- With Mayo Clinic diabetes educators
Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.
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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.
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Living with diabetes blog
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Aug. 6, 2010
Tips for managing diabetes with a hectic lifestyle
By Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.
A couple of months ago my son who is a grad student finished up a busy week writing papers, moved out of his apartment, and drove 12 hours to our house all within the space of 48 hours. He has type 1 diabetes and generally has been managing it well, but life can get hectic.
He came home and went straight to bed. We were away on a trip so he was home alone. He says that about an hour later, he woke up with our cat sitting on his chest snarling at him. Hobbes is a mild mannered cat and in all of his 16 years hasn't snarled at anybody, but that day he was persistent and continued to snarl and even bite (not breaking the skin) until my son woke up enough to realize that his blood sugar was low.
When he checked it was 40 mg/dl (2.2 mmol/l)! Later, when asked, my son said that because he was so tired he slept so hard and didn't realize his blood sugar was getting low.
Erratic work/school schedules and eating or exercising irregularly can lead to erratic blood sugars. Maybe you've switched to third shift at work, or started a new job, or added exercise to an already busy schedule. A variable lifestyle can challenge anyone's self-management skills.
A more stable lifestyle will improve blood sugar control. Once you've established a baseline of more consistent blood sugars, you can gradually introduce some variability in your lifestyle. A flexible lifestyle requires that you test more often, record your blood sugars, and make the appropriate insulin dose adjustments.
Some general tips:
- Keep good records and routinely review them.
- Try to keep regular meal times — when possible, eat the same number of carbohydrates at the same time of day.
- Get regular exercise at the same time of day — even for a few minutes.
- If you work an overnight shift, or rotating shifts, seek help from your diabetes care team, especially if you're on insulin.
- Get plenty of sleep so that what happened to my son doesn't happen to you. His story could have ended up differently.
- Monitor your blood sugar before you drive and every 2 hours thereafter. If your blood sugar is less than 100 mg/dl (5.5 mmol/l) have a snack before driving.
Please share your ideas and tips.
Peggy
11 comments posted
June 25, 2012 10:05 p.m.
This is just more evidence that cats rule
- Jeff
October 6, 2010 4:01 p.m.
I just wanted to say that my "hypo cat" just died in August - He was GREAT when it came to waking me if my sugar was heading into the danger zone. My Parson's Russell Terrier has also awakened me when this has occurred when we have been visiting relatives, so I guess she's going to have to "step up her game" and take over for my beloved Nigel! It's amazing what these animals can sense!
- Judi
August 23, 2010 4:42 p.m.
I'm an "old-timer", have been Type1 since diagnosis on 08/07/1975.I just turned 45,and can GUARANTEE that scheduling is a HUGE part of care-and complications. I cannot begin to add up the jobs I was denied,and when I did work as a bar mgr.,I would go into shock & slam a rootbeer while pouring a beer.It was either that or lose my job.And,with 3 healthy,active kids(thanks to Univ.Of Wa.diabetes/pregnancy project)and 2 ex's refusing to pay child support that was impossible.At this time,I've gone from $4500.00 a mo.to $674.00 a mo.on SSI.I did get a pump-but terrified to use due to hypoglycemic unawareness.NOBODY will cover CGMS,which would possibly allow me to go back to work.My 8yr.old grandson watched me go into a grand mal seizure because of this.If I had known the laws then...I would OWN 3-4 restaurants/bars.I refuse to quit-just got custody of a 5yr.old grandson.My youngest just turned 19.! I keep researching/advocating/kicking doors as my partner calls it, looking for SOME WAY to restore the quality of life I had at one time.Stay to a schedule,research options,and NEVER GIVE UP.!!! Your life literally depends on it.
- Deborah
August 20, 2010 12:49 p.m.
You are so right that a regular routine is key to managing blood sugar levels. This is where young people can come unstuck as their lives are often full and possibly erratic. Choosing low glycaemic index foods at each meal can go a long way toward helping a diabetic to stabilise blood sugar levels. For instance, check out the following information -http://conceptnutrition.com.au/choose-low-gl
ycaemic-index-foods-and-lose-weight-fast/, to get a feel for how not all rice grains are created equal and choosing the ones that are digested more slowly (glycaemic index of less than 55) goes a long way toward controlling blood sugar levels. - Giselle Brand
August 16, 2010 2:04 a.m.
Yes I work at nights and it has killed me on my Diabeties. My Dr. kept telling me that I need to test as many times as I can. Well I work in a enviroment where I cant always check it. So I had to go to the next level " A Pump ". Well let me tell you it has a great differance on my life and my control of this illness. At first I was ready for a change and ready for my blood sugar to be at a stable level. Now after about 6 months its good but its strange that this little machine contols my life. It is my life line without it I would be sick and with it sometimes its a pain in the tush. I am greatful for my Dr. who has helped me control my bloodsugars and with ALOT of work and support from my family and even co-workers, life is good. Not only has my bloodsugar been good, well better than before I have lost 15 pounds in the last 3 months and plan to keep going. People and children with a pump are a special group of people and for anyone out there who reads this who has one, keep up the hard work, we have a new look at life and it is going to be all right. Good luck to all.
- Aaron
August 12, 2010 5:32 p.m.
I know a woman who is in her late 30's and had high blood sugar for 12 years that could not be controlled with the usual treatments for diabetes. Only after being diagnosed with an adnormal adrenal gland problem, did she get the proper treatment to control her blood sugar. Has anyone heard of this condition?
- Allan
August 11, 2010 10:15 a.m.
very interesting and great cat! In England are training Labrador to help children with diabetes. Labrador dog probably has a sensitivity to the odor of the person on hypoglycemia since there are plenty of sweating when the value of sugar is very low.
- maria
August 10, 2010 11:00 p.m.
Exercise is wonderful if your blood sugar is in range. But it's the last thing a Type 1 Diabetic would do if they are low, first, they need to ingest a fast acting carb to bring their blood sugar back up into the normal range and second, exercise could bring the persons blood sugar even lower. A Type 1 should also not exercise when their blood sugar is high - exercise actually increases will increase BS if it is already high with a higher risk of spilling ketones.
- Carla
August 10, 2010 9:31 p.m.
very good informative artical. iam a sugar (Type-II) patient for the last ten years. I have observed that a fast walk of thirty minutes help to stabalise the sugar level. "Mandook aasan " of yoga also helps.
- Rakesh
August 6, 2010 5:35 a.m.
its really good information:) thank you so much for the tips. i needed this for my health assignment:)
- zeezee
August 6, 2010 3:31 a.m.
I have seen that taking complex carb meals, with good protein and ten min bicycling every two or three hours and every one half hour if you have time keeps the sugar stable. Ask him to keep stationary exercise cycle both at workplace and in his room. This way he can do cycling. Even when he is very tired he can do ten to fifteen mins of cycling.
- Meher
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