Diabetes Nurse Specialist Beverly Thomassian provides some answers to commonly asked care questions.

I love fruit, but I’m confused about if it’s okay for me to eat it. It has a lot of sugar and it is a carb. What’s the story?

Fruits contain a natural sugar called fructose, which can raise blood sugars like any other foods containing carbohydrates. But, this doesn’t mean fruits are off limits. We recommend that people with diabetes eat 3 to 4 fruit servings, spread throughout the day. Fruits provide natural energy, fiber, nutrients and support good gut health, plus they are fat free. Here are some examples of one serving of fruit: Small baseball size apple, orange or peach or other stone fruit, 1 ¼ cup strawberries or watermelon, 3 apricots, ½ cup canned fruit, ¾ cup of berries, ½ banana. So enjoy fruit; a completely natural food that nourishes your body.

Sometimes I feel wobbly on my feet, and it’s hard to walk. Could this have anything to do with my diabetes, and if so, what can I do about it?

Balance is a big issue for people living with diabetes, since it can lead to a fall, bone fracture or other problems. There are several potential causes for wobbliness that you can bring up with your provider for evaluation. First, there may be nerve damage to your feet, causing numbness which can make you feel unsteady. Another common cause associated with aging, is the loss of muscle mass and sense of balance. This is more likely to be true in people who sit for long periods of time and don’t move much. The good news is that by becoming more active and doing specific exercises designed for balance, many people feel less wobbly on their feet.

I have type 2 diabetes, I’m a woman, and I weigh 225 pounds. I know I have to lose at least 75 pounds, so why does my doctor say that losing just 5% will help a lot? That’s only about 12 pounds!

There are many studies looking at people living with type 2 diabetes that clearly demonstrate that losing 5-7% of your body weight (no matter how overweight you are) helps your cells respond better to your body’s own insulin and lower blood sugars. When people lose weight, about 30-50% of that weight loss is from the belly fat. This is important, because belly fat releases chemicals that stop insulin from working effectively. Just a 5-7% weight loss burns enough belly fat to make your body’s own insulin work better and help your muscle use sugar for energy. Which translates into lower blood sugars.

My diabetes medications are getting so expensive, but I’m embarrassed to talk with my doctor or diabetes educator about it. Do you have any suggestions?

Many people, like you, are struggling with expensive medication co-pays that are outside their budget. I encourage to ask your pharmacist to see if there are generic or less expensive versions of the medications you are taking. Contact your insurance company and ask if there are any medications in the same “class” that would be less expensive. After doing this research, you can bring the information to your team of providers and/or educators and ask for their help in problem solving. Be reassured, that they want to help you get the medications you need to stay heathy.