November is National Diabetes Month, and as a proud supporter, Glucerna recently marked the occasion by participating in Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes® in Columbus, Ohio. Step Out walks are family events held nationally for those who want to get involved and help stop diabetes.*

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Taking good care of your diabetes today can help you avoid health-related problems in the future. Your health care team will help you design the best care plan for your individual needs.

The primary goals of a diabetes care plan are to:

• Keep blood sugar readings at target levels.
  • 70 to 130 mg/dL before meals
  • Less than 180 mg/dL two hours after meals
• Maintain your hemoglobin A1C levels at 7% or less...
  
  

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Whether you’re traveling out of town or are out and about for the day, use these tips for eating healthy when you're on the go.

Take It With You

If possible, pack your own food. For a suitcase-friendly snack, try whole-wheat crackers with low-fat cheese or peanut butter, or Glucerna® Snack Bars. If you have room for a cooler, bring fresh fruit, sliced vegetables, or Glucerna Shakes. It’s also a good idea to carry a juice box, some hard candy, or glucose tablets to treat low blood sugar if necessary.

The holidays are here and along with them they bring joyous times to catch up with friends and family. Unfortunately, the holidays also bring about stress with changes in schedules, traveling and just trying to fit everything in. If you have diabetes, the holidays can add an additional stress with the focus on food. Stress also has the ability to increase blood sugars. Use some or all of the following tips to help defeat stress and stay healthy so you can fully enjoy this holiday season and many more to come!

1. Simplify: Be sure you don't overextend yourself during this already busy time. Avoid taking on any extra duties (hosting too many parties, offering to cook several meals, etc.).
2. Organize: Get started early on holiday shopping. If crowds at stores and malls are a stressor for you, plan to do most of your shopping online...
   
   

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Medications are a vital part of diabetes management, so knowing your pharmacist and being able to communicate about your medications is a plus. Choosing one pharmacy to fill all of your prescriptions will help the pharmacist keep track of your medications and recognize potential interaction concerns.

Tips for Prescription and Medication Safety

• Each time you get a new prescription, ask the pharmacist to look at your profile and check for interactions.
• When you bring home a medication refill, double-check the name on the bottle, the medication name, and the dose. Also, compare the new pills with the old ones. Pill colors and sizes do change, so if there is a discrepancy, call your pharmacist...
  
  

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