Diabetes Diet: 5 Delicious Winter Snacks For Diabetes Management

From food.ndtv.com

Here are some healthy winter snacks diabetics could include in their diet to make sure their blood sugars are stable

Winter's upon us and as we wrap ourselves underneath layers of wool to keep warm, it is advisable to make necessary tweaks to one's diet too.  Why you ask? Because eating seasonal has been linked to a number of health benefits. There are a number fruits, vegetables, that you find only in this season. Some of these seasonal treats are so nutritious that they could help manage a number of health conditions like diabetes and hypertension.

Diabetes is one of the biggest challenges in the world of health and nutrition. According to a study carried by the Lancet Journal, about 98 million Indians are at risk of developing diabetes by the year 2030. Diabetes is characterised by elevated blood sugar levels. While there is no way to reverse the condition, but you can manage it effectively by adopting a healthy and balanced diet rich with fibre and low glycaemic index foods. 

Diabetics should ideally split their meals in multiple small meals, and make sure they are replete with nutrients and contain no added sugar, refined goods and processed junk.  They should also be low in simple carbohydrates. These carbohydrates digest too soon and cause a surge in blood sugar levels. Here are some healthy winter snacks diabetics could include in their diet to make sure their blood sugars are stable.

1. Shakarkandi chaat

Potato's pink tuber cousin, shakarkandi or sweet potato may actually do wonders for blood sugar management. According to the book 'Healing Foods' by DK Publishing House, "they contain slow-release carbohydrate and the hormone adiponectin, a combination that helps keep blood sugar levels steady." Just boil them, cut them, add a bit of lemon juice, sprinkle some chaat masala on top-and your shakarkandi chaat is ready.

^{Diabetes: Sweet potatoes have low glycaemic index}

2. Carrot sticks and hummus

Carrots are packed with good quality fibres. They are low in carbs and calories too. Wash the winter veggie well. Peel and cut them in long strips, dip them in hummus and munch away!


3. Beetroot salad

Beetroot is another winter delight, we can never get enough of. The ruby red vegetable is also a treasure of fibre, folate, manganese, potassium, iron, vitamin C, vitamin B9. This beetroot salad made with a delightful mix of beetroot, broccoli, walnuts, apple, celery and roasted papad makes for a healthy evening snack. Make sure you avoid adding sugar in the mix.

4. Nutty trail mix
Nuts are an intrinsic part of desi winter preparations. They are used to make ladoos, they are used in halwas too. Now use a chunk if these healthy nuts for your own trail mix. Take a bit of almonds slivers, flax, chia, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, prunes and put them in a mason jar. Tuck into them when cravings kick. Practice moderation.

5. Roasted chana

Chanas, or chickpeas, are packed with fibres. Did you know? Fibres also induce a sense of satiety. If you feel full, you would refrain from binging on other unhealthy snacks.

Try these snacks, but make sure you do not lose sight of portion control. Excess of anything may prove detrimental to your health.

(This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.)

https://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/diabetes-diet-5-delicious-winter-snacks-for-diabetes-management-2148782

Type 2 diabetes: The three best seeds to lower blood sugar

From express.co.uk

TYPE 2 diabetes can seem like a daunting diagnosis because it requires you to overhaul aspects of your lifestyle to ward off the threat posed by rising blood sugar levels. Luckily, the condition is easily controlled by making simple dietary tweaks and certain snacks have been shown to lower blood sugar, including these three seeds.

Type 2 diabetes is a serious condition where the insulin your pancreas makes can’t work properly, or your pancreas can’t make enough insulin. The primary threat posed by impaired insulin production is rising blood sugar levels, which, if left untreated, can hike the risk of life-threatening complications such as heart disease. Fortunately, upping your intake of certain foods and shunning others can keep the threat of rising blood sugar levels at bay.

Certain seeds, for example, have been shown to lower blood sugar and can be enjoyed as a simple snack or sprinkled on your meals.

Here are three seeds proven to lower blood sugar levels:

Flax seeds

As a general rule, foods that rank low on the glycaemic index are a tried-and-tested way to keep blood sugar levels in check.

The glycaemic index (GI) is a rating system for foods containing carbohydrates, showing how quickly each food affects your blood sugar level when that food is eaten on its own.
Carbohydrate foods with a high GI rating are broken down quickly by your body and cause a rapid increase in blood glucose whereas foods with a low GI are broken down more gradually, reducing the risk of blood sugar spikes.

  Type 2 diabetes: Flax seeds, which rank low on the GI index, have been shown to lower blood sugar                                                                   (Image: Getty Images )

Due to their high fibre content, flax seeds are considered a low-glycaemic food and research attributes their blood sugar-lowering benefits to their soluble fibre content, which slow food digestion and decrease the absorption of certain nutrients like sugar.

One four-week study in 29 people with type 2 diabetes found that consuming 10 grams of flaxseed powder per day reduced fasting blood sugar by 19.7 percent compared with the control group.
Echoing the findings, in a three-month study in 120 people with type 2 diabetes, those who consumed five grams of flaxseed gum daily with their food experienced a fasting blood sugar reduction of about 12 percent, compared with a control group.

Sunflower seeds

Studies have also linked sunflower seed consumption to blood sugar reduction, suggesting that people eat one ounce (30 grams) of sunflower seeds daily as part of a healthy diet may reduce fasting blood sugar by about 10 percent within six months, compared to a healthy diet alone.
Findings suggest that the blood-sugar-lowering benefits are derived from plant compound found in the seeds called chlorogenic acid.

To further enhance the blood-sugar lowering effect, studies also suggest that adding sunflower seeds to foods like bread may help decrease carbs’ effect on your blood sugar.
The seeds’ protein and fat slow the rate at which your stomach empties, allowing a more gradual release of sugar from carbs.

Pumpkin seeds

Several studies have found that supplementing with pumpkin juice or seed powder reduced blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.

  Type 2 diabetes: The magnesium content in pumpkin seeds has been shown to lower blood sugar                                                                  (Image: Getty Images )

The high magnesium content of pumpkin seeds may be responsible for its positive effect on diabetes.
An observational study in over 127,000 people found that diets rich in magnesium were associated with a 33 percent lower risk of type 2 diabetes in men and a 34 percent lower risk in women.

How does Magnesium affect blood sugar levels?

As Holland and Barrett explain: “Magnesium plays an important role in helping your body convert glucose from your food into fuel.
“If you don’t have enough magnesium in your body, your cells can become less effective at using insulin.”

What are the symptoms of type 2 diabetes?

According to the NHS, many people have type 2 diabetes without realising because symptoms do not necessarily make you feel unwell.
Symptoms include:

• Urinating more than usual, particularly at night
• Feeling thirsty all the time
• Feeling very tired
• Losing weight without trying to
• Itching around your penis or vagina, or repeatedly getting thrush
• Cuts or wounds taking longer to heal
• Blurred vision

You should speak to your GP if you have any of the symptoms of type 2 diabetes or you're worried you may have a higher risk of getting it, advises the health body.
It added: “The earlier diabetes is diagnosed and treatment started, the better. Early treatment reduces your risk of other health problems.”

https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/1216713/type-2-diabetes-symptoms-diet-flax-seeds-sunflower-seeds-pumpkin-seeds-lower-blood-sugar

Best Life: Living with type 1 diabetes

From wmcactionnews5.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- There are more than a million people who have type one diabetes. Doctors say they die at least 10 years sooner than Americans without the disease with many not making it past 70 years.

We talked to one who crushed that goal 15 years ago and is telling others how they can do it too.

Don Ray, 85, can’t remember a life without diabetes. As a child, Don could not go to gym class. He couldn’t play sports. He couldn’t even play hide and seek.

“Because if you were to hide, and they can’t find you and you have an insulin reaction or a hypoglycaemia, you might really be in trouble because they will never find you,” explained Don.

He was told he wouldn’t live past his 30’s. But eventually he got tired of hearing “you can’t … you can’t … you can’t.”

“I would go to gym class when I started school in kindergarten and first grade, and I’d sit in the chair in gym class and I’d watch these kids and I knew I could do this cause I just knew I could do this,” Don said.

Don and his dad started playing catch and that turned into 20 years of playing football and thirty years of baseball. And he did it because...

“He followed the rules,” said Betul Hatipoglu, MD, Cleveland Clinic.

What rules? First make sure your blood sugar is in check: between 80 and 130 milligrams. If it’s too low, eat some carbs, but don’t forget to check while working out.

“If they are going to exercise for an hour, they have to check it in 30 minutes again to make sure they are still in the safe zone,” shared Dr. Hatipoglu.

But don’t take too much insulin before your meal or before your workout.

“So, if you are going to exercise after lunch, for lunch you take less insulin so it is safer for you,” Dr. Hatipoglu explained.

And if you’re working out after dinner, be careful as well. You don’t want any overnight complications.

“If you take care of the disease, the disease will take care of you and you can if you take care of yourself,” said Dr. Hatipogul.

“I don’t believe that there is nothing a diabetic, a diabetic person can not do,” said Don.

Especially if you listen to Don Ray!

Nowadays, there are nearly 140,000 people diagnosed with diabetes each year in the U.S. alone. But in 30 years, an expected 5 million Americans will be diagnosed with type one diabetes. Don retired at age 70, but he still works as a Santa Claus during the holidays.

Copyright 2019 WMC. All rights reserved. Contributors to this news report include: Keon Broadnax, Field Producer; and Roque Correa, Editor.

https://www.wmcactionnews5.com/2019/12/12/best-life-living-with-type-diabetes/

Christmas and diabetes

From diabetes.org.uk

Christmas is a time to enjoy yourself and have treats that you wouldn’t regularly eat at other times of the year. 

But being a time of indulgence and celebration, much traditional Christmas fare tends to be higher in saturated fat, free sugars and salt than our usual diets.

If you have diabetes, or are close to someone who does, you may find that this time of year can make managing your diabetes more difficult, with so much tempting Christmas food and drink to choose from.

Luckily, we’ve got loads of helpful info to help you enjoy yourself throughout the festive season without compromising your diet or diabetes self-management.

Take a look at some of our favourite recipes, tips and handy advice:

Quick tips for managing Christmas dinner

To help manage diabetes at this time, try these tips to make your Christmas meal a little healthier:

• Fill up on the array of vegetables available, but watch out for added festive extras like honey.
• Keep an eye on your portion sizes, there’s likely to be an array of extra dishes so keep in mind how much you’re eating.
• If you’re having a dessert, try to stick to one portion of your sweet treat and think about what it’s served with, could you have natural yogurt instead of double cream for example?
• Remember there are no ‘forbidden’ foods, but go easy on the treats. Be mindful about what food you’re eating, but don’t beat yourself up if you do eat more than you usually would, or choose foods that aren’t as good for you.
• A slight break from the norm is to be expected - enjoy it, then get back on track the next day. Why not escape the hustle and bustle, or dodge the family row over the remote control on Boxing Day, and go for an exhilarating walk in the countryside?

Christmas recipes 

We're putting all of these on our foodie wish list. These recipes will help you make healthier versions of your favourite Christmas dishes because they have less saturated fat, free sugar or salt than the traditional versions. But remember if you’re trying to manage your weight, portion sizes are important too.

Everyone should be making healthier food choices year round, and it’s important that Christmas indulgence doesn’t last for weeks, but occasional treats shouldn’t affect your long term diabetes management as long as you get back on track in the New Year.

Wholesome nut roast 
Christmas dinner isn’t just about turkey. There’s plenty of delicious meat-free food, which is great for all the family.
A veggie centrepiece which tastes great alongside traditional roast dinner trimmings, like sprouts, carrots and parsnips. The fat comes primarily from the nut content.
Roast turkey
If turkey is the only way for you, have a go at this recipe to cut back on saturated fat.
Spiced paprika roast roots
These delicately-spiced roots are a warming and flavoursome veg side dish.
Or for a more middle eastern flavour, try this alternative.
Tasty layered potatoes
This classic bake will brighten up your potatoes, providing a tasty side dish. You could do this with other root veg like swede.
Carrot and swede mash
A tasty vegetable dish which is a good alternative to mashed potato.
Flavoursome sage, onion and sweet potato stuffing
No roast is complete without stuffing - this classic comes with a twist.
Or keep the traditional flavour of chestnuts with this alternative.

And don't forget the sweet treats… 

When it comes to dessert, luckily the majority of Christmas puddings and cakes are vegetarian friendly. But why not try something different, such as with caramelised clementines, or roasted figs drizzled with honey and served with a scoop of ice cream or frozen yogurt? These delicious treats will help you eat more fruit.

Higher-fibre Christmas pudding
This tasty pudding has extra fruit and keeps for up to a week if stored in the fridge.
Mini Christmas puds
Bite-sized, healthier versions of the traditional Christmas pudding, with fruit and spices.
Crumbly, fruity mince pies
A Christmas classic gets a healthier twist. Perfect for tucking into in front of the fire with the family.

Alcohol and diabetes

Alcohol is often part and parcel of celebrating, but, when you’re enjoying yourself, drinking a little more mulled wine than you intended is a common pitfall.

Regardless of whether you have diabetes or not, guidelines recommend that men and women should not regularly consume more than 14 units a week and if you do have as much as 14 units, spread this over three days or more.

If you’re trying to manage your weight, remember alcoholic drinks can contain a lot of calories. For a festive alternative to alcoholic Christmas tipples, shake up a virgin mojito when friends come to call.

If you are drinking, limit drinks with a high sugar content such as liquors, cocktails made with fruit juice and sweet wines. Some festive drinks are higher in saturated fat too, like cream liquors.
And, remember if you treat your diabetes with insulin and certain type 2 diabetes medications that can cause hypos, be aware that drinking alcohol can make hypos more likely.

Eating out at Christmas when you have diabetes

Many restaurants offer set menus over the Christmas period. If you’re eating out, see if the nutritional information is available online, so you can plan ahead and pick a healthier option. Here are some more tips:

• Make sure you're the first to order, research shows you're more likely to be swayed by other people’s choices if you wait.
• If you have a smaller appetite, there's no reason why you can’t order a starter as a main meal especially if you know the restaurant serves large portions.
• Only order pudding after you’ve eaten your main meal, as you may find you're too full for one, or that now that you’ve eaten you feel less tempted to order one.
• Also, it’s always useful to follow the golden rule of filling most of your plate with tasty vegetables or salad – this can help you to feel full and provide helpful nutrients.
• Eat slowly and put your knife and fork down between mouthfuls. Research shows it takes about 20 minutes for your brain to register you are full and consequently people who hurry their meals are more likely to overeat.
• If your meal is delayed, and your blood glucose levels are in danger of going too low, ask if there is a bread roll to tide you over.
• Add extra vegetables to your plate. Research shows that the volume of food is important in helping us feel full and vegetables provide the bulk.
• Protein foods are filling – try to include a serving of lean meat, egg, fish or beans.

Buffets

At some point in December, you’ll probably find yourself close to a buffet, with loads of tasty temptations. Don’t be deceived by the tiny portions – it's really easy to overeat in a short space of time. A little planning will help you to enjoy the food without going overboard.

• Rather than taking one of everything, take time to browse what’s there and pick up your favourites so you really enjoy the taste of the food rather than just eating it because it’s there.
• Select a small plate to help you manage how much you’re eating. Choose veg and salads first, and use the space leftover other offerings like meat, fish or veggie options. Don’t pile the different foods on each other.
• Resist the temptation to keep going up and grazing, as you are likely overeat and lose track of what you’ve eaten.
• Try not to sit facing the buffet and don’t stand next to it, as you’ll probably end up eating more than you planned to if you do.
• If someone else serves you, and you end up with something you don’t want on your plate, don’t feel obliged to eat it – it’s fine to leave it on your plate.

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/enjoy-food/eating-with-diabetes/christmas-food-and-diabetes?utm_source=bronto&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Read+our+guide&utm_content=Read+our+guide&utm_campaign=Enewsletter+December+2019

Type 2 diabetes: Best meal to have for breakfast to lower blood sugar

From express.co.uk

TYPE 2 diabetes affects a person’s blood sugar (glucose) levels, and left untreated, serious complications can occur. When it comes to keeping blood sugar levels in check, eating a certain meal for breakfast could help.

Type 2 diabetes is a condition which develops when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin to function properly or the body’s cells don’t react to insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that allows the body to use sugar from carbohydrates and helps keep blood sugar levels from getting too high.

If blood sugar levels aren’t controlled properly and stay too high it can lead to a number of problems, including kidney failure, never damage, foot ulcers, heart disease and stroke.

But blood sugar can be controlled by some simple lifestyle changes, such as eating a healthy diet.
The NHS advises: “There's nothing you cannot eat if you have type 2 diabetes, but you'll have to limit certain foods.
“You should eat a wide range of foods - including fruit, vegetables and some starchy foods like pasta, keep sugar, fat and salt to a minimum, and eat breakfast, lunch and dinner every day - do not skip meals.”

                   Type 2 diabetes: What's the best meal to have for breakfast? (Image: GETTY)

When it comes to the first meal of the day, breakfast, one meal which could help keep blood sugar levels in check is kedgeree.
Kedgeree is a popular breakfast dish which typically consists of flaked fish, boiled rice, hard-boiled eggs and curry powder.
Diabetes UK recommends a recipe which includes fresh salmon and smoked paprika instead of smoked haddock which is high in salt - too much salt could increase a person’s diabetes risk.

Fatty fish like salmon is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA.

Getting enough of these fats on a regular basis is important for diabetics who have an increased risk of heart disease and stroke.
The capsaicin in paprika may help manage diabetes because it my influence genes involved in blood sugar control and inhibit enzymes that break down sugar in the body.
It may also improve insulin sensitivity.
A four-week study involving 42 pregnant women with diabetes, taking a daily 5mg capsaicin supplement significantly decreased post-meal blood sugar levels compared with a placebo.

                Type 2 diabetes: Kedgeree is recommended by Diabetes UK (Image: GETTY)

Eggs have also been shown to have a positive impact on blood sugar levels.
A study from 2018 suggested that regularly eating eggs could improve fasting blood glucose in people with pre diabetes or type 2 diabetes.
The researchers in this study suggested eating one egg per day could reduce a person’s risk of diabetes.
White rice can have a negative impact on blood sugar levels, so other types of rice should be considered.

A study in the British Medical Journal found people who eat high levels of white rice may have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
This is because short-grain white rice has a high GI (glycaemic index) - a measure of how quickly food raises blood sugar levels.
Basmati, brown and wild rice have GI scores in the moderate range so are considered better options.

Other ways to lower blood sugar levels

Alongside eating a healthy diet, being active is recommended.
The NHS says: “Physical exercise helps lower your blood sugar level. You should aim for 2.5 hours of activity a week.
“You can be active anywhere as long as what you're doing gets you out of breath. This could be fast walking, climbing stairs and doing more strenuous housework or gardening.”
Losing weight if you’re overweight will also make it easier for your body to lower blood sugar.

https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/1214199/type-2-diabetes-diet-breakfast-foods-kedgeree-lower-blood-sugar

Gifts For Diabetics

By Keith E Barker

If you know someone with diabetes, you know their condition impacts many aspects of their life. Depending on their symptoms, they may need special equipment to manage their health. This may include a blood sugar monitor or special shoes, for example, which make great gifts for diabetics.
Fortunately, companies are manufacturing more gifts for diabetics to make their lives easier. Below, we'll look at some of the best gifts for diabetics in 2019 and how they could help someone you love manage their symptoms.
These may include tools to improve their health or diabetic-friendly snacks to satisfy cravings. Whether it's a birthday, graduation, or holiday, you'll know exactly what to get someone with diabetes for their next gift-giving celebration.

7 GIFTS FOR DIABETICS:

DIABETIC-FRIENDLY SOCKS AND SLIPPERS
Foot care is crucial for people with diabetes. They're prone to foot injuries at home. With proper care and a good pair of diabetic socks or slippers, it can really be a huge help.
If you're buying slippers, we recommend buying a pair with hard soles and a closed-toe design. For men, the UGG Men's Ascot Slipper is a great choice - it's made with 100% leather and the inside features soft, comfortable wool.

For women, the LongBay Furry Memory Foam Diabetic Slippers are a great choice. They're affordable, featuring a plush, comfortable design ideal for people managing edema.
Diabetic socks are another great gift, helping diabetics manage swelling in their feet. Socks are an affordable diabetic gift and they're relatively easy to find - Amazon features dozens of listing, including value packs of various colours and styles.

BOOKS ABOUT DIABETES
Learning about diabetes is important for people managing the condition. The more they learn about their symptoms, triggers, and ways to prevent complications, the easier it is for them to live well.
If someone you love was recently diagnosed with diabetes, books about the illness can be great gifts for diabetics. They'll learn about diabetes from the perspectives of experts and other people who understand.

Diabetic cookbooks are especially helpful. When a person has diabetes, they have special dietary needs. Accommodating these needs is crucial - if they don't eat healthy meals without excess carbohydrates, they could exacerbate their symptoms.
By giving a diabetic-friendly cookbook, you give the person access to meals they need to sustain their health.

The Complete Diabetes Cookbook by American's Test Kitchen is one of the best, offering a wide variety of diabetic-friendly meals. It includes appetizers, main meals, and desserts including recipes like Lemony Penne Pasta with Chicken and Creamy Broccoli Cheddar Soup.
If you're looking for a non-fiction book, the 2004 classic Think Like a Pancreas is a great option. It covers all the diabetes basics, giving readers a lot of actionable information to manage their symptoms.

WEARABLE FITNESS TRACKER
When a person has diabetes, its especially crucial they incorporate fitness into their daily routine. Adequate fitness can minimize diabetes' impact on a person's life but it can be a challenge to create healthy exercising habits.
If you want to be encouraging and help someone achieve their fitness goals, a wearable fitness tracker makes a great gift.

Giving someone a fitness tracker is a two-fold gift:
It'll help them monitor their daily activity
It'll inspire them to be more active
Wearable fitness trackers used to be a niche product but today, you can buy them from assorted brands in various shapes, sizes, and colours.
The Fitbit is an obvious choice if you're buying a wearable fitness tracker. It's one of the most reliable on the market, showing users details like steps taken and stairs climbed.
With a wearable fitness tracker, diabetics can feel more confident about their daily routine. They'll have easy access to their vital signs whenever they need it, giving them tools to stay healthy while they exercise and keep themselves from "overdoing it."

AN EXERCISE CLASS
We mentioned above that daily exercise is crucial for people with diabetes. If you're considering a fitness tracker for their next birthday or holiday, consider an exercise class to go along with it.
Exercises classes can be a fun way for people with diabetes to manage their symptoms and improve their health. They can meet other people who live with similar conditions, learning their favourite methods of managing symptoms.
Giving someone a gift card to a yoga class or Zumba can be an excellent way to support their diabetes journey.

BACKPACKS/BAGS FOR CARRYING DIABETIC SUPPLIES
Diabetics need to carry certain types of equipment with them when they leave the house. This may include a blood sugar monitor or insulin injection shots.
It can be hard to carry all those supplies around - fortunately, there are specially-made bags and carrying cases designed for diabetes equipment.

Myabetic is one of the most popular brands for diabetic carrying cases, offering a wide selection of compacts, crossbody bags, and backpacks in various materials and colours.
Getting your loved one with diabetes a bag for their carrying supplies is a great way to say you care. They'll feel more secure knowing they have everything they need in one place and they won't worry about leaving vital equipment at home.

MEDICAL BRACELET
Having diabetes means health complications can happen suddenly. If a person's blood sugar spikes or drops too low, it can lead to dizziness, fainting, and other serious health conditions.
In these cases, having a medical bracelet is vital. When diabetics go in public alone, they need something to tell others about their condition in case of an emergency.
This is where a medical bracelet comes in.

The medical bracelet tells passers-by the individual has diabetes in case they need help from strangers.
You can buy stylish, quality medical bracelets on the web or get something special from a premium retailer. Affordable medical bracelets are available for sale on Amazon, but Tiffany's offers truly special tag chain bracelets your loved one can custom engrave.

LOW-CARB SNACK BASKETS
Minimizing carbohydrate intake plays a key role in managing diabetes. Today, sugary treats dominate the foods for sale at grocery stores - in fact, many diabetics feel stressed when they go shopping because low-carb snacks can be hard to find.

You can make it easier by gifting a low-carb snack basket, full of treats they can enjoy guilt-free.
The Sugar-Free Movie Night Bucket, available on Amazon. It contains a large assortment of sugar-free and low-carb snacks, including popcorn, chips, and more. It also features a handy tote bag so your loved one can take their snacks on the go!

FINAL THOUGHTS
Living with diabetes can be challenging. There are certain types of equipment they must use, foods they must eat, and exercises they must do to stay healthy.
You can help your loved one manage their diabetes symptoms by giving them thoughtful gifts for birthdays, holidays, and other celebrations. Remember - people with diabetes often feel like they are alone and by giving them the right gift, you can show them you care about their journey and want to help along the way.

If you know anyone else who is looking for gifts for diabetics, please share this article on social media. With plenty of birthdays and celebrations approaching, it's a great time to start thinking about what you'll get your loved ones.

https://ezinearticles.com/?Gifts-For-Diabetics&id=10158150

Don’t let diabetes ruin your health — prevention is key

From qcitymetro.com

With moderate exercise and a healthy diet, diabetes and can often be controlled — and even prevented

Diabetes affects more than 30 million Americans, and 1 in 4 don’t know they have it, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
African Americans and other populations of colour are especially at risk.

But here’s good news: with moderate exercise and a healthy diet, diabetes can often be controlled — and even prevented, says Dr. John R. Smith Jr., lead medical director at Blue Cross & Blue Shield of North Carolina.

What is diabetes and what causes it?
Diabetes is a lifelong disease that involves problems with a hormone called insulin, resulting in elevated blood-sugar levels. There is an organ called the pancreas, which is behind the stomach. The pancreas releases insulin into your bloodstream, which lowers your blood sugar, allowing your body to use the food you eat as its main energy source. With diabetes, there’s a problem with insulin. One, the body may not be making insulin, which is what we call Type 1 diabetes. Or two, it may be making insulin but not using it effectively to lower blood sugar, and that’s what we call Type 2 diabetes, or adult-onset diabetes.

Why is diabetes dangerous?
Diabetes is dangerous when blood sugars are not controlled, because the sugar in your bloodstream stays high, and over time, high blood sugars can cause health problems, such as heart disease, nerve damage, eye problems or kidney disease. Complications, unfortunately, are higher in people of colour. Kidney failure is four times more likely in people of colour. Lower-extremity amputations are three to four times more likely, and mortality is twice as high in people of colour compared to non-Hispanic whites.

What’s the medical treatment for Type 1 diabetes?
Most commonly, this starts in people who are young, usually under 20, but it could occur at any age. Since the body doesn’t make insulin, the treatment is actually insulin, so you have to take insulin shots to reduce your blood sugar.

And what about Type 2?
With type 2, which is called adult-onset diabetes, it’s not a problem of your pancreas not making enough insulin. Instead, your body doesn’t use insulin correctly. That results in a condition called insulin resistance. About 90% of diabetics have Type 2 diabetes. Usually it’s in people over 40, and typically people who are overweight, but it can occur in people who are not overweight. Most cases of Type 2 can be prevented. Type 2 is actually more common in African Americans. In fact, it’s twice as high in African Americans as it is in whites. The treatment for Type 2 centres on weight loss, diet and exercise.

Can children get Type 2 diabetes?
Yes. With the obesity epidemic now in the United States, and with kids being obese, this adult-type, which normally occurs in people age 40 and up, is starting to occur in kids. There is a study out that says about a third of kids will develop Type 2 diabetes, or the adult-onset type, before they are 20 years of age.

Is one type more dangerous than the other?
Both are dangerous if not controlled. With Type 1, if you don’t get insulin, then you can’t metabolize the blood sugar, so that’s the most immediate danger. Type 2 is more dangerous over time. With either Type 1 or Type 2, if the blood sugar is not controlled, you can have the same complications. You can have hardening of the arteries. You can have bleeding into the eyes, which is a condition we call retinopathy, or you can have small amounts of protein in your urine, which we call microalbumin, which, if the blood sugar is not controlled, can progress to kidney failure.

Why is diabetes more problematic in people of colour?
That’s a great question. One reason diabetes is more problematic in people of colour is because of diet. The “Southern Diet,” which some people call “soul food,” has a lot of fried foods, desserts, and other foods which may not have the best nutritional value, which can result in medical problems such as insulin resistance, diabetes and high blood pressure. Family history is another factor that makes diabetes more problematic in people of colour. Once people have diabetes, they may feel fine (asymptomatic) but sugars can be high and be doing damage to the body. Often people believe that if they feel fine, they must be doing ok, so they do not have to watch diet and weight too closely. Unfortunately, that is not the case.

Can exercise and diet alone combat Type 2 diabetes?
Typically, the cornerstone of treatment for diabetes as well as prediabetes is weight loss, diet and exercise. If you really follow that, you can actually prevent or control diabetes. Unfortunately, that’s not the case for most people.  About 1/3 of the people with prediabetes will develop diabetes without lifestyle changes within five years, and most people with diabetes will end up getting put on pills without lifestyle changes. (There are several types of pills that can be used to control diabetes.) Even if you are compliant with lifestyle changes, over time, the organ we called the pancreas, which makes insulin, makes less and less insulin. So, Type 2 diabetics who have had it long enough, sometimes need insulin as a treatment.

What is gestational diabetes?
That’s the diabetes that women get when they’re pregnant. Sometimes it resolves after pregnancy is over, but occasionally it persists.

What are the signs of diabetes?
Increased thirst; increased hunger, even after eating; increased urination and unexplained weight loss. These symptoms are not specific to diabetes, but certainly in combination they suggest diabetes. Other signs may include dry mouth, fatigue, blurred vision, cuts or sores that are slow to heal, numbness in your hands and feet. Women can be more at risk for yeast infections. Over time, men can develop problems with impotence or erectile dysfunction.

How do doctors confirm diabetes?
Diabetes is confirmed through a blood test. Typically, your provider (doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant) will want you to come in fasting. If you’ve been fasting, your blood sugar should be under 100. If it’s between 100 and 125, you have a condition called prediabetes. And if it’s over 125 fasting on a couple of different occasions, that’s diagnostic for diabetes.

What’s considered a healthy diet to stave off diabetes?
The American Diabetic Association and Nutrition Council put out what’s considered a healthy diet. Certainly you want to have a proportion of meats, some bread, but mainly a lot of fruits and vegetables. The challenge is, the recommended portions are very small, and the typical American diet is not aligned with that. Typically, people have large portion sizes and want to eat ’till they are done, and sometimes the foods that taste best contain a lot of sugar. So essentially, what you’re doing is taking in more calories, which is going to result in you gaining weight, which will lead to potential insulin resistance, which can put you at risk for diabetes.

What advice do you have for those concerned about diabetes?
There’s an old saying — an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Certainly that’s applicable in this case, because it’s much better to prevent diabetes than it is to treat it. Initially, when your blood sugars are high, you feel normal. Most people with high blood sugars do not have symptoms until their blood sugars are close to 200 or higher. It’s not easy to lose weight, maintain a healthy weight, or even exercise regularly, but certainly in the end it’s worth it. We all want to be healthy and enjoy life.

Should diabetics feel like they are all alone trying to manage their diabetes?
No. There are a number of resources that providers can provide to help patients with diabetes. If you are a Blue Cross NC member, Blue Cross NC also has resources to help its members prevent, control, and possibly reverse diabetes. Blue Cross NC also has case management services to help its members. There are also numerous resources online available to help people with diabetes, whether you are a Blue Cross NC member or not.

So you are not alone, there are resources available to help prevent and/or control diabetes.

https://qcitymetro.com/2019/12/02/dont-let-diabetes-ruin-your-health-prevention-is-key/