you. It has helped me.
- Catherine
January 12, 2011 2:19 p.m.
Lou, I wouldn't get too involved in frequent testing of your blood glucose through out the day. See your health provider and ask for a fasting blood glucose and A1c test. This will tell you if you need to be concerned or if you are in fact pre diabetic. Metering is not an exact science and results will vary from test to test; not uncommonly by 15%. We tell our newly diagnosed diet controlled diabetics or prediabetics to test a fasting blood glucose once a week. If you are concerned about diabetes, try to maintain a healthy weight and do regular excercise.
- Nancy and Peggy
January 8, 2011 8:57 a.m.
I have not been diagnosed as a pre or full blown diabetic but family history is not on my side. My father was diagnosed in his fifties (I'm 55) and I think it's my turn. I have a test meter and my fasting level this morning (13 hours since my last meal) was 125 (left middle finger) and 113 (right middle finger). These were the first tests and I will continue to monitor throughout the day, any suggestions?
- Lou
December 7, 2010 1:34 p.m.
slow carbs may become sugar in the mouth for your dementia patient who seems to chew her food (whole grain cereal) till it must be powder mixed with saliva. This was our breakfast spike!
- David
December 4, 2010 7:54 a.m.
I have three sisters and three brothers with type2 diabetes. My fasting sugar (more than 12 hours fasting) runs between 101 to 104 I eat healthy exercise 5 days a week. What else can I do to reduce it to 85..thanks alicia
- alicia
December 1, 2010 7:34 p.m.
I have been controlling my blood sugar thru excercise and varing amounts of metformin. I am now per my Dr. taking 1000 mg twice a day. My morning readings before eating are creeping up-especially if I fall off the wagon and eat something loaded with carbs. I work out almost daily and am close to normal range in weight. I seems as time goes on it can take days for my morning readings to lower. I really watch my diet-ideas for someone like me that has high readings in the morning before eating anything?
- Brad
December 1, 2010 4:05 p.m.
jackie, have your husband see his medical provider soon. Any changes in skin color is a concern.
- Nancy and Peggy
November 28, 2010 10:44 a.m.
My husband thinks that controlling his blood sugar is using insulin. He takes 164 units a day! exercise is riding on the lawn mower and he eats constantly and has food hideen everywhere including the trunk of his car. I noticed his big toe is turning black below yhe nail and his other toes are turning light brown. I see nothing about this in your info, he has no infections that are noticable. Help
- jackie
November 18, 2010 2:23 p.m.
Kristi, you are having hypoglycemia. The blood glucose meter is generally accurate within 15%, so in reality the blood glucose could be below 70 mg/dl or 3.8 mmol/L. How quickly the blood glucose is dropping, if you have been consistently running higher blood glucoses or frequent low blood glucoses can make a difference to when you feel the symptoms of hypoglycemia. It sounds like your insulin/diabetes medication should be adjusted to a lower dosage to prevent hypoglycemia. Please discuss this with your health care provider.
- Nancy and Peggy
November 10, 2010 7:56 p.m.
I am often shaky and weak and panicky-hungry in the morning when I first wake and usually again a couple hours after lunch and sometimes dinner as well. I just started testing my glucose levels.. I woke up shaky and panicky-hungry so I tested my glucose and had 78 (but that is considered normal) then I tested it after work because I was feeling funny again and it was 74 (which is also considered normal). So I was wondering if "normal" changes for each individual??
- Kristi
November 7, 2010 6:23 p.m.
6 years ago I was diagonised with type 2 diabetes, I used my diiet and some exercise to help control my sugar, no meds. Then 5 months ago my numbers were going up, my dr put me of Metformin 500 mg 2x a day. I cannot seem to get my morning numbers down below 115 sometimes higher. Could the reason that I cannot get my morning numbers down be due to me waiting for 6 years before going on metformin??
- Kathyc

102 comments posted