Wow, what a tremendous response to the new diabetes blog. You are showing the huge impact diabetes has on an individual's life, family, community, and society as a whole.

Peggy and I would like to thank all of you for sharing your stories about living with diabetes. As you all know, diabetes is a complex issue and there are many facets involved in managing and living with the disease.

In viewing the comments, we would like to thank you for sharing your personal experiences, challenges, burdens, and successes. This is your opportunity to share information and tips, and Peggy and I plan on choosing a couple items each week to respond to.

This week I would like to talk about the blood glucose target range. What should it be? A normal fasting blood glucose target range for an individual without diabetes is 70-100 mg/dL (3.9-5.6 mmol/L). The American Diabetes Association recommends a fasting plasma glucose level of 70–130 mg/dL (3.9-7.2 mmol/L) and after meals less than 180 mg/dL (10 mmol/L).

Individuals with hypoglycemic unawareness (limited or no awareness of low blood glucose symptoms) may require a lower target range. Your healthcare provider may personalize your blood glucose target for specific medical conditions. Blood glucose targets should be in a healthy range to prevent diabetes complications, but also keep you safe from serious low blood glucoses.

Remember, blood glucose targets are targets. Diabetes is a balancing acting and blood glucoses will fluctuate; even sharpshooters don't hit the bull's-eye every time.

Once again, thank you. Keep the comments coming. We will try to address some of your concerns in the upcoming weeks.

- Nancy

Sweetened beverages, including soda and fruit drinks may increase the risk of high blood pressure, says a new study.

Findings showed that every "extra" can of sweetened soda consumed increased both systolic and diastolic readings, blood pressure.

The US Centers for disease control and prevention warns that any drink containing high-fructose corn syrup, fructose, fruit juice concentrates, honey, sugar, corn syrup, sucrose syrup, dextrose, or is considered a "sweetened drinks."

Published in the Journal hypertension, researchers reviewed data on 2,696 volunteers, 40 to 59, from the United States and Britain in the month. And three weeks study, participants were asked to give four times what they had eaten for the last 24 hours, give samples of urine and have their blood pressure control.

Data disclosed for each extra can of soda or sweetened beverages drank every day, people had an average of 1.6 mmHg systolic blood pressure reading is higher and higher average diastolic reading 0.8 mmHg. So the researchers recommend people restrict soda consumption.

In addition, the scientists found that people who consumed more sweetened beverages usually have unhealthier diet. more calories and less fiber and minerals.

The American Heart Association encourages reduced intake of added sugars due to potential health risks such as high blood pressure, stroke, obesity and cardiovascular disease.