Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.
This week on Health Watch, we’re talking about the start of summer vacation season. Previously, we discussed the need to be awake and alert while driving. If you’re diabetic, you need to be especially careful about hitting the road on vacation. Even a small drop in blood sugar can affect alertness and reflexes, which can be dangerous when you’re driving.
Joyce Barnett, a registered dietitian at UT Southwestern Medical Center, suggests that people with diabetes plan trips around meals. Don’t skip meals or scheduled snacks, especially if you take insulin. You should have high-carbohydrate snacks handy in case of a drop in blood sugar. Hard candy, non-diet sodas, juice or glucose tabs can all help raise blood sugar. If blood sugar levels drop, eat or drink something sweet, wait 15 minutes, then test again.
Visit http://www.utsouthwestern.org/nutrition to learn more about UT Southwestern’s clinical services in nutrition.
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May 2008
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