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Diabetes is still misunderstood by many. National Diabetes Statistics Report in 2017 from the CDC indicate 30.3 million people had diabetes in 2015. That’s approximately 9.4% of the U.S. population. That is an increase from 2012 where 29.1 million had diabetes. Previous to that, in 2010, 25.8 million people had diabetes. In 1980, 5.6 million people were diagnosed with diabetes.

There are two paths we can follow. Either my first statement is accurate, that diabetes is still misunderstood, or, proper patient care is misguided.

On the surface, this chart makes sense and seems pretty clear cut. Let’s step through the process by reviewing a few examples and learn to read between the lines.

• Susan has a fasting glucose of 85 mg/dL, which is in normal range. Two hours after breakfast, her glucose increased to 135 mg/dL. Her post meal glucose is also within range of less than 140 mg/dL.

• Barry has a fasting glucose of 100 mg/dL. Two hours after breakfast, his glucose increased to 150 mg/dL. Both readings are slightly out of range.

When you received your type 2 diabetes diagnosis, did you feel as if you failed yourself in some way? I know I did. Then the hammer really dropped when I was told I needed 4 insulin shots every day. The first question I asked myself, “Why can’t I be like every other diabetic I know, and just take a pill?”

They say God works in mysterious ways! If I only had to take a pill, my life would be in a very different direction. As I look back, most likely down a road of deteriorating health.

Tired of managing your diabetes? There are days that I feel that way, too. The holidays add an extra challenge to “be good.”

In November’s article I shared three ways to reduce stress during the holiday season whether you have diabetes or not. Today, I am suggesting you forget you have diabetes on the holiday.

Is that a sigh of relief I hear?

Go ahead, savor the flavor of your favorite foods!

I love the holiday season. People taking notice of each other and taking time to work together to get things done. Making meals together, shopping together and just spending quality time together.

Yet, there are stressors that come with all that holiday joy. How we not only handle it, but plan for it can determine our success to keeping our glucose levels in check.