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DO YOU HAVE A HEALTHCARE QUESTION FOR OUR CERTIFIED DIABETES EDUCATORS (CDEs)? Before submitting a question, please scroll through the list of questions that have already been answered by our CDEs. If your question has not already been answered, please send an email to
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. Your question will be answered by one of the experts below and may be showcased in the "Ask our CDE" Column. If you wish for your name to remain anonymous, please note this preference in your question.
MEET OUR EXPERT PANEL | | Connie Hanham-Cain, RN, CDE | Claire Blum, MS Ed, RN, CDE, CPT | Age of Diagnosis: 8 | Age of Diagnosis: 17 | Type of Diabetes: Type 1 | Type of Diabetes: Type 1 | Career: Diabetes Nurse Coordinator, | Career: Program Coordinator for | Healing Arts Instructor | Partners & Peers for Diabetes Care | Location: New York, US | Location: Tennessee, US | | | | | | 
| Laurie Porcaro, RN, BS, CDE | Cindi Goldman-Patin, RN, BSN, CDE, BA | Does not have diabetes, but | Age of Diagnosis: 17 months | is VERY passionate about | Type of Diabetes: Type 1 | helping women with diabetes | Career: RN, CDE | Career: RN, CDE | | Location: New York, US | Location: Massachusetts, US |
***Previous CDE Contributors include: Rachel Gifford, CDE, Jennifer Stallings, RD, LDN, CDE, CPT; Camille Izlar, MA, RD, LDN, CDE, CPT
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Does Sugar in My Urine Mean I Have Diabetes? |
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Written by Claire Blum
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August 29, 2010 Q: I went to my Doctor for general check up, and mentioned frequent urination, and a feeling that my bladder was full. I thought I may have urinary tract infection. Urine sample revealed sugar in urine although my blood was only 7.5 mmo/L nearly two hrs after a breakfast of special k. I am scheduled for a fasting blood sugar.
I would be very grateful if you could advise me whether sugar can be present in urine for reasons other than diabetes and also if there is a link between having underactive thyroid and developing diabetes?
Thank you,
Kate A: Hello Kate! You ask good questions and have astute observation! The most common cause of sugar in the urine, by far, is the presence of diabetes mellitus. There is other potential cause for sugar in the urine which includes the use of certain drugs that may increase urine glucose measurements; and renal glycosuria which is a rare condition in which glucose is excreted in the urine, even when blood glucose levels are normal or low, due to improper functioning of the renal tubules in the kidneys.
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As a woman with diabetes, what foods should I avoid? |
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Written by Claire Blum
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August 28, 2010 Hi my name is Mona, and I would like to know how to control diabetes. What foods do I have to avoid and what food is good for me? Which fruits are good and not good? I know sugar is not good, but I think I need some sweet, or not? Do I have to totally stop sweet? What nuts is good for me? I heard almonds and walnuts are very good. Figs and dates, good or bad? Cheese is good or bad? Meat, chicken, beef is good? What about yogurt can I eat? Seafood fish and shrimp . . . good or bad? I know all vegetable and lentils are good for me. I will appreciate if you can reply to my question as soon as possible.Thanking in advance, Mona ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hello Mona, I commend you in taking steps towards finding ways to take control your diabetes. . . And every step you make towards “Healthy Eating” pays off in the way you feel now, and in your future health! You ask what foods are “good” and which foods are “bad” and I have to say that perhaps there is no such thing as an “all good” or “all bad” food. What matters most is finding balance and moderation in all the food choices you make.
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What are carbohydrates? and why should they be any more important than other types of food? |
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Written by Laurie Porcaro
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August 3, 2010 Carbohydrates or “carbs” are important because most of the carbs in our food become blood sugar. Blood sugar, also called glucose, is a carb too, it is the form of carb that circulates in our bloodstream. It is this carb that you measure using your glucose meter. Some of the carbohydrate that we eat is also stored in our liver and muscles to be used later, like when we need a boost of energy for exercise, or when we haven’t eaten in a while, like over night.
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What is the relationship between women with diabetes and thyroid disease? |
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Written by Jennifer Stallings, RD, LDN, CDE, CPT
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Dear CDE, How common is thyroid disease in women with diabetes? Should women with diabetes be tested for thyroid disease? If so, when? Thanks,
Beth Dear Beth, Both Thyroid disease and diabetes involve the endocrine system, which is a group of glands that help regulate the body’s metabolism. Studies have found that diabetes and thyroid disease can occur together. About 33% of people with type 1 diabetes also have thyroid disease. This is associated with both being autoimmune diseases in which the immune system attacks an organ or gland in the body. People with autoimmune diseases such as Addison disease, pernicious anemia, rheumatoid arthritis, or lupus are more likely to contract other autoimmune diseases. Thyroid disorders can occur with type 2 diabetes as well, but many because of age.
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What should I consider after a low blood sugar reading with a pump? |
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Written by Camille Izlar, MS, RD, LDN, CDE, CPT
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Dear CDE, I am a Type 1 diabetic, diagnosed at age 18 in 1972. Have been using a pump since 1982, staying good control ever since (A1C around 6.7%). So this is what happened this morning: · Woke up at 4:00 am with a reading of 41. I just didn’t feel like getting a juice, laid down and went back to sleep for 90 minutes (that in itself is very unusual for me—I always treat my lows immediately). · Got up at 5:30 am, removed my pump, and took a 10 minute shower, reconnecting my pump immediately. · Tested at 6:00 am and was 93. · Tested again before breakfast at 6:45 am and was 195!!!! Felt like crud! Bolused 1.6 u – didn’t eat breakfast. · At 7:10, I was 218! · At 7:34, was 208, bolused 1.0 unit · Blood sugar returned to normal about 10:30 am, then I finally ate some yogurt and bolused normally. Everything has been normal rest of the day. Was this a matter of my body taking care of that 41 BG by shooting my own glucagon into my system from my liver? I was ready to change out my infusion set, but since the BG’s were coming down once I started bolusing (albeit VERY slowly), I decided to wait, which worked out OK. Certainly not a fun way to start the day! Thanks for any insight you can provide. Best regards, Molly ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hi Molly, I believe that probably your liver did kick in some glucose to help you out. But there could also be some other variables at work to cause it to go up so high and it may be coincidence that you happened to have a low as well. A few things to consider would be your basal rate at that time of day. Have you done any basal testing at that time of day lately? Perhaps you BG rises during that time and comes back down by lunchtime and so you have not been aware on a regular day because you check at breakfast and then again at lunch but not in between. Other things to consider are pump variables as well such as was there an air bubble in your tubing? Was your cartridge low? How old was your site? Also some pump folks think you should bolus a bit even after you take a shower and have been off your pump for just a few minutes. I also assume from your age that you are through with menopause? As you may well already know, menopause can cause blood sugar variability. And the other thing may be "the nature of the beast" Good Luck!
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What is Diabetic Neuropathy? How do I know if I have it? |
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Written by Jennifer Stallings, RD, LDN, CDE, CPT
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Dear CDE: I've been hearing a lot about Diabetic Neuropathy lately. What is it? and how do I know if I have it? Thanks, Veronica
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