It's so easy to be confused about what to eat with so much conflicting advice. Today I'm sharing information on two common food groups I get asked about-fruit and vegetables. "Aw Man! Those are my favorite vegetables," my friend said, disappointed. She didn't want potatoes and beans to be starches. Diagnosed with diabetes, she heard that starches were "bad" and thought she would have to give up her favorite food. She was so thankful when I told her she was mistaken. Vegetables are chock full of nutrients. All of them. Ideally you should consume a wide variety of vegetables because they … [Read more...]
5 Lessons Learned from Loving Someone with Diabetes
Who would have ever thought that getting my bangs cut would lead to a long career in diabetes care and education? It's funny how life works. Here's my story how I got so passionate about helping people with diabetes that all started with a chance encounter. I learned valuable lessons...the hard way. I want things to be easier for you so here are my tips. 5 Tips for Supporting Someone with Diabetes 1. Ask your loved one how you can help. Everyone is unique. What helps one person doesn't help another. You can say something like "I know having diabetes can sometimes be hard and I want to … [Read more...]
Eating Healthy for Heart Disease and Diabetes
People who have heart disease and diabetes often come to me in a state of panic. "Hmm...heart disease, so, low fat means no meat or cheese...diabetes, that means no potatoes rice or pasta...not to mention sweets. Gee, can I eat anything?" Fortunately, the answer not only is "yes" but that you can eat everything. The key is not only what you eat, but how and when you it. Diabetes and heart disease are like evil twins. They work together in all the worst ways. Diabetes significantly increases your chances to have a heart attack or stroke. Many people with diabetes also have high blood … [Read more...]
Breakfast Ideas To Make You Bright-eyed and Bushy Tailed
There are many breakfast ideas that will give you the energy to start your day off right. Breakfast means different things to different people. To some it is eggs and grits? To others, it's any food eaten before 10 am? But there is no doubt that after not fueling your body for 8-12 hours, "breaking the fast" with some nourishment is a great start to the day. When you have diabetes eating breakfast can actually help your blood sugars. Yes, you heard that right. Eating carbohydrate as part of a healthy breakfast can actually help level out your blood sugars. Some people notice that their … [Read more...]
5 Easy Ways to Make Changes that Stick!
Everyone knows that to grow and improve we need to evolve. To evolve involves change. But change is hard. However, a failure to change may lead you down a road of unnecessary danger. Weight loss is the change that so many of us desire. Most attempt some fad diet, and then another, but generally the diet ultimately fails. Sure, there is initial weight loss, sometimes dramatic weight loss, but most often the weight reappears, often along with a total weight increase. The dieter believes they have failed when really it is the diet that is the failure. As diets are seldom a viable long term … [Read more...]