This season lends itself to what I believe to be the healthiest few months for eating and lifestyle. More and more farmer's markets become available, pools open, there are outside activities galore (camping, beach trips, evening walks, local races); I am sure I am preaching to the choir.
Hey Peter Cottontail, you are not the only one feeling lively with the dawn of Spring. With longer periods of daylight and warmer temps, folks are moving more and brewing up fitness goals. If like me, my diabetes is something I have to keep tabs on daily, but with an influx in exercise, I especially have to assess and measure it more. As a refresh, here is a laundry list of areas to consider to have optimal blood sugar control with an enjoyed workout:
Diet, diet, diet. That’s what you hear most of when you have type 2 diabetes.
I’m not talking about a ‘diet’ to lose weight (way too many people with type 2 diabetes are made to feel like a failure because of their weight, grrrr). I’m talking about what actually eat.
You wake up and haul yourself out of bed, another day to face. So much to do before you even think about leaving the house.
Shower, dress, hustle others too. Where does breakfast fit into your morning? Are you an early riser and so don’t even fancy eating that early and grab a snack later?
I know we are told it’s the most important meal of the day (great marketing by Kellogg's). Is it true and does it matter when you’re a type 2 diabetic?
February is all about the heart. From the Hallmark holiday of Valentine’s Day to advocacy and awareness of heart health. In relation to diabetes, heart health and the former share some common ground. For worse, one complication increases the risk of the other, yet, on the positive, these health conditions provide a push to take extra care of our health and food choices.
In the least, here are some small steps that can aid big health results for blood sugar control and caring for our heart.
It’s that time of year again…the ever popular article on “how to stick to your diet over the holidays”, or “how to keep your blood sugars in check through the holidays”. Well, I want to put a spin on it for you so as not to have your eyes glass over…
First, living with diabetes, I think we can admit that we all get lazy, and an annual reminder that when the calendar hits December, it’s not an excuse to ignore our diabetes. I’m not here to tell you all about what NOT to eat, but instead I want to help you not feel deprived of the treats and traditions that warm your heart and please your palate. I always tell my clients that before you go removing any habits that have a negative effect on your diabetes or weight control, focus on adding in some positive changes. If you make a pact with yourself to follow through on your top three positive goals, you will be more likely to almost unknowingly remove negative influences on your health.
If only we could wake up daily to minimal stress, pure healthy food, in the perfect quantities, exercise, sunshine, we would all be well on our way. In reality, many of us struggle to get out the door on time, let alone have a balanced meal before we hit the day running. It's too easy to be reactive with our health by choosing lunch by whatever cafe or fast-food joint is nearest, and prioritizing our job and or kids.
As an insulin sales rep for two years and a pump/CGM sales rep and trainer for over five years, I learned more than I ever cared to know about the in’s and out’s of diabetes technology. I spent years becoming an expert on deductibles, insurance policies, what goes into research and development of new products, FDA red-tape, diabetes software, and adult-learning principles for every patient that I ever trained on a new product. Each time a new product hits the market, or rumors flare with the birth of a new idea for a new product, it is Christmas for people with diabetes. Although there is promising research for a cure somewhere on the horizon, we can’t touch it or see it. So, when a new product emerges that can make this disease a bit more entertaining and possibly even a bit easier to manage, we jump at the chance to be one of the first to try it out.
Let's cut to the chase, eating disorders come in all shapes and sizes. It's beyond the commonly known anorexia and bulimia. For example, have you heard of orthorexia? To simplify this medical terminology, it's eating perfectly. While of course being aware of what we choose to eat and how much is good thing, the benefits become questionable when eating the perfect thing becomes an obsession and dominates someone's thoughts.
Taking care of our diabetes on a daily basis is challenging enough, especially when we also want to be healthy for many other reasons as well. There are so many confusing fad diets out there, and attached to them are the promises that they will eliminate fat for good and even help control cravings and blood sugars. It’s very important, especially for those of us in the field of nutrition, to make sure our clients have a clear understanding of the benefits and the consequences of these diets.