Help
for tots
Scientists at the Telethon Kids
Institute in Western Australia
believe young children who
are at high risk of developing
type 1 (due to family history)
may show abnormal blood
glucose levels before any
symptoms appear. This world-
first study could be crucial to
determine what may trigger
diabetes, to further intervene
and potentially prevent type
from developing. For more
info, visit endia.org.au.The Australian Loneliness Report, recently released by the Australian
Psychological Society and Swinburne University, found one in two
(50.5%) Australians feel lonely at least one day a week, while more than
one in four (27.6%) feel lonely for three or more days a week. Further, it
concluded loneliness is no longer an issue that only affects people over
the age of 65, but that people of all ages (including 18-65) experience
it. Having people around you who are able to support you with your
diabetes management is one step towards lessening the feeling of
loneliness. Discover how to find and grow a support network, page 101.1 IN 4 AUSSIES ARE VERY LONELY
WORDS^ ELLIE^GRIFFITHSADDITIONAL^ PHOTOGRAPHYGETTYIMAGESyour healthy life
I’ve heard that stress can
impact BGLs. How and why?
Is all stress bad?Janine says: It is now well
known that stress can
impact BGLs. But, while
stress may not always be
your friend, it may not
always be your enemy either.
How much stress
impacts BGLs varies from
person to person. In some
people, stress hormones
(e.g. cortisol) increase the
amount of sugar in the
blood, causing BGLs to rise.
In others, stress causes BGLs
to fall. Complicating matters,
there are different types of
stress and not all stress has
the same effect! The kind of
stress that seems most likely
to adversely impact blood
glucose is that which shows
up when you feel stuck or
helpless. The stress you feel
when you do something
scary or challenging seems
to have less impact.
Learning to recognise
signs of stress can help.
Symptoms include
headaches, sleep problems,
muscle stiffness, restlessness
and worry. A diary to
monitor the issue helps.
If you are feeling stressed,
talk to your GP. ■Dr Janine Clarke, psychologist
Email your questions to:
[email protected]
Post: Diabetic Living, Q&A: Health,
GPO Box 7805, Sydney, NSW 2001.Q
&A(^) AS
K DR CLA
RK
E
14 MAY/JUNE 2019 diabetic living
Cider rules
Apple cider vinegar has long been
known to have health benefits and
previous studies have found it can
help lower BGLs in people with
type 2 and pre-diabetes. However,
the use of this vinegar could alter
the effects of your medication.
Before using it in your cooking or
drinking it, be sure to discuss with
your healthcare team first.