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Poor math skills may worsen diabetes control

A new study suggests that diabetic adults' ability to work with numbers may affect their management of the disease -- and that, in turn, may help explain racial differences in diabetes control.




From Comment
Diabetic Connect Member CARL MARTIN
CARL MARTIN
October 13, 2009 11:33 PM

i agree also that numbers can handle your diabetes.

Diabetic Connect Member sue kollar
sue kollar
October 13, 2009 4:03 PM

i agree

Diabetic Connect Member BLC
BLC
October 13, 2009 3:03 AM

I was diagnosed with a learning disability in math during my early grade school years. I was in special math classes until junior high and should have remained in them but slipped through the cracks of the school system. I remember in the hospital after I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes the nutritionist was trying to explain to me how to count carbs and how to balance my carb/insulin ratio. I remember she asked me if I understood and I said I did to avoid the embarassment of telling her I didn't. The same thing would happen to me in school when a teacher would pour over equations with me forever and then ask me if I understood. I would always say yes to avoid embarrassment even though I didn't. So maybe there is come corralation between poor math skills and poor diabetic control. I have not been able to get my A1c under 9 for over a year. Kinda makes you think.

Diabetic Connect Member keek
keek
October 13, 2009 12:57 AM

Amy, I know what you mean about the numbers. My friends say I always have "the math face" as I am calculating how many units to take before a meal. : )
I agree that poor math skills can be detrimental to overall diabetes care.

Diabetic Connect Member Amy Tenderich
Amy Tenderich
October 12, 2009 6:02 PM

I agree, Keek, it doesn't come across as fair or PC. But I would agree that being good with numbers can really help in managing diabetes. Unfortunately, I am not. See this post:

http://www.diabetesmine.com/2009/09/life-by-the-numbers.html