Diabetes and Holiday Celebrations

via a pumpkin and a princess

Some Holiday Celebrations lack the excitement they had before you became diabetic.  Halloween and Easter are full of candy.  Thanksgiving and Christmas are full of food.  What's a diabetic to do?

Since we all know chocolate is my down fall, the candy-filled holidays are the hardest and most disappointing for me.  This Halloween I'm going to fill my house with crafts instead of candy.  

Will it be the same?  No.  Will the crafts fill even a part of the candy-less joy?  I don't know but I'm going to try.  

Yes, as diabetics we have to relearn some basic principles.  I have to relearn that the holiday is not about the food connected with it.  It is the joy of the season that should be the excitement.  

I'll let you know how it works.   

Diabetes and Recipes

via everyday diabetic

Mexican Spaghetti Casserole 

This hearty Mexican Spaghetti Casserole will fill you up but won't break your efforts to stick to your diabetes diet. Everything about it shouts healthy, and those green chilies give it a wonderful zesty taste. Serves: 8 Cooking Time: 40 min 

What You'll Need: 6 ounces reduced-carb spaghetti 8 ounces fresh mushrooms, sliced 1 cup chopped tomatoes 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 can (4-ounce) chopped green chilies 1 can (10-ounce) 98% fat-free cream of mushroom soup 1 1/2 cups reduced-fat shredded Cheddar cheese, divided 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro Instructions Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9- x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.   In a large pot, cook spaghetti according to package directions; drain. Add the mushrooms, tomatoes, and garlic powder to the pot. Cook over medium heat for 5 to 6 minutes or until soft. Stir in the chilies, soup, 1 cup cheese and cilantro. Return the pasta to the pot and toss until evenly coated. Place spaghetti mixture into prepared dish.   Bake 25 minutes or until heated through. Sprinkle with reaining cheese and bake for 5 to 7 minutes more. Nutritional InformationServings Per Recipe: 8 Amount Per Serving% Daily Value *Calories 141 Calories from Fat 25 Total Fat 2.8g 4 % Saturated Fat 1.1g 6 % Trans Fat 0.0g 0 % Protein 9.3g 19 % Amount Per Serving% Daily Value *Cholesterol 4.5mg 1 % Sodium 427mg 18 % Total Carbohydrates 21g 7 % Dietary Fiber 3.0g 12 % Sugars 1.7g 0 % 
Read more at http://www.everydaydiabeticrecipes.com/Casseroles/Mexican-Spaghetti-Casserole-7452#fgdrYB0QfhR4ARyE.99

Diabetes and Diabetic Coma

via diabetes treatment guide

By Neha Chaturvedi on May 11, 2012

59

A diabetic coma is a medical emergency and occurs when the person passes out due to excessively high or low blood sugar. A person typically experiences all the symptoms of high or low blood sugar before he/she loses unconsciousness. If left untreated it can lead to brain damage and death.

There are three types of diabetic coma, which give rise to different symptoms. Let us see the types and symptoms of diabetic coma.

Common Symptoms of Diabetic Coma

Symptoms of Ketoacidotic Coma

Ketoacidotic coma occurs in patients who suffer from type 1 diabetes. This coma occurs when excessive ketones are found in the body. Due to lack of insulin, the body starts to use fat for its energy. This leads to the excessive production of ketones, which makes the blood highly acidic. The symptoms of this coma include excessive thirst, nausea, vomiting, confusion, lethargy, and fatigue, difficulty in breathing, stomach pain and fruity smell on the breath.

Symptoms of Hypoglycaemic coma

This is a coma, which occurs when blood sugar levels fall dangerously low. This happens due toinfrequent or faulty eating and an increased dose of insulin. The typical symptoms of hypoglycaemic coma include sweating, palpitations, extreme hunger, confusion, trembling and drowsiness. If the symptoms are not checked, the person loses consciousness and faints.

Symptoms of hyperosmolar coma

This is the opposite of hypoglycaemic coma and occurs when the blood sugar levels become excessively high. It occurs when the person misses an insulin dose or overeats. The typical symptoms are fatigue, increased urination and thirst, nausea, vomiting and stomach pain.

Headaches

In all kinds of diabetic coma, headaches are known to occur. This is due to a combination offluctuating blood sugar levels and extreme hunger, which leads to headaches.

Light-headedness

The person starts to feel dizzy and lightheaded if the glucose levels fall or rise below normal. Light-headedness is one of the first signs of a diabetic coma. It is soon followed by dizziness and fainting.

Blurred vision

Severe cases of hyperosmolar coma can lead to blurring of vision especially if the high blood sugar levels have remained undetected for weeks before the onset of the symptoms. The person can experience blind spots and difficulties in viewing things.

Hallucinations

Altered blood sugar levels may make the person disoriented, confused and the person starts to hallucinate. Hallucinations occur when the person sees, hears or experiences things, which are not actually physically present in the environment.

Paralysis

Paralysis is a less common symptom of a diabetic coma but is known to occur. Generally, patients experience paralysis or general body weakness on one side only.

Experience of a Black Out

People who have been diabetics for years are well versed with their symptoms and are keenly attuned to changes in their bodies. Luckily for them, they are able to detect changes in consciousness like near black outs or feeling too low especially when blood sugar levels fall dangerously. At times like this, urgent medical treatment is essential. A diabetic coma is a medical emergency and merits prompt attention.

Diabetes and Foods that Lower Blood Sugar Levels

via medimess

10 FOODS THAT LOWER BLOOD SUGAR LEVEL

Here is a short list of foods to lower blood sugar level of diabetics. To achieve normal blood sugar levels is the prime aim of the treatment of diabetes. This is the only thing that assures healthier and longer lives of diabetics.
Nuts: Though it was previously assumed that nuts are not good as they are high in their fat content but now it has been proven that nuts contain only healthier fats. This healthier fats help to lower the insulin resistance. The fat content of the nuts help to lower down blood sugar by keeping the person away from binge eating. Few examples of healthier nuts are
Cashew
Brazil Nuts
Pecans
Macadamia Nuts
Almonds
Walnuts
Peanuts
There are some who have allergies towards some nuts; so it is advisable to stay away from those kinds. However those diabetics who do not have this problem must, take the nuts as regular part of their diets.
Avocado: Avocado is a fruit that carries healthy fat content. It raises the sensitivity towards insulin and lower downs the blood sugar levels. It is generally used in sauces, dips and spreads. The fruit is rich in dietary fiber that helps to slow down the increase in blood sugar level soon after big meals. It is a tasty, healthy and convenient food that helps to lower down the level of blood sugar.
Sweet Potatoes: The high fiber content of sweet potato has made them much lower in their glyceimc index value when compared with regular potatoes. The component carotenoids of sweet potatoes are powerful antioxidant and renders positive effect on the level of insulin. However one must not negate the healthy content of sweet potatoes by dipping them in sugary sauces.
Cinnamon: It is a common spice that carries a natural component that have the ability to reduce the level of bad cholesterol and make the insulin more effective. Cinnamon is high in its fiber content and is a rich and natural source of magnesium. It helps in controlling the level of blood glucose.
Onions: The flavonoid as well as sulfur content of onion causes a significant reduction on the level of blood sugar. It also increases the level of HDL. It is believed that it helps to prevent the onset of cancer because of its high antioxidant content.
Garlic: It is another food that lowers blood sugar level. It increases the production of insulin as well as insulin sensitivity. Garlic contains antioxidant properties that promote a healthier lipid profile.
Flax seed: Flax seed is not only rich in magnesium but also in lignans. Both of these components help to lower down blood sugar level. Flaxseed is also a vulnerable source of Omega 3 fatty acids. It helps to control blood sugar levels. An added advantage of flaxseed is that it aids to block the negative effect of estrogen. It also helps to delay and prevent the onset of estrogen related cancers.
Cherries: Cherries not only contain antioxidant but at the same time help to reduce the blood sugar level. Cherries are naturally rich in the fiber content and low in calories. The rich antioxidant level of cherries aids to protect heart diseases, cancer and diabetes.
Barley: It is a healthy substitute of rice for the diabetics. It has cholesterol lowering content that is also found in oats. It also significantly help to lower down the glycemic index of other food items added into it. Barley helps to give the fuller feeling to diabetics.
Lemons: Lemon is full of vitamin C. It carries limonene and rutin. The acidic property of lemon reduces the glycemic index of the food. It also contain anticancer and cholesterol lowering properties.

If you want to have a free diabetic meal plan specifically designed according to your personal requirement check List Of Foods For Diabetics To Eat. This list will help to design a meal plan that has the ability to control the Signs Of Diabetes in a way that you'll end saying where is my blood sugar?

Read more: http://www.medimiss.net/2013/01/10-foods-that-lower-blood-sugar-level.html#ixzz2ebGbNh4Y

Diabetes and Healthier Recipes

Pumpkin Spice Muffins

Photo: Taran Z/Food styling: Suzanne Springer

ingredients

1 cup whole wheat flour
3 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 cup egg substitute
2 Tbsp. Splenda Sugar Blend for Baking
1 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 cup nonfat milk
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup raisins or chopped nut

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preparation

Serves 8
Serving Size: 2 muffins

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line 16 muffin-pan cups with paper liners or spray with nonstick cooking spray. In a large bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg. In a medium bowl, beat the egg substitute with a whisk. Add the Splenda, pumpkin, milk, and applesauce; stir until well blended. Stir the raisins or chopped nuts into the flour mixture until just blended. Fill the muffin-pan cups 2/3 full. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove the muffins from the pans. Serve warm or at room temperature.

nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Carbohydrate exchanges 1.5
Amount per Serving
Calories 95
   Calories From Fat 5
Total Fat 0.5 g
   Saturated Fat 0.2 g
   Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 0 mg
Sodium 160 mg
Carbohydrate 20 g
   Dietary Fiber 3 g
   Sugars 6 g
Protein 4 g

ALL RECIPES

Diabetes and Hypoglycemia Control

via diabetic connect

Foods for Fighting Hypoglycemia

What to eat when you need to raise your blood glucose

Hypoglycemia occurs when blood sugar (glucose) drops below normal levels. Because our bodies need glucose for energy, having too little can lead to life-threatening health issues.

What's the best source of glucose? Carbohydrates, such as rice, potatoes, bread, tortillas, cereal, milk and fruit. It's important to remember, however, that even if you're eating right and have your type 1 diabetes well under control, hypoglycemia can still strike.

How Do I Treat Hypoglycemia?

To treat hypoglycemia quickly, eat some form of sugar or simple carbohydrates. Good options include fruit juice, hard candy, pretzels or crackers. You will need at least 15 to 20 grams of sugar or carbohydrates to get you through, so it's a good idea to have foods like these on hand:

• Four or five soda crackers
• Five or six pieces of hard candy
• Two tablespoons of raisins
• Four teaspoons of sugar
• One half cup of fruit juice or regular soda
• One cup of milk
• One tablespoon of honey or corn syrup

Bear in mind that foods with a lot of fat mixed with the sugars and carbohydrates — such as chocolate or cookies — do not work as well. So be sure to stick with foods that are mainly sugar or carbs.

What if Hypoglycemia Goes Untreated?

Do not delay in treating hypoglycemia. Otherwise, it can escalate into serious health problems, including seizures, coma and permanent damage to the nervous system.

How Can I Prevent Hypoglycemia?

Practicing good diabetes management is the surest way to avoid hypoglycemia. And learning how to detect hypoglycemia can help you treat it before it gets worse.

Diabetes and Frozen Yogurt

via diabetic connect

Frozen Yogurt: Not the Healthy Treat You Might Think

Why Fro-Yo Can Blow Your Sugar Levels

The sad truth about frozen yogurt: It's not far removed from ice cream on the health spectrum — it's just trendier.

Frozen yogurt is a multi-million dollar business dishing up many unnatural ingredients with loads of sugar, and some active cultures for good measure. Don't be fooled, comparatively it's much closer to ice cream than yogurt.

What's wrong with frozen yogurt?

Frozen yogurt can be a carbohydrate bonanza. Think salad bars: the ingredients may seem healthy but it's easy to exceed 1,000 calories.

"Sugar can be represented by a whole host of sneaky aliases on an ingredient list: fructose, dextrose, corn syrup, juice concentrates, polydextrose and pure cane sugar," writes the Huff Post, adding that one product might list sugar by several of these names to keep it from topping the ingredient list.

Nutritional information at most fro-yo shops isn't usually front and center either; if you want the information you have to ask for it.

How do I keep it healthier?

Reverse the cup - Put the toppings in your cup first and the frozen yogurt on top to moderate carbohydrates and calories.
Portion control - Fill your cup halfway or ask for a smaller one. One size (giant) cups at self-serve spots tempt customers to fill it up.
Weigh before adding toppings - Four to five ounces is a good serving, think about the size of a tennis ball.
Pick a low-sugar option - Some frozen yogurts are made with splenda for instance.
Go for healthy toppings - Fresh berries or nuts are great; fresh fruit gives the appearance of a full cup satisfying a hungry eye.
Eat frozen yogurt as an occasional treat.

Diabetes and Herbs

via Diabetes Treatment Guide
click through to continue reading article

People suffering from Type II diabetes and pre-diabetics may try herbal remedies to prevent diabetes or lower sugar level in blood. Uncontrolled diabetes for prolonged period can cause severe damage and complications to organs like kidneys, nerves, eyes, blood vessels and skin. There are certain herbs that can lower sugar level in blood.

Those who are suffering from Type I diabetes should not add or supplement herbs for lowering blood sugar level with insulin. Herbs used for lowering blood sugar may not work well for all and in some cases desired effects can be delivered by combination of few herbs. Let us have a glance at some herbs that are used to prevent and control diabetes.

Diabetes and Muscle Aches

via Diabetes Treatment Guide

Diabetes can cause a range of complications, the most prevalent among them being a change in the musculoskeletal system, a joint term used to refer to your muscles, bones, joints, ligaments, and tendons. These changes can lead to painful muscles, swelling and limited muscular flexibility in fingers, hands, wrists, shoulders, neck, spine and  feet in diabetic patients.

With its incidence rate increasing day by day, diabetes has become the leading  cause of progressive wasting and weakening of the muscles, making it excruciatingly painful for diabetic patients to carry out their daily activities. For reasons unknown, certain patients are more susceptible to experience this connective tissue disorder than others. However, the causes of diabetic muscle pain have been clearly outlined, all of which lead to the inflammation and damage of the muscular tissues.

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Diabetes and Insulin Production

via Diabetes Treatment Advise

Although, glucose is the prime source of energy for all the living cells of the body to carry out their normal physiological functions effectively. Well, this happens due to the reason that the pancreatic cells which produce insulin are destroyed or also due to the impairment of the target receptors of insulin. Hence, in either way insulin becomes incapable of carrying out its function. Insulin functions in the uptake of glucose by the body cells. So when there is no insulin, there is no uptake of blood glucose by the cells.  

click through to read remainder of article. 

Diabetes and Clean Eating

We've been hearing about clean eating but do you really know what it is? This will explain.

via a daily dose

This certainly sounds like a meal plan that would be good for a diabetic.

Diabetes and a Healthy Breakfast

Whether you prefer eggs, yogurt, or oatmeal, getting a healthy breakfast under your belt sets the tone for a day of weight control and fewer calories overall. In fact, research shows that people who start their day with breakfast make healthier choices and have a lower body mass index in general. The breakfast effect is even stronger for women than men.

"If we skip breakfast, we'll make unhealthier choices at lunch. People who skip breakfast eat more during the day," says Emily Banes, RD, clinical dietitian at the Houston Northwest Medical Center. This is partly due to a thought process in which people believe — incorrectly — that if they don't eat breakfast, they can eat more at lunch or dinner.

Here's the reality. On a physiological level, your breakfast choices — or lack of them — can set off a cycle of cravings and blood sugar spikes that spells doom for weight control. Better to start the day with stable blood sugar and ultimately fewer calories, courtesy of breakfast, says Banes.

Breakfast Calories: What to Eat

You may have to find your perfect breakfast food through a trial and error process. Banes advises thinking outside the breakfast box. It's fine if you prefer a small turkey sandwich or a hard-boiled egg to traditional breakfast foods, she says. Here are other ideas:

Consider whole grains. Whole grains are a good choice because they keep you feeling full, according to a dietary study that compared feelings of satisfaction between people who ate a hot whole-grain cereal for breakfast and those who ate refined wheat bread. Those who ate the whole-grain breakfast reported feeling less hungry over the following eight hours than the comparison group.

Opt for eggs. A study of people between the ages of 25 and 60 who were trying to lose weight found that those who ate two eggs for breakfast lost 65 percent more weight than those who ate bagels, and they also reported having higher energy levels throughout the day. Although this study showed no effect of egg consumption on cholesterol levels, Banes cautions that this may not be the right choice if you already have high cholesterol. Ask your doctor about egg-white alternatives.

Avoid high-sugar choices. Eating doughnuts, breakfast pastries, and sugary cereals may begin that cycle of cravings and blood sugar lows that can undermine your efforts.

Breakfast Calories: Ideas for Slow Starters

Not everyone leaps out of bed ravenously hungry.

"When you first wake up in the morning, if you are not a breakfast person, but you can eat two hours later, that's fine. Have a little yogurt with cereal in it, a little bit of peanut butter on some crackers, or a granola bar with a little bit of protein in it. It doesn't have to be traditional breakfast foods," says Banes.

Once you find the breakfast options that suit your diet and your taste buds, plan ahead so that these foods are on hand when you want them — and you can solidify a healthy habit that will last a lifetime.

Via Every Day Health

Diabetes and Foods You Should Eat to Prevent Spikes

9 Foods You Should Be Eating for Type 2 Diabetes

Healthy eating for type 2 diabetes is about losing weight and preventing dangerous spikes in blood sugar. Nutrition and health expert Joy Bauer explains how these nine foods can help.

Beans

If you're looking for foods that raise blood-sugar levels slowly and gently, choose high-quality carbohydrates instead of low-quality carbs like refined grains and sugary foods. Whenever possible, you'll want to couple these carbs with protein and/or healthy fat. Beans (including black, white, navy, lima, pinto, garbanzo, soy, and kidney) are a winning combination of high-quality carbohydrates, lean protein, and soluble fiber that helps stabilize your body's blood-sugar levels and keeps hunger in check. Beans are also inexpensive, versatile, and virtually fat-free.

Via everydayhealth.com

Click through to read the entire article. 

Diabetes and Walking

WALKING WEDNESDAY

Doobie Brothers - Takin it to the Streets - 1976

Diabetes and Portion Control

You’re not alone. Hundreds, if not thousands, of people struggle with portion control many times throughout the day. I know — that doesn’t make you feel better. But because it is such a common problem, there are some strategies you can adopt to help you control your portions.

Focus on eating more slowly to give yourself time to tune in to your body’s hunger and satiety. It takes 20 minutes to half an hour for your brain to receive the message that your stomach is full, so take your time.

When you are no longer feeling hungry but still want to eat, think about why. Are you bored? Find something else to keep you busy. Are you upset? Call a friend and vent. Are you stressed or anxious? Turn on some music or go for a brisk walk to relax and de-stress. Don’t try to fix your problems with food.

Keep your portions down by following these basic tips:

         Use a smaller plate. As simple as this sounds, it works. Studies have shown that people eat more when there’s more on their plate, regardless of how hungry they feel. So put less on your plate but trick your eyes into thinking you’re eating more by using a smaller plate.

         Never eat directly from a container, bag, or box. It’s so hard to keep track of how much you're eating when you’re just reaching in and stuffing food in your mouth. Before you know it, the bag is gone. Instead, serve yourself one portion on a plate or in a bowl, put away the rest, and only then sit down to eat.

                  Measure, measure, measure! Keep that measuring cup or spoon handy, and measure out your cereal into a bowl, your rice onto your plate, your tuna salad, your potato chips, your strawberries — everything.

Via Every Day Health

Diabetes and Your Mood

Even Out Your Mood With Food

It's possible to beat back the blues — or an attack of the grumpies — by watching what (and when!) you eat.

If you sometimes find yourself short-tempered and irritable — quick to snap at your friends, family members, and co-workers — you may be in need of a better eating plan. One of the biggest contributors to either a sudden or a chronic low mood is a drop in blood sugar, or glucose.

Snacking on concentrated sweets is not an effective solution for the long term, however, because the spike in sugar they induce is usually followed by a mood-destroying drop, which can leave you feeling fatigued, agitated, and depleted. You can go a long way toward maintaining an even blood sugar level by heeding the following tips: 

Eat every four to five hours. 
Eating consistently throughout the day — every four to five hours — provides your brain and body with a constant source of fuel and can prevent dips in your blood sugar levels. Some people with diagnosed hypoglycemia may need to eat even more frequently (every two to three hours).

Limit refined carbohydrates.

Concentrated sources of sugar, like soda, candy, fruit juice, jam, and syrups, can cause radical spikes (and drops) in your blood sugar, which ultimately leave you feeling grumpy and tired. Refined starches, such as white bread, crackers, bagels, and rice, often produce the same effect because they break down quickly in your digestive system to form blood sugar. Stick with whole-grain versions of these foods, which are digested more slowly because of their higher fiber content and which therefore keep your blood sugar stable.

 

Combine high-quality carbohydrates with lean protein.

Protein combined with high-fiber carbohydrates (specifically those rich in soluble fiber, like oats, barley, and certain fruits and veggies) has the ability to slow the absorption of sugar in your blood and lessen mood swings. Try an egg-white omelet loaded with veggies for breakfast, grilled chicken and peppers in a whole-grain tortilla for lunch, shrimp-broccoli stir-fry for dinner, and celery sticks with peanut butter or nonfat yogurt with berries as snacks.

In addition to the role food can play in regulating your blood sugar, studies have shown that certain nutrients in food can positively affect mood. Indeed, some nutrients influence the function of specific neurotransmitters (chemical messengers) in the brain.

 

Eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids and folic acid.

Omega-3 fatty acids are present in the brain at higher levels than any other part of the body, and of particular interest is the ability of omega-3 fats to help alleviate depression. Omega-3 fats can be found in fatty fish like wild salmon, sardines, and Atlantic mackerel, and to a lesser extent in ground flaxseeds, walnuts, and omega-3-fortified eggs. If you'd like to try fish oil supplements, consult your physician. 

Folic acid, also called folate, also seems to be important in regulating mood, and some studies have shown that low levels of this B vitamin in the blood are related to depression. If you're experiencing the blues on a regular basis, you should report this to your doctor. But if you're having some transitory moodiness, try to include leafy greens, fortified breakfast cereal, sunflower seeds, soybeans, beets, and oranges — all of which are rich in folic acid — into your diet. Also, consider a multivitamin that provides 100 percent of the daily value for folic acid. 

Via JoyBauer.com