Boston Medical Center’s Diabetes Education program aims to help you enhance your diabetes-related knowledge and skills, so that you can take good care of yourself, improve your general health, and reduce your risk of complications from diabetes. These BMC-produced educational videos can help support you in managing your diabetes.
Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) Basics
The following videos, currently available in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole (Kreyòl Ayisyen), were produced by the BMC Diabetes Education team as supplements to their class on using a Continuous Glucose Monitor.
Please contact Diabetes Education for information about their classes.
Continuous Glucose Monitor Basics (English)
Continuous Glucose Monitor Basics (Español)
Continuous Glucose Monitor Basics (Kreyòl Ayisyen)
Exercise
Please visit the Diabetes Resource Center to learn more about mindful exercise when you have diabetes.
When you are managing your diabetes, it is important to consider adding regular moderate physical activity to your routine. Moderate physical activity can lower your blood sugar levels for 24 hours or longer after your activity is complete. Consistent physical activity can improve your A1C and minimize the long-term consequences of diabetes.
The Importance of Exercise (English)
The Importance of Exercise (Spanish/Español)
The Importance of Exercise (Haitian Creole/Kreyòl Ayisyen)
The Importance of Exercise (Portuguese/Português)
How to Use GLP-1 Injection Pens
The following instructional videos, which are currently available in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole (Kreyòl Ayisyen), and Cape Verdean Creole (Kriolu), were produced by Sykom in collaboration with Boston Medical Center.
How to Use a Mounjaro Pen (English)
Gade Videyo Sa a an Kreyòl Ayisyen
Odja es Vídiu na Kriolu (Cabo Verde)
How to Use an Ozempic Pen (English)
Gade Videyo Sa a an Kreyòl Ayisyen
Odja es Vídiu na Kriolu (Cabo Verde)
How to Use a Trulicity Pen (English)
Gade Videyo Sa a an Kreyòl Ayisyen
Odja es Vídiu na Kriolu (Cabo Verde)
How to Use a Victoza Pen (English)
Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar) and Hyperglycemia (High Blood Sugar)
Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia means “low blood sugar.” This means that your blood sugar has dropped below 70 mg/dL. There are different levels of hypoglycemia and different ways to treat it.
You can learn more about managing your blood sugar levels at the Diabetes Resource Center.
Our video “Hypoglycemia: Its Definition, Identification, Prevention, and Treatment,” is currently available in English and Spanish.
Hypoglycemia: Its Definition, Identification, Prevention, and Treatment (English)
Hipoglucemia: definición, identificación, prevención y tratamiento (Spanish/Español)
Symptoms of Hypoglycemia
People experiencing hypoglycemia might feel shaky, sweaty, hungry, irritable, or nervous. Additionally, some people might experience headaches, weakness, trouble concentrating, or a fast/irregular heartbeat.
You may be able to tell if your blood sugar is low if you experience symptoms. However, our bodies don’t always send us consistent messages.
The only way to truly know if you have a low blood sugar is to check your blood using an FDA-approved glucose meter.
Testing for and Treating Hypoglycemia
If you test using a glucose meter and and your blood sugar is between 59 and 70, ingesting 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrates can bring your blood sugar back to normal.
If it is less than 59, you may need more than 15 grams of carbohydrates.
Fast-acting carbohydrates include regular soda, candies, glucose tabs or gel, skim milk, or some juices. Do not eat chocolate or candies with nuts, as the fat from these foods will prevent your blood sugar from rising as quickly. Although it is tempting to eat as much as you can when your blood sugar is low, try to avoid doing so. Start with 15 grams of carbohydrates, then in 15 minutes, check your blood sugar. If it is still lower than 70, treat again (eat another round of fast-acting carbohydrates).
Once your blood sugar is normal, eat a small snack to prevent another low.
Treating Severe Hypoglycemia with Glucagon
If a family member or friend who uses insulin is unconscious or unstable (jerking and spasming, or unable to swallow), they should receive glucagon, even if you’re not sure the cause is low glucose.
Food and sugary drinks should not be given to someone who is unconscious or unable to swallow safely!
Glucagon is a naturally-occurring hormone. When your blood sugar drops, glucagon signals your liver to break down stored glucose and release sugar into your blood.
Whereas insulin decreases sugar in the blood when levels are too high, glucagon works the opposite way. It can increase sugar levels in the blood when they are too low. Therefore, glucagon can be used to treat severe hypoglycemia.
If you experience severe hypoglycemia, glucagon can be used as an emergency medication to restore your blood sugar balance. It is available as an injectable (hypodermic pen) or as a nasal spray.
Your healthcare provider can prescribe glucagon to keep on-hand for emergencies. It’s important to teach people in your life (loved ones, coaches, teachers, or other support system) how to use it.
Hyperglycemia
Hyperglycemia means the level of sugar in your blood is too high. High blood sugar can happen for many reasons—and it’s important to catch it early. Recognizing the signs and knowing what to do can help you take action before it becomes a more serious problem.
Very high blood glucose can become a medical emergency if not treated!
Signs that your blood sugar might be too high:
- Blurry vision
- Dry skin
- Feeling drowsy
- Increased hunger and thirst
- Urinating frequently
- Wounds that seem to be healing slowly
Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) and Testing Your Urine for Ketones
One risk of hyperglycemia is that you could experience diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a serious and potentially life-threatening complication of diabetes that can develop quickly, sometimes within hours.
DKA occurs when when the body needs more fuel and starts breaking down fat instead of glucose. This causes a buildup of ketones in your blood—making your blood more acidic.
When you are approaching or experiencing DKA, the levels of ketones in your urine are higher than normal. Testing your urine for ketones is important to see if you are at risk of DKA, or need immediate medical attention.
DKA more often affects those with type 1 diabetes. It is less likely to affect those with type 2 diabetes, but if you experience any of the symptoms it is still recommended to test your urine for ketones.
Insulin Use & Safety
Our video “Using Insulin Safely/Safe Insulin Use” is currently available in English and Spanish. The videos “Instructions for Injecting Insulin with a Pen and Pen Needle” and “Instructions for Injecting Insulin with a Vial and Syringe” are currently available in English only.
Insulin is a hormone that is made in a working pancreas, a gland located in the abdomen. Insulin ensures the food that you eat is able to enter your body’s cells to provide nourishment. When insulin is working as it should it will keep your blood sugar at a safe, healthy range and prevent your blood sugar from going too high.
You can learn more about insulin at the Diabetes Resource Center.
Using Insulin Safely/Safe Insulin Use (English)
Using Insulin Safely/Safe Insulin Use (Spanish/Español)
Instructions for Injecting Insulin with a Pen and Pen Needle (English)
Instructions for Injecting Insulin with a Vial and Syringe (English)
Nutrition
The Plate Method, Counting Carbs, and Reading Nutrition Labels
Please visit the Diabetes Resource Center to learn more about healthy eating when you have diabetes.
The Plate Method for Diabetes
The “plate method” is a simple guide for planning meals. The result is flavorful meals that are healthy, energy boosting, and satisfying. At BMC, we encourage using this method as a way to eat more healthy food and fewer unhealthy foods without sacrificing tradition and taste. Focus on fiber, keep your plate colorful, and drink water.
The plate method helps patients portion out starchy, carbohydrate-containing foods that have the biggest impact on blood glucose levels, and acts as a reminder to eat a variety of food groups, like fruits, non-starchy vegetables, whole grains, proteins, dairy, and healthy fats.
Our video on the Plate Method is currently available in English and Spanish.
Managing Your Diabetes: The Plate Method (English)
Managing Your Diabetes: The Plate Method (Spanish/Español)
How to Count Carbohydrates
“Carb counting” can be helpful in managing blood glucose levels. It is not a diet, but rather a flexible meal planning tool. It’s important to make healthy carb choices that contain fiber, and choose foods like beans, whole grains, and whole fruits.
How to Count Carbohydrates (English)
How to Count Carbohydrates (Spanish/Español)
How to Count Carbohydrates (Haitian Creole/Kreyòl Ayisyen)
How to Count Carbohydrates (Portuguese/Português)
How to Read Nutrition Labels
They say “you are what you eat,” so what are you made of? Making healthy food choices helps keep your body fit and strong, so learning how to read nutrition labels is the first step to making sure your body gets the proper nourishment.
The nutrition label is typically located on the back or side of most food products. However, some foods, like fresh fruits, vegetables, animal proteins, and alcohol are not required to have nutrition labels.
How to Read Nutrition Labels (English)
How to Read Nutrition Labels (Spanish/Español)
How to Read Nutrition Labels (Haitian Creole/Kreyòl Ayisyen)
How to Read Nutrition Labels (Cape Verdean Creole/Kriolu)
Diabetes information found on these pages should not replace education or instruction from your healthcare provider or certified diabetes educator. We encourage all patients to personalize their diabetes management in collaboration with their healthcare team.