Thursday, July 3, 2008

Why Control Solution?


Control Solution is a Meter specific Solution that is used to ensure that the Meter System is working correctly. Each Meter will use a Control Solution made just for that particular Meter or brand of Meters. Each Meter will give a range of Solution test results, a low through a high, usually located on the bottle of strips. To make certain that the Meter is working correctly, the Control Test result should fall within the recommended range. Control Solution should be used as the very first test that you make with a brand new Meter. It is good practice, also, to use the Control Solution whenever you open a new container of test strips. In addition, if your Blood Glucose Meter has been dropped, damaged or endured extreme temperatures, you want to use the Control Solution to check it's accuracy. Furthermore, if you feel that a test result is invalid, you can check the Meter System's performance at any time using the Meter's Control Solution. Keep in mind that the Solution does have a shelf life, about 3 months from the date it was opened or the "use by" date on the Solution bottle. For all Meter specific details, please refer to your Meter's user guide. Most providers will be able to help you replace your expired Control Solution at the time you order your Blood testing supplies.


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To the best of our knowledge, the information contained herein is accurate. However, neither Binson's, or any of its subsidiaries assumes any liability whatsoever for the accuracy or completeness of the information contained herein. This information is for educational purposes only.

Friday, June 13, 2008

Diabetic Desert Recipe - Chocolate Cake Celebration

Chocolate Cake Celebration


Number of Servings: 8
Serving Size: 1 slice

Ingredients

NameMeasure
reduced-fat chocolate cake mix


medium whole oranges


fresh raspberries


Grand Marnier liquor
(can substitute 2 tsp. orange juice)
2 cups


3 ea


1 pint


2 tsp



Preparation Instructions

  1. Prepare the reduced-fat cake mix according to the package directions. Bake on layer in an 8x8-inch square pan. Allow the cake to cool, then cut it into 8 equal pieces.

  2. Peel the oranges and separate the segments of the orange. Using a small paring knife, remove the white membrane. Discard the seeds. Set the segments aside.

  3. Rinse the fresh raspberries under cool water and allow them to dry on a paper towel. (If using frozen raspberries, thaw them slightly, setting them on paper towels to absorb the liquid.)

  4. Using a clean pastry brush, "paint" 2 tsp. of Grand Marnier (or orange juice) over the cake slices, allowing the cake to absorb the liquid.

  5. Garnish each cake slice with 4 orange segments and 3 raspberries and serve.



This information is from
http://vgs.diabetes.org/recipe/viewRecipeDisplay.jsp?SizedRecipeId=718&CategoryID=null This recipe is from Cooking with the Diabetic Chef, published by the American Diabetes Association, the first cookbook ever written for people with diabetes by a chef with diabetes! You can order a copy of this and many other cookbooks from our online bookstore or call 1-800-ADA-ORDER (1-800-232-6733).



Let Binson's help you keep your diabetes under control. Fill out our New Diabetic Customer Form and a customer representative will contact you.


SAVE 80% - 100% ON YOUR DIABETIC TESTING SUPPLIES!
(learn more here)

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Order Your Supplies

To the best of our knowledge, the information contained herein is accurate. However, neither Binson's, or any of its subsidiaries assumes any liability whatsoever for the accuracy or completeness of the information contained herein. This information is for educational purposes only.

Friday, March 28, 2008

Which Blood Glucose Meters Do You Like The Best?

When you have Diabetes, there are various glucose meters to choose from. Let us know what blood meters you like best to manage your diabetes.

We would like to know what is your comparison of blood glucose meters to better understand the best way to help treat diabetes. What do you like in comparison to what you don't like in a meter? We need to know what glucose meter is the simplest to use in comparison to which meter is the most difficult to use.

When you have to produce a blood sample, what blood glucose meter has the least painful lancets and lancet device in comparison to the most painful? What strips are easiest to use in comparison to the more difficult strips? How do feel about the alternate sight testing in comparison to finger testing?

Let us know what blood glucose meters you like best to manage your diabetes. Additional comments about your glucose meter comparisons welcome when you sign our guestbook and offer your blurb. Visit link below
Blood Glucose Meters Poll

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Controlling Your Diabetes

Controlling Your Diabetes



Do you want to feel better? Have more energy? Enjoy life to the fullest? Get more done? Think more clearly? Be healthy for years to come? If your answer is "yes" to any of these questions, then take-charge management is for you.

Take-charge Management



The goal of take-charge management is to get your blood sugar as close to normal as possible, and to keep it there as often as possible. Keep it in control. It isn't easy, but it's worth it. You can live a healthy life with diabetes by keeping tight control of your blood sugar.

Your Healthcare Team



At times, getting your diabetes under good control will seem like a lonely job. Just remember, you have a whole healthcare team to help you with your goals. They can help you live a healthy life with diabetes. You have to be the most active person on your diabetes team, but you are not alone.

Your Treatment



Your treatment isn't just about taking your medication. It's about exercising. Regular exercise, that's approved by your healthcare team, is a big part of take-charge management. It's also about controlling your diabetes with the proper nutrition and through daily hygiene. Plus it's knowing what to do when you have a sick day. You also need to know how your medication is affected by other pharmacy products.

Let Binson's help you keep your diabetes under control. Fill out our New Diabetic Customer Form and a customer representative will contact you.


SAVE 80% - 100% ON YOUR DIABETIC TESTING SUPPLIES!
(learn more here)

Start saving today!

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This information is from

http://www.bayerdiabetes.com/us/diabCare/controlling/index.asp

To the best of our knowledge, the information contained herein is accurate. However, neither Binson's, or any of its subsidiaries assumes any liability whatsoever for the accuracy or completeness of the information contained herein. This information is for educational purposes only.

Complications with Diabetes Blood Glucose Levels

Complications

Most of the complications related to diabetes are caused by high blood glucose levels. To explain further, sugar is the "fuel" your body needs for all your activities - whether it's breathing, reading, walking or running. Your body changes the food you eat into a sugar called glucose. When you have diabetes, sugar, or glucose, isn't carried properly to your cells, so too much stays in your bloodstream. This form of diabetes is known as hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar. People with diabetes will monitor their glucose levels with a blood glucose meter. Left untreated, high blood glucose levels can cause a lot of damage to your body. By staying in control of your blood glucose, monitored by your blood glucose meter, you can minimize both the short- and long-term complications of diabetes.

The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) was a study of 1,441 people with type 1 diabetes. This study showed that take-charge management can lower the risk of complications from diabetes. People in this study who used take-charge management to their diabetes had average blood glucose levels near normal. These people with diabetes had a lower risk of eye disease, kidney disease and nerve damage. This study showed that you can help lower your risk of future problems from diabetes.

Short-term Complications

When your blood sugar, or glucose, goes out of control over shorter periods of time, you may experience the following complications with diabetes.

Diabetes of Hypoglycemia or Low Blood Glucose

The warning signs of hypoglycemia, or low blood glucose, include feeling shaky, sweaty, weak, dizzy, irritable, extremely hungry and having a headache.

If you become hypoglycemic, do the following things to treat your diabetes:
  • If possible, test your blood glucose with a meter to verify.
  • Take some type of sugar, like 3 glucose tablets (You can buy these at the drug store.), a 1/2 cup of fruit juice or 5 to 6 pieces of hard candy.
  • If you are not feeling better in 15 minutes, test again with your meter, compare readings and have more sugar.
Hyperglycemia or High Blood Glucose

The warning signs of diabetes with hyperglycemia, or high glucose levels, include blurry vision, headache, increased thirst, increased urination, irritability, tiredness and unexplained weight loss over a period of time.

If you become hyperglycemic, do the following things:
  • Test your Blood Glucose level with your Meter to verify. Drink lots of water and sugar-free fluids. (Limit fluids with sugar, including fruit juices.)
  • Follow your recommended meal plan and meter testing treatment plan. (If you do not have a plan, meet with your dietitian.)
  • Take your diabetes medication as prescribed by your doctor, like insulin. If your blood glucose remains high, see your doctor or diabetes educator.
  • Test your blood sugar with your glucose meter more often (every 3 to 4 hours).
  • If your blood glucose level is below 285 mg/dL and you feel well, increase your physical activity (for example, go for a walk). Always ask your doctor before starting a new exercise routine.
Diabetes and Skin Problems

Bacterial infections, like styes and carbuncles, are common skin problems when you have diabetes. Yeast-like fungus can cause itchy rashes in the folds of your skin. Dry skin is also common in diabetes, but the exact cause is unclear. High blood sugars can cause dehydration and dryness of the skin. Poor circulation may also play a role with diabetes.

When you have diabetes, you can prevent problems by taking good care of your skin daily and managing your glucose levels. If you think you have a bacterial or fungal infection, call your doctor.

Diabetes and Foot Problems

People who have diabetes are more likely to have problems with poor circulation or loss of sensation, which lead to a variety of foot problems, such as dry skin, cracked heels, foot ulcers, heavy callus formation and changes in the shape of the foot.

Poor circulation of the blood means less oxygen reaches the cells in the feet. This is not uncommon with persons affected by diabetes. If this happens, you may experience changes in nail growth, painful foot ulcers and slower healing. Some people with diabetes also may have nerve damage in their feet, causing lack of feeling or burning sensations. Nerve damage usually is a result of poor blood glucose management over an extended period of time. Damaged nerves can cause you to have little or no sensitivity in your feet to temperature, pressure or pain. If your feet get too hot, they can suffer a burn and you may not feel it. You may not feel injuries, such as when you step on a sharp object or when blisters form if your shoes are too tight. This loss of sensation makes the skin of the feet vulnerable. Damage can occur without you being aware of it when you have diabetes. Diabetes patients should inspect their feet on a daily basis. The good news is that if you take care of your feet, you may be able to lessen or even prevent these problems.

Diabetes and Periodontal Disease

When glucose levels are high in the blood, they also are high in saliva. Bacteria feed on the saliva sugar and grow in the mouth causing periodontal disease. Periodontal disease or infections in the mouth hurt your gums and bone, which hold teeth in place.

You can prevent periodontal disease by practicing good oral hygiene, managing your blood glucose levels and making regular visits to your dentist.

Diabetes and Long-term Complications



Over time, high blood glucose causes damage to the blood vessels and nerves in large organs of your body and in your legs and feet. The damage can cause the following complications:
  • Decreased circulation
  • Blindness
  • Foot problems and amputations
  • Nerve problems
  • Kidney disease
  • Heart disease
Let Binson's help you prevent complications from occurring. Binson's can suit your with a professional glucose meter to help you manage your glucose levels. Fill out our New Diabetic Customer Form and a customer representative will contact you.


SAVE 80% - 100% ON YOUR DIABETIC TESTING SUPPLIES!
(learn more here)

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This information is from

http://www.bayerdiabetes.com/us/diabCare/aboutDiab/complications/index.asp

To the best of our knowledge, the information contained herein is accurate. However, neither Binson's, or any of its subsidiaries assumes any liability whatsoever for the accuracy or completeness of the information contained herein. This information is for educational purposes only.

About Testing

Take-charge management means taking an active role in controlling your diabetes. Testing your own blood sugar often is a big part of take-charge management, but you need to test more than just blood sugar. Testing also includes a test done by your doctor, called Hemoglobin or A1C testing, which looks at your average blood sugar level over the last 2 to 3 months; and ketone testing, which makes sure your body isn't burning fat instead of sugar. You also need to watch your weight, blood pressure and blood fats, called lipids.

Many people think they can tell what their blood sugar is by how they feel. Some people can feel "high" when their blood sugar is low, and some can feel "low" when their blood sugar is normal or high. The only way to know for sure is to test your blood sugar. Testing also lets you see how "behavior" affects blood sugar. How much did exercise lower your sugar level? How did over-eating change your blood sugar level? Use testing as a tool to learn more about you and your diabetes.

How do I know that testing is going to help me?

The most recent studies that have been done on diabetes show how much you can gain from tightly controlling your blood sugar:

Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT)

The DCCT was a study of 1,441 people with type 1 diabetes. This study showed that take-charge management can lower the risk of complications from diabetes. People in this study who used take-charge management had average blood sugar levels near normal. They had a lower risk of eye disease, kidney disease and nerve damage. This study showed that even lowering your HbA1C by 1% helped lower your risk of future problems from diabetes.

The Kumamoto Study

The Kumamoto study was for people with type 2 diabetes. This study had similar results to the DCCT. People with good control had fewer problems with their eyes, kidneys and nerve damage.

The United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS)

The UKPDS is the largest study of people with type 2 diabetes. Over 5,000 people took part in this study. The UKPDS showed that very good control of blood sugar lowers your risk of getting complications. Even small changes in blood sugar control were shown to have big effects on your risk for complications. This study also showed that you might need to make changes to your treatment plan and medications over time. Control of high blood pressure and blood fats was shown to be helpful as well.

Let Binson's help you keep your diabetes under control. Fill out our New Diabetic Customer Form and a customer representative will contact you.


SAVE 80% - 100% ON YOUR DIABETIC TESTING SUPPLIES!
(learn more here)

Start saving today!

Order Your Supplies

This information is from

http://www.bayerdiabetes.com/us/diabCare/aboutDiab/aboutTesting/index.asp

To the best of our knowledge, the information contained herein is accurate. However, neither Binson's, or any of its subsidiaries assumes any liability whatsoever for the accuracy or completeness of the information contained herein. This information is for educational purposes only.

What is Diabetes?

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes means your body doesn't make enough insulin or doesn't use insulin properly. Insulin is a hormone made by a gland near your stomach called the pancreas. Your body uses insulin to carry sugar from your bloodstream to your cells. Sugar is the "fuel" your body needs for all your activities - whether it's breathing, reading, walking or running. Your body changes the food you eat into a sugar called glucose. When you have diabetes, sugar isn't carried properly to your cells, so too much stays in your bloodstream. This is called hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar. Left untreated, high blood sugar can cause a lot of damage to your body.

What is Type 1 Diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes can occur at any age, but it usually occurs in children and young adults. That's why it often is called "Juvenile" diabetes. With type 1 diabetes, your body makes little or no insulin.

What is Type 2 Diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes. It usually occurs in people over the age of 40. With type 2 diabetes, your body does not make enough insulin or your cells resist the insulin.

What is Gestational Diabetes?

Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar that occurs ONLY in pregnant women who do not already have diabetes. Only a small number of women are affected. This type of diabetes usually goes away once the baby is born and occurs at about the 24th week of pregnancy, when your body makes large amounts of hormones to help your baby grow. These hormones keep your insulin from working the way it should. When this happens, your blood sugar rises.

High blood sugar will cause your baby to grow large and make insulin. Don't worry - most women with gestational diabetes have healthy babies. Still, the gestational diabetes has to be treated until your baby is born. Keeping your blood sugar as near normal as possible will help prevent problems for you and your baby.

Let Binson's help you keep your diabetes under control. Fill out our New Diabetic Customer Form and a customer representative will contact you.

SAVE 80% - 100% ON YOUR DIABETIC TESTING SUPPLIES!
(learn more here)

Start saving today!

Order Your Supplies

This information is from

http://www.bayerdiabetes.com/us/diabCare/aboutDiab/whatIs/index.asp

To the best of our knowledge, the information contained herein is accurate. However, neither Binson's, or any of its subsidiaries assumes any liability whatsoever for the accuracy or completeness of the information contained herein. This information is for educational purposes only.