Hypoglycemia occurs when your blood glucose drops too low-usually less than 4 mmol/L. This is caused by:  Not eating enough food Missing or delaying a meal Exercising without taking the necessary precautions Taking too much insulin Drinking alcohol  Low blood glucose can happen quickly, so it is important to take care of it right away.   The warning signs of low blood glucose – You may fe

Eating healthy is the key to managing your diabetes. The Diabetes Food Guide can help you figure out how many servings of grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy, protein, and fats you should eat each day. Make sure you limit alcohol. The number of servings you need depends on how many calories are right for you. This is based on your age, sex, size, and activity level. Grains, beans, and starchy vegetables Daily serving

The food label offers complete, useful and accurate nutrition information to consumers. With food labels, you get the following information: nutrition information about almost every food in the grocery store; distinctive, easy-to-read formats that enable consumers to more quickly find the information they need to make healthful food choices; information on the amount per serving of saturated fat, cholesterol, di

Gestational diabetes affects the mother in late pregnancy, after the baby’s body has been formed, but while the baby is busy growing. Because of this, gestational diabetes does not cause the kinds of birth defects sometimes seen in babies whose mothers had diabetes before pregnancy. However, untreated or poorly controlled gestational diabetes can hurt your baby. When you have gestational diabetes, your pancre

What is type 1 diabetes? Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease results when the body’s system for fighting infection (the immune system) turns against a part of the body. In diabetes, the immune system attacks the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas and destroys them. The pancreas then produces little or no insulin. A person who has type 1 diabetes must take insulin daily to

Try to be active most days of the week. Whenever you can, walk instead of taking the car. If you have to drive, park in the spot farthest from the door. Start slowly and gradually increase the amount of effort; for instance, progress from strolling to brisk walking. Talk to your diabetes healthcare team to learn how to adjust your insulin and food to prevent low blood glucose levels while exercising. Take prec

Knowing what to eat can be confusing. Everywhere you turn, there is news about what is or isn’t good for you. Some basic principles have weathered the fad diets, and have stood the test of time. Here are a few tips on making healthful food choices for you and your entire family. Eat lots of vegetables and fruits. Try picking from the rainbow of colors available to maximize variety. Eat non-starchy vegetables

What is diabetes? Diabetes is a disease in which your body cannot properly store and use fuel for energy. The fuel that your body needs is called glucose. Glucose comes from foods such as breads, cereals, pasta, rice, potatoes, fruits and some vegetables. To use glucose, your body needs insulin. Insulin is made by a gland in your body called the pancreas. You have diabetes because either: Your body makes too litt

Flu-like symptoms. Diabetes can sometimes feel like a viral illness, with fatigue, weakness and loss of appetite. Sugar is your body’s main fuel, and when it doesn’t reach your cells you may feel tired and weak. Weight gain or loss. Because your body is trying to compensate for lost fluids and sugar, you may eat more than usual and gain weight. But the opposite also can occur. You may eat more than nor

What is type 2 diabetes? The most common form of diabetes is type 2 diabetes. About 90 to 95 percent of people with diabetes have type 2. This form of diabetes is associated with older age, obesity, family history of diabetes, previous history of gestational diabetes, physical inactivity, and ethnicity. About 80 percent of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight. Type 2 diabetes is increasingly being diagnosed i