Amy Hess-Fischl MS, RD, LDN, BC-ADM, CDE

Certified Diabetes Educator and Transitional Program Coordinator

The University of Chicago

Chicago, IL

Amy Hess-Fischl is a member of the EndocrineWeb Editorial Board.

Amy Hess-Fischl, MS, RD, LDN, BC-ADM, CDE is a program coordinator for the Teen and Adolescent Diabetes Transition Program at the University of Chicago’s Kovler Diabetes Center. She is also a certified diabetes educator, nutrition specialist, and certified insulin pump trainer.

Her professional activities include writing CE test items for the American Association of Diabetes Educators, reviewing submissions for the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, and participating on the advisory boards of Nature’s Way, Dreamfields Pasta, and Jolly Time Popcorn.

She completed her undergraduate degree at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL. While earning her Master of Science degree from Mount Mary College in Milwaukee, WI, she researched the effect evening snacks have on blood sugars of patients with type 1 diabetes.

Disclosures:

Consultant

Abbott Diabetes Care

Stock/Shareholder

Roche Diagnostics

Speakers' Bureau

Sanofi Aventis
Eli Lilly

Publications / Bibliography:

Hess AL, Seibert T. Insulin and Insulin Delivery Devices - Tools to Implement Intensive Treatment. Spring 2000. On The Cutting Edge. Diabetes Care and Education Practice Group. American Dietetic Association. Volume 21, Number 2.

Hess-Fischl A. Practical Management of Patient with Diabetes in Critical Care. April-June 2004. Critical Care Nursing Quarterly. Volume 27, Number 2. 189-200.

Evert A, Hess-Fischl A. Pediatric Nutrition Resources for the Patient and the Health Professional, American Dietetic Association 2005.

Power Foods to Combat Cancer Risk. Summer 1997 On Health (regional publication of St. James Hospital and Health Centers).

Here Comes the Sun! Healthy Eating During the Summer. Summer 1998 On Health.

Food For Thought: Back to School Basics for Active Youngsters. Fall 1998 On Health.

Herbs for Health. Winter 1998 On Health.

The Food Guide Pyramid for Young Children: Building Healthy Muscles, Bones, and Eating Habits. Winter 1999 On Health.

Simply Cooking. October 2002. Diabetes Self-Management.

Nutrition Resources on The Web. May 2003. Diabetes Self-Management.

Pre-diabetes

What Is Pre-diabetes? Pre-diabetes (sometimes written without the hyphen—prediabetes) is a “pre-diagnosis” of diabetes—you can think of it as a warning sign. It’s when your blood glucose level (blood sugar level) is higher than normal, but it’s not high enough to be considered diabetes. Pre-diabete

Hyperglycemia: When Your Blood Glucose Level Goes Too High

Hyperglycemia means high (hyper) glucose (gly) in the blood (emia). Your body needs glucose to properly function. Your cells rely on glucose for energy. Hyperglycemia is a defining characteristic of diabetes—when the blood glucose level is too high because the body isn't properly using or doesn't make the hormone insulin.

Hypoglycemia Overview

Hypoglycemia means low (hypo) glucose (gly) in the blood (emia). Your body needs glucose to properly function. Your cells rely on glucose for energy.

Hypoglycemia Symptoms

When glucose drops below normal levels, you may develop symptoms of low blood sugar (low blood glucose). Your body needs the right amount of glucose to operate efficiently, and low blood glucose can lead to a variety of symptoms affecting different parts of your body (e.g., eyes and heart). Possible symptoms of hypoglycemia include:

Hypoglycemia Causes

Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) is a disorder that most commonly affects people with diabetes, but it can also affect those without diabetes. People who do not have diabetes but who exhibit signs and/or symptoms of hypoglycemia may need to undergo testing to pinpoint the cause.

Hypoglycemia Diagnosis

A diagnosis of hypoglycemia is not based only on symptoms. Rather, endocrinologists look for the presence Whipple's Triad, named for Allen O.Whipple, MD. These three factors help doctors diagnose hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar (blood glucose). Whipple's Triad involves:

Hypoglycemia Treatment

Your treatment plan for hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) depends on what is causing your blood sugar level to drop too low.