Diabetes Recipes Articles

Cheat Sheet / Updated 04-28-2022

Making healthy food choices is an essential part of successful diabetes management. Cooking diabetes-friendly meals at home is a great way to ensure that you're eating nutritious food; avoiding preservatives and excess fat, sugar, and sodium; and controlling your portion sizes. If you've just been diagnosed with diabetes, you may be wondering where to start when it comes to eating well. Understanding the best food choices for people with diabetes is an important first step. Before you begin cooking healthy recipes at home, learn how to shop for the best ingredients and prepare your kitchen.

Cheat Sheet / Updated 04-05-2022

Diabetes is a condition that is largely self-managed. Successful management hinges on discovering how what you eat affects your blood-glucose levels and your overall health and well-being. Carbohydrate foods are digested into glucose, which is the primary fuel used by your brain and muscles as well as other tissues and organs. You can employ carb counting and portioning tools such as the plate method to assure you get the right amount of carbohydrate to meet your needs. Your food choices impact more than just your blood-glucose levels; your overall diet affects your quality of life and long-term health. You can enjoy eating while optimizing nutrition. Here are some tips for improving selections within all food groups.

Cheat Sheet / Updated 03-14-2022

Diabetes is a disorder in which the amount of glucose in your blood is too high. Type 2 diabetes is a serious condition that can lead to complications down the road, so it's important to take charge of your diabetes care! In addition to following a diabetes meal plan, maintaining an active lifestyle, and taking prescribed medications, you need to be able to perform certain essential tasks and skills to keep your diabetes care on track. Understanding how to prepare for doctor's appointments, checking your blood glucose, recognizing and treating low blood glucose readings, and using food labels to track the carbohydrate content of foods are all key aspects of the successful management of type 2 diabetes.

Cheat Sheet / Updated 03-10-2022

Living with type 1 diabetes can be difficult. To verify a diagnosis, a sample of blood is taken and its glucose level is measured. This Cheat Sheet provides a quick reference to the necessary regular doctor's office visits and tests, how to recognize and treat hypoglycemia in children with type 1 diabetes, and what to do if diabetic ketoacidosis strikes.

Cheat Sheet / Updated 02-24-2022

Diabetes is a serious medical condition where your body cannot properly process foods to meet your energy demands and keep your blood glucose levels balanced. But, you can do a lot to help your body work better. Adopting and sticking to a heart-healthy diet that also manages your intake of carbohydrate foods can help prevent the complications of diabetes for years to come. When it comes to diabetes, food is medicine.

Step by Step / Updated 10-15-2020

Many people who are stuck at home for one reason or another think they can't work on staying fit, but the truth is that you can get a stronger core and stay fitter without leaving home. You'd be amazed at how easy it is to get fit. Your body core — the muscles around your trunk and pelvis — is particularly important to keep strong so that you can go about your normal daily activities and prevent falls and injuries, particularly as you age. Having a strong body core makes you better able to handle your daily life, even if that's just doing grocery shopping or playing a round of golf. Core exercises are an important part of a well-rounded fitness program, and they're easy to do at home on your own. To get started on your body core workout, you don't need to purchase anything. (Some of the advanced variations do call for equipment like a gym ball or dumbbells.) Include all 10 of these easy core exercises in your workouts, doing at least one set of 15 repetitions of each one to start (for all that are done as reps). Work up to doing two to three sets of each per workout, or even more repetitions if you can. For best results, do these exercises at least two or three nonconsecutive days per week; muscles need a day or two off to fully recover and get stronger. Just don't do them right before you do another physical activity (because a fatigued core increases your risk of injury).

Step by Step / Updated 10-15-2020

When you're trying to keep fit and manage your Diabetes, you can do many different static stretches to flex your joints. Here are a few simple ones to get you started.

Article / Updated 09-20-2020

People with type 2 diabetes have several things going on in their bodies with blood glucose, insulin, and other hormones: People with type 2 diabetes may not make as much insulin as they used to — or none at all. People with type 2 diabetes may not be as sensitive to the hormone insulin (called insulin resistance) as people who don’t have diabetes. Other hormones, called incretins, affect how much insulin the body releases and help control blood glucose. For some people with type 2 diabetes, a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) may not work properly and may not stimulate the pancreas to make enough insulin. People with type 2 diabetes may release too much glucose from their livers, causing blood glucose to rise. All these things can cause high blood glucose, which can cause short- and long-term health problems. Medication can target these different problems to help lower your blood glucose. Some people with type 2 diabetes may need to take insulin because their bodies are no longer responsive to blood glucose–lowering medications or because their bodies don’t make any insulin at all. Your diabetes medication regimen can change over time. You may take a drug like metformin at the beginning, but then need to add or change medications to keep your blood glucose in your target range later on. (Remember: Most people are aiming for an A1C of 7 percent or less.) Or you may experience side effects that prompt medication changes. You may also need to take insulin at diagnosis or several years down the road. It totally depends on the individual! Your healthcare team is your number-one resource for medications. You’ll work with your nurse, doctor, pharmacist, physician assistant, or diabetes educator to troubleshoot problems or adjust doses. Never stop taking a medication because you think it’s not working or because of annoying side effects (an unintended effect, such as diarrhea or flatulence, of taking a certain drug). Instead, call your provider and tell her what’s going on. Don’t be shy about bringing up concerns like bowel movements, changes in mood, or any other concern. All drugs can have side effects, although some may be more severe than others. Know the names, doses, and instructions for each medication you take. If you’re like most people, you’ll probably need to write them down. Don’t be afraid to ask your provider or pharmacist for these details each time you see her.

Article / Updated 08-08-2020

Pills aren’t the only option for people to lower their blood glucose. Patients have access to injected medications (other than insulin), which are injected under the skin with a needle. This is different from a pill that you pop in your mouth. There are two non-insulin classes of injected medication for type 2 diabetes: GLP-1 agonists and amylin analogs. The table lists the injected medications for type 2 diabetes. Injected Medications for Type 2 Diabetes Drug Class How It Works Generic Name Brand Name Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists Mimics the action of the incretin hormone GLP-1. Stimulates your body to produce more insulin. Slows down how quickly your stomach empties. Exenatide Byetta Extended Release Exenatide Bydureon Liraglutide Victoza Dulaglutide Trulicity Lixisenatide Adlyxin Amylin analogs Mimics the action of the hormone amylin. Slows down how quickly your stomach empties. Suppresses your liver from releasing glucagon, a hormone that moves glucose into your bloodstream. Pramlintide Symlin GLP-1 agonists Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (wow, that’s a mouthful) are otherwise know as GLP-1 agonists. They’re also sometimes called incretin mimetics because they mimic the action of the incretin hormone GLP-1, which helps lower blood glucose. GLP-1 agonists help your body make more insulin and slow down how quickly your stomach empties so your blood glucose doesn’t rise as rapidly. They may also make you less hungry and encourage some weight loss. GLP-1 agonists include exenatide (Byetta), liraglutide (Victoza), extended-release exenatide (Bydureon), dulaglutide (Trulicity), and lixisenatide (Adlyxin). Victoza can be used to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes and at high risk for cardiovascular disease. Exenatide received FDA approval in 2005. You inject GLP-1 agonists using a pre-dosed pen. Depending on the medication, you may inject twice a day, once a day, or once a week. Side effects include weight loss, nausea and vomiting (and resulting dehydration), episodes of low blood glucose, kidney problems, and inflammation of the pancreas. Tell your healthcare provider if you’ve had pancreatitis, gallstones, a history of alcoholism, high triglycerides, or kidney problems. Whether you’re starting a new medication or just can’t remember, don’t be afraid to ask your healthcare provider why you’re taking it. Knowing the reasons why you take a specific medication may help you remember to take it — or just feel more empowered about your actions. Amylin analogs Amylin analogs mimic a hormone called amylin that the body naturally produces along with insulin. Pramlintide (Symlin) is a manufactured version of this hormone. Some people with type 2 diabetes don’t make enough insulin or enough amylin. Pramlintide lowers blood glucose by slowing how fast your stomach empties and suppressing your liver from releasing a hormone called glucagon, which puts glucose into your bloodstream. It may also encourage you to eat less because you feel fuller at meals. Pramlintide received FDA approval in 2005 for people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes who use insulin. You inject pramlintide using a disposable pen during meals. It does not replace insulin. It’s helpful for people who need something beyond insulin to help control their blood glucose. Side effects include episodes of low blood glucose, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, and headache.

Article / Updated 11-12-2019

You may have heard the terms diabetes self-management plan or diabetes care plan. Both of these terms refer to how you take care of or manage your diabetes. Your plan takes into account your big-picture goals and your nitty-gritty choices each day. On the one hand, diabetes management is not a small endeavor. You’re the person most responsible for taking care of your diabetes 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. It’s not your diabetes educator or endocrinologist or even your spouse who will carry the torch. It’s you, the person with diabetes. On the other hand, it’s a well-trodden road. Many, many people just like you are learning to test their blood glucose, take new medications, and change the way they eat and exercise. There are millions of people in towns and cities across the United States managing their diabetes with successes and struggles. You can find them in your community hospital’s diabetes support group, and you can find them online on the American Diabetes Association’s message boards. You’re not alone — and there’s much to learn from your healthcare team and others with type 2 diabetes. In the following discussion, we give you an overview about putting together a healthcare team, taking medications, eating healthy foods, getting active, and finding support. Assembling a healthcare team One of the first steps you’ll take in managing your diabetes is to put together your healthcare team. At first, you may start with your diabetes care provider, who may be your family physician or nurse practitioner or an endocrinologist. You’ll probably see a certified diabetes educator (CDE), who is specially trained to help people manage their diabetes. These professionals will monitor your diabetes and any related complications, but also help you set goals and troubleshoot problems as they arise. Other specialists you may see include dietitians, ophthalmologists, podiatrists, dermatologists, and others. Taking medications You may be prescribed a medication, such as metformin, as soon as you’re diagnosed with diabetes. Or you may take a combination of medications or insulin injections. Taking your prescribed medications is an essential piece of managing your type 2 diabetes. It is a cornerstone of your care — and it’s important to do it at the correct times each day or each week. Switching a medication, adding a medication, or taking insulin is a normal part of having diabetes. Your diabetes will change over time, and your medication needs may change, too. Checking blood glucose Your healthcare provider will test your blood glucose using the A1C test during your checkups. As we explain in Chapter 1, an A1C test is a measure of your blood glucose over the previous three months. It gauges how well your medications work or whether you need to change your meals or physical activity. You may also be asked to check your blood glucose on your own using a meter. You’ll prick your skin using a lancet to draw a drop of blood, press a test strip onto the blood, and then get a reading on your meter. Checking your blood glucose will help you see how different things like food, exercise, and medications affect your blood glucose. It’s a snapshot of your diabetes that can help you make informed decisions like choosing a smaller meal at lunchtime or walking an extra 20 minutes in the evening when you get home from work. Eating healthy and staying active Learning about wholesome, nutritious foods and how to incorporate them into meals is a critical part of managing your diabetes. You may not have thought much about the nutritional benefits of certain foods before you were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. After all, we all eat foods because they taste good. That’s the fun part! You don’t have to give up your favorite foods because you have diabetes. Instead, you may need to eat them in smaller portions or prepare them differently to reduce calories. You may also add a few new foods packed with nutritional punch like salmon, beets, and olive oil. Exercising also helps manage your diabetes by moving glucose out of the bloodstream and making your cells more sensitive to insulin. It boosts your mood and distracts you from everyday worries. Finding support Perhaps it sounds touchy-feely, but finding support is another important part of managing your diabetes. Support can mean so many different things — from chatting with online buddies on a message board to attending a diabetes education class. At some point, you may experience the very real feelings associated with diabetes distress, including fatigue, annoyance, and just plain burnout. Or you may experience more intense emotions of depression and/or an anxiety disorder. Talk to your healthcare provider about your feelings and concerns and seek support from a mental health professional or others with type 2 diabetes.