living well with diabetes is possible.
Type 2 Diabetes
After we eat a meal, the food breaks down mechanically in our stomachs and chemically in our small intestines. Sugar from our food absorbs into our blood stream, and then into our cells where sugar is converted into energy for brain function. Insulin is a very important hormone that assists this process by unlocking the cells for the sugar to move inside.
Type 2 Diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance, the body’s cells that insulin acts upon no longer respond to insulin efficiently, keeping the sugar levels in the blood running higher. There are some daily behaviors that will continue to promote insulin resistance and make managing diabetes more challenging. However, there are other daily behaviors that actually encourage better insulin sensitivity which can help lower your blood sugar trends.
There is not a one size fits all lifestyle for everyone with diabetes, Balanced Sugars will help you understand which of your current behaviors are not working in your health’s best interest and provide you a strategy for changing your behavior.
Type 1 Diabetes (and LADA)
Type 1 Diabetes and LADA, Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults, are both characterized by insulin deficiency. An autoimmune reaction means the body’s own immune system has attacked the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, thus destroying the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar levels. For this type of diabetes, insulin replacement therapy is absolutely required.
Even with insulin administration, blood sugar levels are still very challenging to manage. Balanced Sugars aims to help you develop your best insulin strategy for every kind of meal, snack, activity, and other situation in your life. Goals of this counseling program also include understanding how metabolism and food balance can impact your blood sugar trends and how to keep your body insulin sensitive.
Live Diabetes counseling Available
Insulin Pump Counseling Offered:
Insulin Pump Information Session: Are you interested in trying an insulin pump but feel overwhelmed trying to choose which pump is right for you? We can schedule a session where Julia will provide unbiased education about all 6 insulin pumps available on the market. You will learn about pump algorithms and insulin delivery, the different physical features and other special features of each pump. This is purely informational and Julia is not biased to promote any one pump over another; the intention is for you to learn and make the most informed choice for yourself.
Insulin Pump Management: Are you interested in learning how to adjust your own insulin pump settings in between visits with your Endocrinologist? Julia has experience with all the insulin pumps and can teach you the best practice for identifying which pump settings need an adjustment and how to do this safely, so you are empowered in managing your own diabetes no matter which pump you are using!
Individual Counseling for all type of Diabetes:
Individual, live counseling will include an assessment of your current lifestyle habits related to eating, exercising, sleep and stress management, followed by personalized education and strategies on lifestyle changes that will benefit your diabetes management. You can come to this counseling with a list of questions or goals you want to work on or come completely open to any recommendation! You will have plenty of opportunity to ask questions on anything related to diabetes, including medications and insulin.
self-paced learning also available
Self-Paced Diabetes Nutrition Basics:
For anyone unable to participate in individual counseling, we have a self-paced education module available that covers nutrition and eating strategies for diabetes management. This is great for anyone who wants to learn at their own pace and wants to focus on nutrition basics. If you choose this option, there is no opportunity to ask questions or receive personalized health counseling, but this learning module does include the most basic nutrition strategies that will benefit anyone with any type of diabetes. We have a sneak peek below into the content offered in this module, if you are interested in full access, please visit the counseling page and fill out the interest form!
