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.

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.

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. 

Does Queen's song, "Under Pressure," pop into anyone else's head with this title? I can't help play the tune in my mind while drafting this post. And on that note, what does this song have to do with health? A lot.