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Sherri Shafer
Sherri Shafer, RD, CDE, is a senior registered dietitian and a certified diabetes educator at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center. She teaches diabetes self-management workshops and provides nutrition counseling for individuals with type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, and gestational dia-betes. She is also the author of Diabetes Type 2: Complete Food Management Program.
Articles & Books From Sherri Shafer
Article / Updated 06-06-2017
For decades, people with diabetes were told not to eat sugar. Avoiding sugar won't automatically keep blood-glucose levels in range if there are no controls on the overall carb intake. Skipping the cookie doesn't erase the carbs in the rest of the meal. Managing carbs for diabetes means all carbs in the meal need to be accounted for, not just the dessert.
Article / Updated 06-06-2017
A common misconception about alcohol is that many people assume alcohol turns to sugar, or alcohol will raise their blood-glucose levels. Actually, hard liquor doesn't have any carb, wine is very low in carb, and beer has about as much carb as a piece of bread:
Hard alcohol (distilled spirits) doesn't have any carbs, except for whatever it's mixed with.
Article / Updated 06-06-2017
Carbohydrate requirements can change throughout life. Your carb demands may even change seasonally if your activity levels vary according to the time of year. The following discussion explores situations that may call for making adjustments to your carb intakes.
Changing carb needs throughout the life cycle
Childhood and adolescence are times when dietary needs are constantly changing.
Article / Updated 06-06-2017
Sugar alcohol is a modified form of carbohydrate. Many products that claim to be sugar free are sweetened with a substance known as sugar alcohol (or polyol). Despite the name, sugar alcohol does not have any sugar, and it does not have any alcohol. Hydrogen is added to various forms of carbohydrate and chemical bonds are shifted, and then voilá — you have a new form of carbohydrate known as sugar alcohol.
Article / Updated 06-06-2017
The Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) for Americans minimum for carbohydrate is 130 grams per day, and the suggested carb intake range is calculated at 45–65 percent of caloric targets. Some people with diabetes opt to go somewhat lower, such as 40 percent. Targets should be individualized based on preference and health considerations.
Article / Updated 06-06-2017
Simply put, alcohol impairs glucose regulation. It is important not to drink alcohol on an empty stomach. A mini physiology review may shed some light on why it's so important to have carbs digesting when you have a drink.Blood-glucose levels are at their highest typically one to two hours after eating a mixed meal.
Article / Updated 06-05-2017
Whether you loosely manage your carbs or strictly count them depends on your situation. Carb counting is the gold standard if you have type 1 diabetes, but people with type 2 diabetes also stand to benefit from knowing how to count carbs. Establishing carb budgets and adhering to those budgets is one method of managing blood-glucose levels while simultaneously controlling calories and managing weight.
Article / Updated 06-05-2017
Diabetes is a condition of abnormal blood-glucose regulation. Lack of insulin (type 1 diabetes) or ineffective insulin (type 2 diabetes) both lead to elevated blood-glucose levels and a diagnosis of diabetes.Diabetes and diet are intimately intertwined. It's impossible to talk about managing diabetes without discussing food in great detail.
Article / Updated 06-05-2017
Controlling blood-glucose levels, a necessity if you have diabetes, requires having a handle on carb intake. It helps to problem-solve situations in advance and go into the day with a plan for how to best manage meals and snacks. These tips may help you strategize.
Use measuring cups to control portion sizes
Measuring cups can be used to dish up a serving from the stovetop to your plate.
Article / Updated 06-05-2017
Sifting through the vast amount of information about diabetes available on the Internet can be hard. The first step is finding reputable resources. These ten websites are especially relevant to managing diabetes and related health conditions.
American Diabetes Association
The mission of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.