Recipes From The Diabetic Skillet

                                                                                                               I hope you all have a very nice weekend.  Have fun and enjoy time with your family.  Here are some recipes for you to enjoy:

    Cioppino 

    Spinach-Stuffed Turkey Tenderloin 

    Green Beans With Honey Dijon Dipping Sauce 

    Balsamic Strawberries with Frozen Yogurt

CDC-Diabetes Care During Natural Disasters, Emergencies, and Hazards

    Where I live, we don't think much about being prepared for natural disasters, emergencies or hazards.  We don't see them much here.  It doesn't mean they can't happen, though and we should know what to do to be prepared.  Tonight's tornado scare here in my little town is proof of this.  There was one headed straight for us here in Fort Loudon.  I, even though I read this article and posted it for you all last month was not prepared. 
    Diabetics should know how to prepare.  The CDC has issued a Diabetes Public Resource giving very important information about how we as diabetics can be prepared, how to take care of ourselves after a disaster, and where to go for help.  This Resource provides links to sites giving instructions and to organizations that can provide assistance.  Click below to prepare yourself and your family for any kind of disaster or emergency:

      CDC-Diabetes Care During Natural Disasters, Emergencies and Hazards

Is There Too Much To Absorb?

    I receive diabetic information from many different sources.  Some of it I post in this blog, some of it I don't.  While going through my e-mails tonight, all I could think as I was reading some of the tips and info was; "WOW!"  "There is so much here! What do I post tonight?"  Sometimes I do write something myself; and as time goes on, and as I become a little more experienced with the writing and with diabetes itself, I plan to do alot more of that.  Right now, I am just trying to get some information out there to you. 

    Is there just too much information and how do we absorb it all?  Do we keep tabbed notebooks with notes on categories like Carbohydrates, Weight-Loss Tips and Tips to Lower Your Blood Sugar?  Do we save wanted information in files on our computer for reference?  Do we just return to our favorite blogs and sites and try to look the target information up in the archives?  Let's face it, we can't remember it all, right?  Or should we even try? 

    Yes, there is an abundant amount of information out there on diabetes and many other diseases and health issues.  No, it is not all helpful information and it is not all established truth either.  The conclusion I have come to is that we read as much as we can, research as much as we can, and learn as much as we can about our disease.  But, in between doctor's visits, as we are reading and researching; make a list of SOME of the things we think are important and discuss those items with our physicians.  If they don't think it is something we should try or worth changing our diets or routines for, then it probably isn't. 

Seafood Delights for Carb Counters and Other Recipes-Diabetic Connect

Seafood Delights for Carb Counters
There are so many delicious ways to enjoy seafood! Here are 3 of our favorites. There's something for every taste—tempting entrees with halibut, shrimp, crab, cod, and more. They're easy to fix and low in carbs—in fact, the cilantro pesto fillets have only 1g carbohydrates per serving!
Quick Cilantro Pesto Fillets
Fish and Mushrooms
Hot Seafood Salad

Super Side Dish Starts with
Cauliflower and Garlic

Do you skip potato side dishes because they have too many carbohydrates? Try this instead. Smooth and lightly seasoned, "Creamy Mashed Cauliflower" is sooo good, and so quick and easy to make!



Raspberry Mousse Tart with
Chocolate Crust 

Here's a fabulous dessert that's good enough to serve company—yet it's low in carbs and gluten-free too! Loaded with raspberries and made with real cream and butter, it's rich, sweet, and delicious. Don't wait for guests—surprise your family tonight!

Diabetes Is An Intimate Condition-Diabetes Daily

Diabetes Daily
Diabetes is an intimate condition. It influences what you put in your mouth, how you interact with your loved ones, your dreams for the future. So comments about the choices that someone with diabetes makes are intensely personal. If you have a loved one with diabetes, a friend, a co-worker, never forget that.

Food and Diabetes: Incorporating Spring Fruits and Veggies Into Your Diet

 Eat Healthy In Season This Spring 
Determining what food you can eat when you have diabetes can be puzzling, but one thing's for certain — eating more produce is an excellent way to keep your type 2 diabetes management on track. Vegetables and fruits are filled with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, low in calories, and — with a few exceptions — virtually fat-free. 

Can't afford fresh produce? Think again. If you buy produce in season, the bargains are out there. Buying fresh produce and cooking most of your meals at home can help with weight loss. 

Read the full article at about.com

Surprising Foods That May Make Diabetes Worse

    Surprising Foods That May Make Diabetes Worse
If you think carbohydrates are the only foods that people with diabetes should beware of, see what this eye-opening video has to say. Hear a doctor’s warning about other common foods that you probably eat without a worry. Learn exactly which foods he says may make type 2 diabetes better or worse.

The Easter Weekend

    I hope all of you enjoyed your Easter weekend!  Luckily, the weather participated for the most part, so I am sure there were lot's of Easter Egg Hunts and other activities for the family.  I'm sure many of you attended church services to thank God for sending his Son to die for us on the cross and celebrate that Jesus had risen from the dead to fulfill His purpose.

     Whatever your Easter weekend celebrations were, I hope you all took advantage of the weather and got outside and walked or ran or just played with the kids.  Remember any activity is exercise, and some is always better than none.  I know I took full advantage and went for several walks over the weekend, and I feel so much better for having done so. 

      I had Easter Dinner at my parent's house, and there was plenty of good food to eat, but I was very conscious of what I put on my plate and limited my choices.  I also made sure I was careful with dessert.  I made the Sugar-Free Strawberry Pie recipe that I posted last week.  I ate a small piece of that and since I was so good at dinner, I allowed myself a tiny little square of the brownies my sister made.  Believe me, it had to be tiny, I was under the watchful eye of my Mom; God love her.  LOL!  She does not let me forget that I am diabetic, as if I were going to forget.  I guess that's a Mom for you and I would probably be the same way with my son if he were diabetic. 

      If you would like to post some of your Easter activities, feel free to comment.  I would love to hear how your weekend was.
    

    

The ADA Introduces New Program for Type 2 Diabetes

    The American Diabetes Association is there to offer help, hope and support through it's new program Living With Type 2 Diabetes. 

     This new program offers people with diabetes the opportunity to learn more about the disease and to live well with diabetes over a 12-month period.  Click below to read more about this program and to enroll:

      Living With Type 2 Diabetes-The American Diabetes Association

Biography of Iconic Music Legend of the 60's-dLife

Jerry Garcia Biography

Claim to Fame: Singer, musician (Grateful Dead)
DOB: August 1, 1942
Date of Death: August 9, 1995 (heart attack)
Diabetes Type: Unknown 

   It is unclear what type of Diabetes Jerry Garcia had, but it is known that in 1986 his drug-use, smoking and other other unhealthy habits lead to a physical decline that culminated in a diabetic coma that lasted 3 days. 

   Click below to read the Jerry Garcia Biography:

   Musicians With Diabetes-The Jerry Garcia Biography

Allergy Fighting Tips and When The Worst Happens

Allergy Fighting Tips 

Allergy season is in full swing, but who has time for it? Diabetes is enough! Get the information you need on the types of allergens you’re fighting and take away some tips on keeping that pesky pollen at arm’s length. Read more about it now.  

When the Worst Happens 

A Mom's story of dealing with the unexpected loss of her 13-year old son who had Type-1 Diabetes.  Click below to read:

Type 1 Diabetes-When The Worst Happens: Dealing With Loss-dLife

Easter Dinner Recipes

    What are you planning to cook for Easter Dinner?  My Mom is cooking dinner, but I still need to find something tasty to make and take along.  I love Easter for many reasons.  It certifies that Spring is finally here for one thing.  As a Christian, I definitely always remember the true meaning of Easter.  It is a wonderful time, also, to get together with family and friends.  Of course, if you have kids, there is always the Easter Egg Hunts and baskets filled with chocolate bunnies and other treats. 

     Whatever your plans, I hope you all enjoy a wonderful Easter Sunday this year.  Click below for some great Easter Dinner Recipes:

      Apricot and Sherry-Glazed Ham-Diabetic Connect 

      Lemon Parslied Potatoes (Microwave)-Diabetic Connect 

      Spinach-Apple Salad-Diabetic Connect 

      Asparagus with Red Pepper Sauce-Diabetic Connect 

      Sugar-Free Strawberry Pie-Diabetic Connect

Lunches That Ruin Health and More-Reverse Diabetes Newsletter

Lunches That Ruin Health

If you’re reading this now, you likely are the type of person who tries to eat healthfully. Typically, people like us focus first on having a well-balanced, reasonably portioned dinner. Then we take on breakfast, making sure to eat something healthful each morning, like oatmeal or yogurt. Next, we clean up our snacking habits: fewer of them, but better quality, without all the sugar and refined carbs. 

But even the most health-diligent among us often don’t focus much on lunch. Particularly on weekdays, we tend to not think about a midday meal until it’s upon us, at which point we’re starving. Too frequently, we dash out in between meetings or commitments, grab the first appealing thing we see, and head back to our tasks while we mindlessly chow it down.
Don’t get caught in lunch limbo—the midday meal is just as important as breakfast and dinner. When you neglect to pay attention to what you eat at lunch, you set yourself up for disaster at dinner. Here are a few ways to avoid pitfalls.

Don’t be fooled by wraps. They might look like a healthy alternative to a sandwich, but a tortilla can be stuffed with a startling amount of meat and cheese. Not to mention, the tortilla itself is usually made with hydrogenated oils or worse, lard. Though they look thin, the monster tortillas many restaurants and cafeterias use to make a wrap deliver up to 350 calories and barely any fiber. Compare that to the 140 calories and 4 grams of fiber you get from two slices of whole-grain or oat-bran bread. From a health perspective, you’re often better off with a regular sandwich.

Avoid the steam table. These are the hot foods sitting under plastic sneeze shields at delis and grocery stores. Leave aside the murky origins of the food and the likelihood that it has been packed with sugar and salt to enhance the flavor. Worry more about its prolonged exposure to heat. Hours under a heat lamp (or above a steam table) degrade the nutrients and break down the fiber in the food. Often, your meal is so soft that it’s essentially predigested. As a result, your gut will quickly convert the food into glucose, spiking your blood sugar. A better alternative: Make a meal from the salad bar instead. 

Beware fast food. What’s more normal than a burger, fries, and soft drink for lunch? Sadly, that can be a quick 1,000 calories, much of it from extremely high Glycemic-Index, low-nutrition foods. If you must go fast food, opt for grilled chicken, say no to mayonnaise, get the smallest possible fries (or better yet, a salad), and drink water or milk.

Watch out for no-produce meals. So many standard lunches have zero fresh fruit or vegetables (we don’t count that single lettuce leaf on your sandwich as a serving). Remember: You should try to get at least two full servings of produce as part of lunch. A small salad and a piece of fruit are perfect daily choices. Make them a habit.

Lean on leftovers. One of the fastest, easiest, and most satisfying ways to enjoy a healthy lunch is to eat a healthy dinner—the leftovers, that is. Meals like vegetarian chili, whole-wheat pasta with veggies, or chicken stir-fry make excellent lunches the next day.

Treat yourself to pizza. For fast and easy good carb choices, a slice (not two) of cheese or veggie thin-crust pizza is a surprisingly good option. The glycemic load is low, and the cheese will help fill you up. If you can find a place that offers whole-wheat or cornmeal crust, that’s even better—it’ll leave you feeling even more full and satisfied.

Don’t eat at your desk. Lunch is the meal you’re most likely to eat on-the-go, whether that’s in front of a spreadsheet or between running errands. But eating this way is likely to make you feel deprived. Even if your body registers that it’s had sustenance, you’re likely to think later that you deserve a food reward for your diligence. That’s when a high-carb treat is most likely to upset your day. A candy bar at 2 p.m. leads to a bag of chips at 4 p.m. followed by a pre-dinner snack at 6 p.m. Avoid this trap: Make time in your day to stop and enjoy what you’re eating. Savor the taste and the way the flavors mix on your tongue. That’s the way to find true satisfaction from your food—and prevent overindulging later on.

Featured Recipe

Spring Salmon and Asparagus
Tender young vegetables and succulent salmon make this a healthy dish that looks lovely and is easy to prepare. And it’s even better when fresh asparagus are available.

Serves 4

Ingredients:
4 skinless salmon fillets (about 4 ounces each)
2 leeks, thinly sliced
8 ounces asparagus spears
1 cup sugar snap peas
4 tablespoons dry white wine
1 cup reduced-sodium vegetable broth
Salt and pepper
1 tablespoon snipped fresh chives for garnish

Preparation:
1    Run your fingertips over each salmon fillet to check for any stray bones, pulling out any that remain. Arrange the leeks in a single layer in the bottom of a large Dutch oven coated with cooking spray. Lay the pieces of salmon on top. Surround the fish with the asparagus and snap peas. Add the wine and broth and season lightly with salt and pepper.
2    Place the Dutch oven over medium-high heat and bring broth to a boil, then cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid and reduce the heat to low. Cook the fish and vegetables until the salmon is pale pink all the way through and the vegetables are tender, about 12 to 14 minutes. Sprinkle the chives over the salmon and serve.

Per serving: 34 cal, 10 g fat (2 g sat), 8 g carbs, 26 g protein, 2 g fiber, 70 mg chol, 99 mg sodium

Great Ideas

You probably already do a lot of these “exercises” without even knowing you’re burning calories. So give yourself a pat on the back—and try to do even more activities just like them. Here’s how many calories you burn in 30 minutes doing typical odds and ends around the house. By comparison, you burn roughly 40 calories in 30 minutes of sitting still.
Raking leaves                 147 calories
Gardening or weeding    153 calories
Vacuuming                      119 calories
Cleaning the house         102 calories
Mowing the lawn             205 calories
Playing with the kids       136 calories
Strolling                           103 calories
Biking to work                  220 calories

The information you have just read is from The Reverse Diabetes Newsletter, which you can subscribe to by clicking below:

Reader's Digest-The Reverse Diabetes Newsletter

Best of Chef Chris Smith's Diabetic Recipes

    Diagnosed at age 24 with diabetes while studying at the Culinary Institute of America in New York, Chef Chris Smith, the Diabetic Chef, knows a thing or two about making delicious, diabetes-friendly recipes.  Click below to follow the slide-show of Chef Smith's recipes:

     Best of Chef Chris Smith's Diabetic Recipes-Diabetic Living

LA Times: Type 2 Diabetes May Be An Autoimmune Disease

    Type 2 Diabetes, like Type 1 may be an autoimmune disease, but the immune system's target cells are different, Stanford researchers said Sunday.  The discovery sheds new light on how obesity contributes to the onset of Type 2 Diabetes and could lead to new types of treatment for the disorder, the researchers reported in the journal Nature Medicine.  To read the rest of this article, click below:

     Los Angeles Times: Type 2 Diabetes like Type 1 May Be An Autoimmune Disease

     

IMPORTANT!! Sunday New York Times Article-Is Sugar Killing Us and Is It The New Fat?

    I think this is a very important article to read.  Remember, carbohydrates with fiber are essential.  Carbohydrates without fiber?  Eliminate them. (Probably about 80% of what is sold on grocery market shelves). 

     High Fructose Corn Syrup is bad for people without diabetes but lethal for people who already have diabetes (even type 1 diabetes).  Click below to read more: 

     Sunday Times Reading: Is Sugar Killing Us and Is It The New Fat?-Diabetes 24-7

Artificial Pancreas In Adults With Type 1 Diabetes

    Two small randomised trials published on bmj.com today suggests that closed loop insulin delivery (also known as artificial pancreas) may improve overnight blood glucose control and reduce the risk for nocturnal hypoglycemia (a sudden drop in blood glucose levels during the night) in adults with Type 1 Diabetes.  Click below to read the rest of this informative article:

      Artificial Pancreas May Improve Overnight Control in Adults With Type 1

Recipes, Recipes and More Recipes

    Tonight's post is all recipes.  I wanted to give you all plenty of good food to choose from, so I hope you enjoy.   All of these recipes are from The Diabetic Skillet. 

     Shrimp Tacos with Cilantro Dressing  

     BBQ Salmon Skewers 

     Chicken Cutlets Topped w/Arugula Salad 

     Chicken w/Pesto Sauce and Angel Hair Pasta 

     Cashew Chicken 

     Wild Rice w/Mushrooms and Almonds 

     Asparagus w/Parmesan  

     BBQ Veggie Skewers 

     Corn, Zucchini, and Black Beans 

     Oranges w/Honey and Cinnamon 

     Strawberry and Orange Fruit Salad 

     I do apologize if any of these recipes are repeats.

    

Managing Time In a Messy Mind

    This is my problem; I will admit.  I have so many things on my plate all the time, that it is hard to keep it all straight.  I work long days and on my days off, trying to get everything done is impossible; especially, when it is just me and I have no help.  I will start to do something and remember something else I need to do and can never figure out what I should accomplish first.  Add to that trying to remember to test my blood sugar regularly, trying to plan meals and remembering to take my medication.  It was easier when I was younger, I think.  I was a single mom for years; you would think I would have figured it all out by now, but this is still something I am working on.  Click below to read how Deanna Glick handles it all in her blog post on dLife:
    
      Managing Time In a Messy Mind

    

The Secret to Staying Motivated

     It's officially spring!  Do you need to be rejuvenated after a long, cold winter that has yet to really release it's grip?  Click below to find the secret: 

      No One (Even You) Lacks Motivation-dLife

Fast-Food Restaurant Survival Guide

    Which has more fat: a burger or a chicken sandwich?  How many calories are in a chef salad?  Making smart fast-food choices can be tough.  This article reveals the secrets to finding the healthiest items on the menu.  Learn the 4 challenges you will find in fast-food restaurants and how to overcome them.  See which foods to choose and which to avoid.  Cutting fast-food fat and calories is easy with this guide from a diabetes expert.  Click below to read article:

 How to Survive the Food and Calories at Fast-Food Restaurants-Diabetic Connect   

     Fast-food is a fact of life these days.  In a typical day, one-third of Americans eat at a fast-food restaurant; it easy and does not cost too much.  Here are some facts to remember:  

 9 Fast-Food Facts to Remember 

      I hope you find this information helpful. 


     

So Grateful Today

    I have been on a little mini-vacation from work and tomorrow is my last day off.  I have had the best time these last few days!  It has been awhile since I have had such a great time. 

    Saturday night I got to hang out with my oldest friend Marcie and a few other friends.  I met them at Taverna in Fairfield for a night of music and laughter.  Fun time!  Sunday, I spent the day with my Mom.  We went to a quarter auction at a local firehall then to a local legion to play bingo.  Monday, it was so nice out and my new friend Kelly and I took a nice walk around our little town and enjoyed some nice conversation.  Today, I went to Hummelstown to visit another old friend, Carol and her husband Phil.  We all had a nice lunch together and after Phil went to work, Carol and I just sat around and talked.  It was great!  I really needed some days like these just to get away and get out and forget about everything.  It helps give you a new perspective on things.  I am really grateful to have good friends.  Tomorrow, I am supposed to have lunch with another long-time friend, Julie.  I am looking forward to that also.  We haven't seen each other in quite awhile. 

    I will resume posting tomorrow, but just wanted to fill you all in on what's been going on since Friday.

Quick-N-Easy Diabetic-Friendly Casseroles-Diabetic Connect

    Casseroles don't have to be full of high-carbohydrate ingredients.  These are hearty, satisfying hot dishes that are big on flavor yet amazingly low on carbs.  Enjoy!

     Chicken, Broccoli and Stuffing Casserole-Remember, you can use fat-free soup and fat-free milk in place of what is called for in this recipe. 

     Meat Casserole-This would be great served over a bed of whole-wheat pasta or brown rice. 

    

Instant Fiber Fixes for Diabetes

   
One of the easiest ways to control weight and blood sugar is to get the recommended 32 grams of daily fiber. Trouble is, most people with diabetes eat less than half that. The solution: Add 3 additional grams of fiber to each of your day’s meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner and two snacks) and you’ll double your fiber intake for the day and be right on target. To get those 3 grams (or more) try
1 apple or pear (4 to 5 grams fiber)
1/2 cup spinach (3 grams protein)
1/2 cup peas (4 grams)
1/2 cup raspberries (5 grams)
1/2 cup cooked whole-wheat spaghetti (3.5 grams)
1/2 cup hummus (3 grams)    
This information comes from the ReverseDiabetes Newsletter which you can sign up for by clicking below:

ReverseDiabetes-Newsletter

Join the Movement to Stop Diabetes

    79 million Americans have PREDIABETES.  This is sad.  One in three American adults is at risk for Type 2 diabetes.  This disease is running rampant in our nation and it is devastating to individuals and to families.  Diabetes has been called the silent epidemic.  It's time to call it out for what it is. 

     Stop Diabetes is the movement to end the devastating toll that diabetes takes on the lives of millions of individuals and families across the nation.  Join the movement and share your story to tell the world how you or a loved one has been affected by this disease and encourage friends and family members to do the same.  It's time to shed new light on this disease.   Click below to join:

      American Diabetes Association-Stop Diabetes: Home

New Apps on Eatsmart

    Diabetes educator, Hope Warshaw has created new apps full of videos and helpful information and tips on Eatsmart.  Click below to view her site:

    Eatsmart-Hope Warshaw

House and Senate Voting on Massive Cuts to Diabetes Funding

     This week, the House and Senate are again considering similar proposals to fund federal health programs for FY 2011, and we need your voice to ensure diabetes programs are protected.

     Without progress in research and prevention, one in three children will face a future with diabetes. The 105 million Americans with diabetes or prediabetes will continue to wait in vain for a cure. And costs for diabetes and its complications will grow astronomically. 

     Don't let FY 2011 funding proposals endanger the health of millions of Americans: Tell your Representative and Senators to reject cuts in FY 2011 health funding and adequately fund diabetes research and prevention programs.

     The total annual cost of diabetes, including undiagnosed diabetes, gestational diabetes and prediabetes, was an estimated $218 billion in 2007, and will continue to grow exponentially – unless we let Congress know this future is not acceptable.  

     Unless we take swift action now, the House and Senate could cut diabetes research and prevention programs:  

    

Staying Away From Fad Diets

With all the focus on weight in our society, it isn’t surprising that millions of people fall prey to fad diets and bogus weight-loss products. Conflicting claims, testimonials and hype by so-called “experts” can confuse even the most informed consumers. The bottom line is simple: If a diet or product sounds too good to be true, it probably is.  

There are no foods or pills that magically burn fat. No super foods will alter your genetic code. No products will miraculously melt fat while you watch TV or sleep. Some ingredients in supplements and herbal products can be dangerous and even deadly for some people. 

Steer clear of any diet plans, pills and products that make the following claims: 

Rapid Weight Loss 

Slow, steady weight loss is more likely to last than dramatic weight changes. Healthy plans aim for a loss of no more than ½ pound to 1 pound per week. If you lose weight quickly, you’ll lose muscle, bone and water. You also will be more likely to regain the pounds quickly afterwards. 

Quantities and Limitations

Ditch diets that allow unlimited quantities of any food, such as grapefruit and cabbage soup. It’s boring to eat the same thing over and over and hard to stick with monotonous plans. Avoid any diet that eliminates or severely restricts entire food groups, such as carbohydrates. Even if you take a multivitamin, you’ll still miss some critical nutrients.

Specific Food Combinations

There is no evidence that combining certain foods or eating foods at specific times of day will help with weight loss. Eating the “wrong” combinations of food doesn’t cause them to turn to fat immediately or to produce toxins in your intestines, as some plans claim.

Rigid Menus

Life is already complicated enough. Limiting food choices or following rigid meal plans can be an overwhelming, distasteful task. With any new diet, always ask yourself: “Can I eat this way for the rest of my life?” If the answer is no, the plan is not for you.

No Need to Exercise

Regular physical activity is essential for good health and healthy weight management. The key to success is to find physical activities that you enjoy and then to aim for 30 to 60 minutes of activity on most days of the week.

If you want to maintain a healthy weight, build muscle and lose fat, the best path is a lifelong combination of eating smarter and moving more. For a personalized plan, tailored to your lifestyle and food preferences, consult a registered dietitian with expertise in weight management. A registered dietitian can help you find a realistic, flexible eating style that helps you feel and be your best.

You can read this and more information by clicking below:

Staying Away From Fad Diets-American Diabetes Association

Question of the Day-What is the Best Calcium Supplement to Use?

  
The two main forms of calcium in supplements are carbonate and citrate. Calcium carbonate, the most commonly available, is inexpensive and convenient. Both the carbonate and citrate forms are well-absorbed, but individuals with reduced levels of stomach acid can absorb calcium citrate more easily.  

Your body absorbs calcium carbonate most efficiently when the supplement is taken with food. Calcium citrate is absorbed equally effectively when taken with or without food. Also, absorption of calcium is highest when not more than 500 milligrams is taken at one time.

Some people who take calcium supplements may experience gas, bloating, constipation, or a combination of these symptoms. These symptoms can often be avoided by taking smaller amounts of calcium spread out over the day, taking the supplement with meals, or changing the type of supplement used.

Learn More About This Topic

Calcium-American Diabetes Association

Be Your Own Advocate

This article comes from a blog that I found called Six Until Me: Kerri Morrone Sparling's life with Type 1 Diabetes.  Click at the end of this post to find the video. 

Be Your Own Advocate.

 
    
With all these diabetes blogs and fundraising walks and keynote speakers and advocacy unicorns, there's a lot going on in the world of diabetes.  Jumping into a diabetes advocacy role may seem as daunting as being a Yankees fan when you're the editorial assistant to a die-hard Red Sox fan (hi, Abby).  But being an advocate for diabetes doesn't mean you have to blog or speak at events or raise thousands for walk teams.  You can raise a lot of awareness in what may feel like the smallest of ways, but can make a difference for just one person.  And one is all it takes. 

This month's Life, Uninterrupted video is about being your own advocate.  And it features Sprinkles.  Because unicorn puppets have a place in this, too.  ;) 

Six Until Me: Be Your Own Advocate video

Patients Do Better With Empathetic Doctors

    No kidding!  What patient of any illness or disease wouldn't do better with an empathetic doctor?  I don't even know why an article like this one should have to be written.  In my opinion, our doctor should be the one person we can count on to give us a sound ear for our concerns and support for our fight with a chronic illness.  Too often, though, that is not the case.  Doctors over-schedule patients and in that rush to treat them all in a day, it leaves them very little time to spend with any one of them.  It only stands to reason that if we feel our doctor is listening to our perspective and concerns and giving feedback and support, we will do better with our illness.  Click below to read this interesting article:

    Patients Do Better With Empathetic Doctors

Should We Feel Guilty About "Bad" Blood Sugars?

    Do you feel guilty when you get a "bad" blood sugar reading?   I know sometimes I do.  It makes you think you have done something wrong, like eat something you shouldn't have or not exercised as much as you are supposed to.  But according to Diabetes Daily, we shouldn't feel guilty.  Blood sugar readings are information to help you make a decision about what to do next.  They help you uncover patterns.  High and low blood sugar readings aren't mistakes that we are making.  Think of them as results in your ongoing diabetes experiment.  Maybe that approach will make us all feel better.  It's all in our attitude and how we choose to look at it.     

     I'm going to end this post with a quote, "The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes of mind." ~ William James, 1842-1910,  US pragmatist, philosopher and psychologist

Cocoa Rich in Health Benefits

    More good news for all of us chocolate lovers out there!  Harvard researchers suggest cocoa may have significant health benefits which include:  improved blood vessel health ( very important for a diabetic ), cholesterol levels and blood pressure.  These benefits are from polyphenolic flavonoids that may prevent heart disease.  These antioxidants are commonly found in fruits, vegetables, tea, wine and coffee.  Flavonoid-rich cocoa consumption was also linked to reductions in diabetes risk factors, including insulin resistance.  Click below to read the rest of this very interesting article: 


     American Diabetes Association-Cocoa Rich In Health Benefits

The Ups and Downs of Blood Glucose

    This is a good article.  It shows a chart that gives you an idea of the range of blood glucose levels in people with no diabetes, people with Type 1 diabetes and with Type 2 diabetes.  The type 1 and type 2 are based on an A1C of 8%.  My last A1C was 7% and my blood glucose levels have been reading below 140.  According to the chart, that is close to the normal range for people without diabetes.  Thought it would be interesting if everyone could compare their levels with this chart.  If you like, share your results.  I would love some feedback.    

      Diabetes Forecast Magazine-The Ups and Downs of Blood Glucose

What's For Breakfast This Weekend?

     One of the best things about weekend mornings is you have time to make breakfast.  Well, if you are lucky enough not to have to work, that is.  I have to work tomorrow.  It's a great time to sit down with the whole family, have a good breakfast and plan your weekend. 

      I found some breakfast recipes for you to choose from this weekend.  There are wraps, muffins, fruit, and egg recipes.  Just click the photos to see or print the recipe:

      Diabetic Friendly Breakfast Recipes & Ideas-The Diabetic Skillet

Ten Years: A "Dia-versary"

    On the 10th anniversary of diagnosis, this blogger tells about the day they were told they had Type 1 Diabetes:

     Ten Years: A "Dia-versary"-Diabetes Stops Here             

     If you would like to share the story of the day you realized something was wrong or the day you were diagnosed with diabetes, please comment. 

Famous Faces of Diabetes

    Diabetes, strikes people of all walks of life.  This is a slideshow about some of the celebrities who have been diagnosed with diabetes:


     Famous Faces of Diabetes-Parade.com

Let's Try Again: PMS and Diabetes

    I am going to try again to post this.  Hopefully, whatever was wrong with my computer that was causing me to lose some saved material has been corrected.  Unfortunately, I can't guarantee that this will be word for word from the first attempt, but it will be consistent with the previous post on this issue.

     My question was-Does Diabetes cause a severity of PMS symptoms in women?  I have noticed since I first started experiencing the symptoms of diabetes, that PMS has become more severe, especially in the last several months.  This past week, however, has been the worst of all.  My emotions have been completely out of whack.  I can cry when I should be laughing and laugh when I should be crying.  It's been unreal!  A Facebook friend posted a video the other day that was hilarious.  I found it so funny, but yet instead of laughing I was crying.  My brain was recognizing the humor, but something wasn't registering right somewhere because I was crying real tears and not the laughing til you cry tears either; sad tears.  Not to mention this awful feeling of doom and despair I have been experiencing.  What is that?   I have never felt like this before and it has been an especially difficult week for me to handle.  I have also noticed that I become very angry, and very quickly sometimes too.  I know some friends of mine have experienced this in the last several months.  I have found myself apologizing quite a bit.

     I suppose I am really not in any condition to reason anything, but I am extremely stubborn and will try anyway.  LOL!  Here is my reasoning for thinking that Diabetes is causing my PMS symptoms to become more severe:  Insulin is a hormone and not only that, it is one of the most important hormones our body produces.  Type 2 Diabetes is the result when the insulin that is produced is not able to perform it's primary function-helping the body's cells use glucose for energy.  So if one of the most important hormones our body produces is out of whack, does it not stand to reason that it could affect the other hormones our body produces?  PMS, as we ladies know, is all about hormones.

     I have yet to speak to my physician about this and have not found any proof in any of the research I have done on this matter.  The only written material I have found so far is a blog post The Manual No One Gives Us-Menses.  In this post it does suggest that blood sugar levels can fluctuate during PMS and a woman's menstrual cycle and that hormones are to blame.  It says Estrogen and progesterone tend to influence blood sugar levels.                            

      If any of you ladies out there have noticed an increase in PMS symptoms since being diagnosed with diabetes or have spoken to your phycisian about this, please comment.  I think this is an important issue to ponder.  I will be discussing this with my phycisian on my next visit and will post his reply to this question.