AUGUST 2020
DIABETES ONE DAY AT A TIME
Inside this issue
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Sugar Substitutes
Calendar of Events
Blood Pressure Readings
Delicious Smoothie
Did You Know: Fast Facts About Diabetes
By Suzanne Christman, MS, RD, LD, CDCES, BSN, RN
Living with diabetes means knowing diabetes. Here are some fast facts that can help you better understand and manage diabetes.
DID YOU KNOW?
Blood glucose test strips have an expiration date.
Blood glucose test strips contain a living enzyme. This
enzyme will die over time due to exposure to things like air,
light, or heat. This can cause the test strip to be useless or
lead to false readings.
Most manufacturers state that a bottle of test strips is only
good for 90 days after opened. If used beyond this date,
the company cannot ensure true readings. Of course, the
amount of time may differ between companies that make
testing supplies. Therefore, always refer to the information
that comes in the test strip box or call the 800 number on
the back of your glucometer to find out this information.
DID YOU KNOW?
Medicines should not be stored in the bathroom.
Humidity and moisture can cause medicine to break down.
Your bathroom cabinet may be dark, but the medicine can
still break down when moisture seeps in to the cabinet.
Keep your medicine in a cool, dry place instead, away from
sunlight and heat. Try using a kitchen cabinet placed away
from the stove, microwave or any other appliance that
creates heat.
DID YOU KNOW?
Medicare covers 80% of the cost to attend diabetes
education classes.
If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes and have Medicare
Part B, the Center for Medicare Services will cover up to 10
hours of initial diabetes self-management training*. For the
first year it covers 1 hour of individual training and 9 hours
of group training. You may also qualify for up to 2 hours of
follow-up training each year if it takes place in a calendar
year after the year you got your initial training.
*You pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount and Part B Deductible applies.
DID YOU KNOW?
Added sugars add calories but no nutritional value.
By January 2020 all food manufacturers were required
to follow the newly established Nutrition Facts Label
guidelines set forth by the Food and Drug Administration.
One important new addition is the "added sugars" under
the carbohydrate section of the label, including brown
sugar, corn sweetener, dextrose, fructose, glucose, lactose,
maltose, and others. This change will allow you to see the
difference between the "added sugar" and the naturallyoccurring
sweeteners.