Diet Dos, Don'ts to Cut Diabetes Risk
Low-Fat Diet: No Impact? continued...
For comparison, women in the other group weren't told to cut back on their dietary fat. They got a pamphlet with the federal government's dietary guidelines, but no counseling or group meetings.
None of the women in either group was asked to lose weight or get more exercise.
The study lasted for about eight years, and during that time, women in both groups were equally likely to report being diagnosed with diabetes. So Tinker's team concludes that cutting back on fat without exercising or losing weight may not be enough to curb diabetes risk.
But there is a catch: The women in the low-fat group cut back on fat, but not as much as they were supposed to.
Diet surveys showed that a year after the study began, the women in the low-fat group got about 24% of their daily calories from fat (mostly from saturated fat), and that this percentage edged up to almost 29% (still mostly saturated fat) by the study's sixth year -- well over the 20% goal. Trends in body weight were similar, with the low-fat women initially showing an average 5.3-pound weight loss, but regaining most of that weight by the end of the study.
Is This Normal? Get the Facts Fast!
Answer:
0-69
70-130
131+
Your level is currently
If the level is below 70 and you are experiencing symptoms such as shaking, sweating or difficulty thinking, you will need to raise the number immediately. A quick solution is to eat a few pieces of hard candy or 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey. Recheck your numbers again in 15 minutes to see if the number has gone up. If not, repeat the steps above or call your doctor.
People who experience hypoglycemia several times in a week should call their health care provider. It's important to monitor your levels each day so you can make sure your numbers are within the range. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.
Congratulations on taking steps to manage your health.
However, it's important to continue to track your numbers so that you can make lifestyle changes if needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.
Your level is high if this reading was taken before eating. Aim for 70-130 before meals and less than 180 two hours after meals.
Even if your number is high, it's not too late for you to take control of your health and lower your blood sugar.
One of the first steps is to monitor your levels each day. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.
Did You Know Your Lifestyle Choices
Affect Your Blood Sugar?
Use the Blood Glucose Tracker to monitor
how well you manage your blood sugar over time.
This tool is not intended for women who are pregnant.
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