Frequently Asked Questions
Firsthand Information on Managing Diabetes from Carilion Clinic
Maintaining a healthy diet is essential to overall good health, especially for diabetics. Our dietitians can answer your questions about proper nutrition, including which foods to avoid.
Email your question to our educators. Your question will be answered as promptly as possible, usually within a few business days.
Here are a sample of the more frequently-asked questions that we receive at the Carilion Diabetes Management Program:
What is a carbohydrate?
A carbohydrate is sugar or a starch. “Sugar” is in a wide variety of foods such as candy, sugar-sweetened beverage and fruit drinks, fruits and vegetables, sugarcoated cereals, honey, syrup, preserves and desserts of all kinds. “Starches” are found in bread, pasta, rice, beans, potatoes, corn, peas, carrots and beets.
Which carbohydrate affects your blood sugar the most?
Both “sugar” and “starches” affect your blood sugar about the same.
How many carbohydrates can I have for the whole day?
Your levels of carbohydrates can be determined by visiting a Registered Dietician who, working with your physician, will select the right amount for you. Each person is different. It is important to think of how many carbohydrates you can have in a 2.5 hour period.
How can I lose weight?
To lose weight you need to burn more calories than you eat. A Registered Dietician, working with your physician, can help you develop plan to meet your weight loss goal.
Is the Atkins diet okay?
No diet will hurt you for a short period of time; however you need to make sure your kidneys are healthy. Talk to you physician before starting a diet. Rather than a “diet” you need to develop a plan for eating that you can follow for a lifetime.
How often should I check my blood glucose?
Your physician may ask you to check before meals, at bedtime, or after meals depending on the type of diabetes you have and the medications you take. A Diabetes Nurse Educator can help you learn why this is important and how to use your blood glucose meter most effectively to provide the information that you and your physician needs.
Why are some people on pills and other take insulin injections?
Your physician’s decision to give you pills or insulin injections depends on the type of diabetes you have and how much insulin your body is still producing.
How do I know when my blood glucose is getting too low or too high?
Anytime you have unusual symptoms you should test your blood glucose. If your blood glucose is much higher or lower than the target range your physician has selected for you, you need to contact your physician. A Diabetes Nurse Educator, working with your physician, can help you learn how to treat low blood sugar, high blood sugar, what to do when you are sick, and when you need to call your physician.
Are over-the-counter medicines, herbs, and other dietary supplements safe to use?
Many over-the-counter medicines, herbs, and dietary supplements affect your blood sugar. You should talk to your physician before taking any of these.
