Diabetes Newsletter
Question to the Editor
I know that I should eat less sugar because I have diabetes, but
“sugar-free” foods can be expensive. Do I really need to buy items
that are “sugar-free”?
1001 Sturdy Rd
Valparaiso, IN 46383
Products are labeled as “sugar-free” because they are sweetened with sugar
alcohols or other sugar substitutes. Xylitol, sorbitol, and lactitol are common
sugar alcohols that have fewer calories than sugar and do not have as much of an
effect on blood glucose as traditional sweeteners.
However, be cautious with sugar free products, because they still can raise your
blood sugar. Sugar-free doesn’t necessarily mean carbohydrate-free. Many
“sugar-free” products have the same amount of carbohydrates per serving as the
“original”. Also be aware that sugar alcohols can cause a laxative effect in some
people, especially if consumed in large portions.
to our Diabetes
Fall Edition
Edition–– What’s inside?
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Newsletter
Free Diabetic Meters & Affordable Test Strips Available at Our 23 Locations
Dr. Comfort Therapeutic Footwear
Diabetes Education & Schedule
Vaccine Corner: Flu
Skip the Juice, Eat the Fruit
Disease States Associated with Diabetes
Question to the Editor
A1c and Cholesterol Testing
OTC’s: What you need to know.
23 Pharmacies in Indiana & Illinois
www.fagenpharmacy.com
As with any food, it is important to read the nutrition labels and compare your
options. You might be surprised to find the “sugar-free” product isn’t very
different from the “original” product, and is often more expensive.
Therapeutic
footwear
At Fagen Pharmacy, we offer free fittings for
Dr. Comfort shoes and insoles. Anyone can
buy therapeutic footwear and insoles.
However, they are fully covered under
Medicare and Medicaid with a diagnosis of
diabetes. Did you know that you are allowed
1 pair of shoes per year & new insoles every 4
months?
Ask our pharmacy staff to learn more and
receive a free catalog. They are available at
our DeMotte, Gary (Village), Hobart, Michigan
City, both Valparaiso locations and now
Whiting too.
3400 N Calumet Ave, Valparaiso (next to Dunkin Donuts) 219-462-4381
1001 Sturdy Rd (HealthLinc) Valparaiso: 219-462-0047
710 Franklin St, Michigan City: 219-879-8620
7760 E. 37th Ave, Hobart: 219-962-9726
Our Diabetes Newsletters are available online. Stay current on
all the hot topics by signing up for our Diabetes email updates.
Go to: w w w. F a g e n P h a r m a c y. c o m / D i a b e t e s
Diabetes & Associated Disease States
Beware of fruit juice… eat whole fruit!
Marjie Laciak, PharmD
Michael Bocek, PharmD Candidate
Diabetes is a common disease in America. The American Diabetes Association estimates that as of January 2011
approximately 25.8 million children and adults in the United States have diabetes (about 8.3% of the population). In
addition to patients monitoring their diabetes, they should also be aware of other disease states that are associated
with diabetes. These more common associated diseases include:
Neuropathy: Neuropathy is pain due to nerve damage. It often feels like a tingling sensation, or a sharp, stabbing pain.
In patients with diabetes, neuropathy is caused by an increase of sugar in the blood. Keeping blood sugars within
range can help prevent neuropathy. Neuropathy often occurs in the extremities of the body, such as the feet or
fingers.
www.fagenpharmacy.com
A1c and Cholesterol Testing
$AVE $10.00 on both with this Newsletter!
Lynn Fletcher, PharmD
Some of our locations offer A1c and cholesterol testing. A1c is a measure of your
average blood glucose over the past 3 months. This test is recommended every
3-6 months for those with diabetes. The cholesterol test gives results for total
cholesterol, HDL, LDL, TG, and non-HDL. Cholesterol tests are recommended
every 6 months for patients with diabetes and/or high cholesterol.
A1c Test: $20 & Cholesterol Test: $30
Visit our Hobart or Valparaiso location to get your A1c & cholesterol checked.
Fagen Pharmacy #27
Fagen Pharmacy #39
7760 E 37th Ave
1001 Sturdy Rd
Hobart, IN
Valparaiso, IN
Stroke & heart disease: Both stroke and heart disease occur in patients with diabetes twice as often as they do in
patients without diabetes. In addition, two out of three diabetes patients will end up dying due to heart disease or a
stroke.
Kidney disease: In 2008, 44% of new cases of kidney disease occurred in patients with diabetes. Kidney disease occurs
due to high blood sugar, causing the kidneys to overwork, which can cause the kidneys to eventually shut down.
Note: if you control your blood sugars appropriately and make necessary lifestyle changes, the chances of getting
each of these disease states decrease significantly. If you have any questions about these diseases or how to better
manage your diabetes, make sure to talk to your Fagen pharmacist.
Source: http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/diabetes-statistics/
Choosing the Right Over-The-Counter (OTC) Products for Cough, Cold, & Flu
Lynn Fletcher, PharmD
Lindsey Andres, PharmD
The listed class series are from 6-8pm &
located in the HealthLinc Community room.
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Blindness: Diabetes is the leading cause of new blindness cases among adults 20-74 years of age. Just like neuropathy,
keeping your blood sugars in range can help prevent any eye problems from occurring. Regular checkups with your
eye doctor can help catch problems before they become serious.
Diabetes Education
Fagen Pharmacy’s diabetes education program is
recognized by the American Diabetes Association.
We offer comprehensive group and individual
diabetes education. Ask a member of the Fagen
Pharmacy staff for more information.
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High blood pressure: High blood pressure occurs when the force of blood flow is higher than it should be. There is no
good way to tell if you have high blood pressure without taking blood pressure measurements. Patients often feel fine
and don’t have any signs or symptoms. The goal blood pressure for patients with diabetes is 130/80.
Many patients struggle to find an appropriate OTC medication to treat cough, cold, or flu-like symptoms. Individuals with diabetes must use
additional caution when choosing these products because some can raise blood sugar. This is especially important because when you are
sick your body produces hormones that raise your blood sugar. The following are some helpful hints for choosing a safe product to treat
your symptoms. OTC products that can raise your blood sugar:
CONGESTION: Oral decongestants can raise your blood sugar and should be used with caution in individuals with diabetes. Some common
examples include:
Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed®)
Phenylephrine (Dimetapp®)
November (Tuesdays)
5th, 12th, 19th, and Dec 3rd
December (Thursdays)
5th, 12th, 19th, and January 2nd
Call or email us for more information
and to sign up.
219-462-0047
[email protected]
Products “+D” (+decongestant): Mucinex-D®, Claritin-D®, and Zyrtec-D®
A decongestant nasal spray for relief of symptoms—this will provide localized relief with little to no effect on blood sugar.
COUGH: The medication commonly found in cough syrup dextromethorphan (DM) won’t affect blood sugar, however cough syrups and
cough drops do contain sugar.
Check the doses of any liquid medication, the more liquid you take the more sugar you might be getting. Taking one teaspoon of syrup every
12 hours isn’t likely to make a big difference, but 2 tablespoons of syrup every 4 hours probably will. If necessary, choose a sugar-free liquid
or a pill form to avoid any excess sugar.
What about cough drops? A regular cough drop has 3-4 grams of sugar vs. a sugar-free drop with 0 grams of sugar. Again, depending on
how many drops you consume, it might be best to choose the sugar-free version.
PAIN OR FEVER—acetaminophen (Tylenol®) and ibuprofen (Motrin®, Advil®) do not affect blood sugar. Ibuprofen may not be appropriate for
individuals with kidney disease. **Be careful with combination products—check the label to find out what medicines it contains before
selecting a product. These products may not be appropriate for all patients, always consult your pharmacist or other healthcare provider
before using an OTC product.
What a great summer of farmer’s markets and tasty
home grown fruit! Fruit is a great source of fiber,
water, vitamin C, and antioxidants. But with winter
on its way, and fruit being not as abundant, many
have asked if they can get the same benefits of
whole fruit by drinking fruit juice instead. A recent
study (published in the British Medical Journal)
reported that drinking fruit juice not only failed to
deliver the same benefits as whole fruit, but even
appeared to raise the risk of diabetes. Those who
drank just one serving (4oz) a day of juice had a
21% higher risk of developing diabetes than those
who did not.
There are a few possible reasons for this difference.
One being in the juicing process, dietary fiber is
lost. Secondly, fruit juices are absorbed at a
quicker rate and lead to a more rapid rise in blood
sugar levels compared to eating whole fruits.
The study also found that those who specifically ate
blueberries, grapes, and apples had a much lower
risk of developing diabetes. Something to think
about next time we pass by the produce section in
the grocery store. The old saying, “an apple a day
keeps the doctor away” is correct… but also toss in
a few blueberries and grapes while you’re at it.
Did you
know
that all 23
Fagen
Pharmacy
locations
offer
free meters
&
affordable
test strips?
Don’t Be Blue with the Flu
Lynn Fletcher, PharmD
It’s that time of year again. Flu season! Don’t
forget to stop in Fagen Pharmacy for your annual
flu shot. You need it once every year. Remember
– the flu vaccine is inactive, so it is not possible to
get the flu virus from it. It takes about two weeks
to build up immunity after getting the flu shot, so
sooner is better!
Reasons to get vaccinated:
 The CDC recommends everyone over six
months of age get vaccinated against the flu.
 Between 5% and 20% of the US population
will get the flu each year.
 About 200,000 people are hospitalized due to
flu-related complications annually.
 3,000 – 49,000 people die each year from flurelated causes
Resources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
WebMD