by Laura Dunkley

Created on: February 13, 2009

A diagnosis of diabetes, whether it is type 1 or Type 2 can be a life altering event. Many patients with new onset diabetes especially those with Type 1 thank that life as they knew it is over. This is one of the biggest myths in diabetes management. There is an abundance of misinformation and outdated information that is being passed on to people with diabetes. The misinformation and outdated information usually does not do much harm other than making life more difficult for the patient.

One of the biggest misconceptions in managing diabetes is that sugar must be avoided at all costs. While the consumption of sugar is not encouraged, it is not a food that must be avoided at all costs. For more information, see my articles 'When Sugar is Not So Sweet' and 'How Does Food Affect Your Blood Sugar'. When someone is first diagnosed with diabetes, the first course of treatment is medication. If you are a type 1, you might be prescribed a combination of the short and intermediate NPH and Regular insulin that would be taken twice daily. There are also the rapid acting insulin analogs Apidra, Humalog and Novolog taken with meals and the long acting basal insulin's Lantus and Levemir. Your physician, nurse or diabetes educator will teach you how to prepare and administer your insulin. It is very important that you take the correct dose at regular times and inject yourself as taught. The best site for the absorption of insulin is in the abdomen followed by the thighs, buttocks, flank and then the arms. It is important to change sites often to prevent problems with the absorption of the insulin.

If you are a pump candidate, it is necessary to learn to count your carbohydrates, more on that later, how to bolus for meals and correct highs. It might also be necessary to learn how to suspend your basal rate for a variety of reasons including exercise. If you are going on the pump, learn how to use it and don't be afraid to ask questions if you are unsure, that is why the pump companies provide support 24/7 and most trainers make themselves available for the first few months after you have started on the pump.

Now you know how to take your insulin, you also need to know how to test your blood sugar. Testing is done by a glucose meter, where with a test strip, a small meter and a lancing device, you take small samples of your blood as many times as prescribed by the physician to check your blood glucose levels. There are a wide variety of meters available and discussing each would

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