Diabetes 2002: Dr. Grimshaw’s Guide, Part IV

Basic Pointers For Controlling Blood Sugar:

•   Avoid simple sugars such as candy, cookies, cakes, pudding, Jello, ice cream and fruit juice.  Excess “quick” white flour foods such as noodles, pasta, potatoes, rice and white bread bring higher sugars.


•   Increase fiber at meals such as whole wheat bread, brown rice, vegetable and beans.



Have whole fruits (rather than juice) with meals.


•   Equally distribute calories with 3 meals and 1-2 snacks per day.  This avoids large blood sugar rises


•   Include protein, complex carbohydrates and “good fats” at all meals.  Olive or canola oil are ok. This again decreases the rise of sugar in the blood with meals.


•   Combine carbohydrates and protein (or use complex carbs) for snacks.  Skim milk works fine.


•   Check your blood sugar frequently to see what happened from your last meal and to help figure what to eat next.


•   Don’t eat 2-3 hours before bedtime unless your bedtime blood sugar is in the 80-120 range or if you’re on insulin or pills that drop your sugar (not Glucophage or Actos or Avandia).




Travelling With Insulin?
If going across 6 or more time zones:
Going West:
Single dose:
•   take usual dose on the day of departure
•   18 hours after departure, take 1/3 of dose + snack if sugar over 240
•   1st day at destination, take usual dose

Two doses:
•   take usual AM and PM doses on day of departure
•   18 hours after departure, take 1/3 AM dose + snack if sugar over 240

Going East:
Single dose:
•   take usual dose on day of departure
•   1st morning at destination, take 2/3 usual dose
•   10 hours after AM dose, take 1/3 AM dose if sugar > 240
•   2nd day take usual dose

Two doses:
•   take usual doses on day of departure
•   1st morning take 2/3 usual AM dose if sugar over 240
•   10 hours after AM dose, take usual PM dose + 1/3 AM dose

Source: The Diabetic Traveler PO Box 8223 RW
Stamford, CN 06905.  Send SASE for more info