Posts in: Diabetes
Posted in: Family, Diabetes, Preventative Health // 2 Comments
5 Tips for Moms with TYPE I
By: Jacquie Wojcik
1) Know that managing Type 1 diabetes is good practice for taking care of a kid. Babies are demanding at all hours of the day, can’t be reasoned with, refuse to be ignored and require lots of supplies and accessories. Sound like anything else you’ve lived with?
2) Prioritize the food issues. Because it’s just not enough to calculate your carbohydrate intake and insulin dosage on an almost-hourly basis, now you’re faced with a confusing and frustrating list of foods you should and should not be ingesting. For me, concentrating mostly on the diabetes stuff was helpful. I worried about maintaining healthy blood sugar levels first and foremost, and cut myself some slack when it came to things like DANGEROUS CHEESES TO AVOID and LUNCHMEAT WILL KILL YOU.
3) A Continuous Glucose Monitor can help. Insulin pumps seem to be the must-have accessory for pregnant Type 1 diabetics, but I don’t know what I would have done without my continuous glucose monitor. It sends my glucose levels to my insulin pump every few minutes, so I can always keep track of where my blood sugar is, where it’s been and where it’s going. I doubt I could have maintained the blood glucose control I did without its help.
4) Seek out other Type 1 Moms. It feels like expectant mothers are everywhere, but only a few of them are dealing with impending motherhood and Type 1 diabetes. Thank goodness for the Internet; there are blogs and chat rooms and toolkits all over the place. It’s always refreshing to talk to someone who’s been (or who is) pretty much right where you are.
5) Remember: just because your pancreas is broken, doesn’t mean that the rest of your body is. I’ll admit, I was so used to struggling with all the things my body can’t do (namely, regulate its own blood glucose levels) that I forgot that there are some pretty amazing things it can. Pregnancy with Type 1 diabetes is very tough, but it’s also an opportunity to see your anatomy as something other than completely busted. Try not to expect the worst, and give yourself — and your body — credit for the things you’re doing right.
Visit Jacquie’s Blog Here
Posted in: Diabetes, Fitness // 941 Comments
By: Sean Thurman
Type 2 diabetes is a live-changing issue that Bridget Jennings lives with everyday. Jennings was diagnosed at age 35 while she was working as a home health nurse. Her mother had type 2 diabetes so she always knew she would be at risk. Although diabetes care was much different at that time than it is today, Jones acted proactive and used glypizide as her first diabetes medication. The goal was to keep blood sugars less than 200 ml/ds.
After she was diagnosed, Jennings started volunteering with the American Diabetes Association and also began training for the organizations annual walk. Walking wasn’t Jennings’ daily hobby. She started slowly and gradually worked her way up to being able to complete and finish the diabetes walk. She hasn’t stopped walking since.
As a nurse, Jennings knew she needed to learn more about diabetes. Her determined nature drove her to become a certified diabetes educator to practice her passion for people with diabetes.
What does a normal day look like for her? Jennings immediately checks her blood pressure when wakes up. This helps her plan her day. She then goes on a long walk with her walking partners, her two golden retrievers. After taking medication, she eats a healthy breakfast usually including items like multi-grain bread, fruit and nuts. Following her nutritious breakfast, she takes a water to go with her 45-minute drive to Florida Blue where she works onsite with diabetes patients.
Working with diabetes patients gives her the chance to dispel myths and fears associated with diabetes. She is able to explain the changes in diabetes care over the years and that type 2 diabetes is no longer your grandmother’s disease. She is also able to assure patients that they can have a full, happy and productive life.
Midday you can catch Jennings eating a balanced lunch with leftovers from the previous night or salad, soup, beans or rice. She has a small garden so her dinner varies on the vegetables she currently is growing. A big part of diabetes management is learning to be a healthier cook and to always watch portion size.
She usually checks her blood sugar twice daily and the week before her doctor’s appointments she checks before and after each meal in order to give her doctor the data he or she needs to asses if her treatment plan is successful. Because she is susceptible to stress-induced high blood sugars, she carries her glucose meter and supplies just in case.
Diabetes is a serious growing problem with terrible consequences if left unchecked. The good news is that diabetes-related complications can be avoided or prevented with good blood sugar management. Living with diabetes is something Jennings does every day as well as sharing her story with people in an effort to help them realize life is still good, even with diabetes.
Posted in: Diabetes, Healthy Eating // 3072 Comments
By: Roxie Lute
Try this delectable diabetic-friendly recipe while enjoying your Thanksgiving feast!
Maple-Orange Sweet Potato Mash
Servings: 6
Serving Size: ½ Cup
Ingredients:
- 2 ½ lbs sweet potatoes (about 4 medium), peeled and cut into ½ inch cubes
- ¼ cup coarsely chopped walnuts
- 2 tsp sugar-free maple syrup, divided
- 2 Tbsp fresh orange juice
- 2 tsp grated fresh orange zest
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
- 1 Tbsp margarine
Directions:
1. Place the sweet potatoes in a saucepot with enough cold water to cover. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and cook until tender taking about 10 to 13 minutes.
2. Add the chopped walnuts to a skillet over medium high heat. Toss until the nuts are slightly toasted and fragrant, about 3 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat. Drizzle 1 tsp sugar-free maple syrup over the nuts and toss to evenly coat. Remove the nuts from the skillet and set aside.
3. Drain the sweet potatoes and place them back in the saucepot on the hot burner with no heat. Let the sweet potatoes sit for 1 minute to let the excess water evaporate. Add the orange zest, cinnamon, salt, margarine, orange juice and remaining 1 tsp sugarfree maple syrup. Using a potato masher or fork, mash the potatoes until smooth, or until the desired consistency.
Nutrition facts per serving: Calories: 161, Fat: 6 g (saturated fat: 1 g), Cholesterol: 0 mg, Protein: 3 g, Carbohydrates: 30 g, Fiber: 5 g, Sodium: 167 mg, Sugar: 6 g
Diabetic exchange: 2 starches, 1 fat
