Paper is for origami, not diabetes logbooks
I think I speak for many people with diabetes (PWDs) when I say that manually keeping track of diabetes data is a lot of work! Of course, there are a lot of things we do that take work—like brushing our teeth—yet we still do them. Why? Because there are benefits. In the case of tooth brushing, that means bright, white teeth, fewer cavities and a beautiful smile. Keeping a logbook is similar in that there's a payoff and it gets easier once you make it a habit. You can't learn from data that isn't there Years ago, I went to my diabetes doctor empty handed. Unfortunately, I also...
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Sugary Drinks: Not So Sweet After All
The World Health Organization recommends reducing sugar intake to 10% of daily energy intake—in other words, 200 of the 2,000 calories that you consume in the day, or 50g of sugar. And lowering that percentage to 5%, or 25g, would be even healthier. That’s barely 6 teaspoons a day! One thing you quickly learn when living with diabetes is that sugar is everywhere. Keeping a close watch on what you eat is fine, but applying the same vigilance to what you drink is just as important. Soft drinks are little calorie bombs. Each can has about 150...
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6 secrets to enjoying weddings (without your numbers going crazy)
If June is supposed to be wedding month, then why are all of your August weekends booked with stag and stagette dos, and nuptials from morning to night? The trend has shifted, with more Canadian weddings taking place in August than any other month.1 You've already seen advice on managing diabetes at weddings and parties, so we'll skip the obvious (eat before you go! drink water!). Instead, here are some ideas for having fun without regretting it an hour later (or the next morning). 1. Raise your Champagne glass! You don't have to skip alcohol just because you have diabetes. Just keep it in...
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Give Some Sparkle To That Water
At the cottage, on the beach or during an evening with friends, it’s nice to keep a glass in hand without worrying about your blood sugar rising with your alcohol level. Drinking water is an excellent plan, but why not tickle your taste buds at the same time? Iced tea Commercial iced teas are often loaded with sugar, but homemade tea infusions, hot or cold, are simple, economical and low-calorie! Hot infusions You can infuse your tea as usual for a few minutes (in 65°C water for green tea, 80°C for oolong tea or 95°C for black tea), then leave it...
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Hot Hot Hot!
As nice as it is to bask in the sun, you still have to remain vigilant. Your blood sugar could rise with the thermometer and prevent your body from properly regulating its temperature. Result: you risk hyperthermia. What are the symptoms? Fatigue, dizziness, nausea, clammy skin, excessive sweating, muscle cramps and headaches are all common symptoms. Who is at risk? The body’s ability to regulate its temperature in young children is not yet developed, and is reduced in the elderly, which increases their risk of suffering from...
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How to be more eco-friendly
Diabetes is by no means easy on the planet. It generates a lot of waste - for example, used lancets, product packaging and unused medications. That said, why not limit the damage by adopting more responsible practices in your everyday life? Here are a few easy tips to get started! Give pill bottles a second life. Most pill bottles are recyclable, but plastic number 6 sometimes isn’t (you’ll find this number on the bottom of the bottle, outlined by a recycling triangle). Another option: your empty containers are perfect for storing cotton swabs, loose change and...
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How To Quit For Good
Smoking is extremely harmful to your health, and this is especially true for people living with diabetes. It increases the existing risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, eye problems and nerve damage, plus it increases insulin resistance. If you’re ready to stop smoking—you have to do it for your own sake, and willingly—we have a few tips to help you. First of all… Set a quit date within 30 days. Mark your calendar, tell your friends and family about it so you don’t back out when the day comes, and sign a symbolic quitting contract (it’s not...
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5 additions to your back-to-school-with-diabetes supply list
You've got the ICP (Individual Care Plan) written and the DCT (...
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Too Good To Be True
“Lose 15 pounds in 15 days!”, “Burn calories just by sitting!”, “Discover the marvelous superpowers of the magical Malaysian Meme Beans!”... you've probably heard promises like that before. The idea of losing weight effortlessly sounds great, but what’s the truth of it? Miracle diets, shock diets and company Extreme diets promise drastic and rapid weight loss using severe calorie deficits and dietary restrictions. Of course you’ll shed pounds like crazy if all you have is smoothies or cabbage soup. But in the end, it’ll only harm your...
Read MorePages
Sugary Drinks: Not So Sweet After All
The World Health Organization recommends reducing sugar intake to 10% of daily energy intake—in other words, 200 of the 2,000 calories that you consume in the day, or 50g of sugar. And lowering that percentage to 5%, or 25g, would be even healthier. That’s barely 6 teaspoons a day! One thing you quickly learn when living with diabetes is that sugar is everywhere. Keeping a close watch on what you eat is fine, but applying the same vigilance to what you drink is just as important. Soft drinks are little calorie bombs. Each can has about 150...
Read More 6 secrets to enjoying weddings (without your numbers going crazy)
If June is supposed to be wedding month, then why are all of your August weekends booked with stag and stagette dos, and nuptials from morning to night? The trend has shifted, with more Canadian weddings taking place in August than any other month.1 You've already seen advice on managing diabetes at weddings and parties, so we'll skip the obvious (eat before you go! drink water!). Instead, here are some ideas for having fun without regretting it an hour later (or the next morning). 1. Raise your Champagne glass! You don't have to skip alcohol just because you have diabetes. Just keep it in...
Read More Give Some Sparkle To That Water
At the cottage, on the beach or during an evening with friends, it’s nice to keep a glass in hand without worrying about your blood sugar rising with your alcohol level. Drinking water is an excellent plan, but why not tickle your taste buds at the same time? Iced tea Commercial iced teas are often loaded with sugar, but homemade tea infusions, hot or cold, are simple, economical and low-calorie! Hot infusions You can infuse your tea as usual for a few minutes (in 65°C water for green tea, 80°C for oolong tea or 95°C for black tea), then leave it...
Read More Hot Hot Hot!
As nice as it is to bask in the sun, you still have to remain vigilant. Your blood sugar could rise with the thermometer and prevent your body from properly regulating its temperature. Result: you risk hyperthermia. What are the symptoms? Fatigue, dizziness, nausea, clammy skin, excessive sweating, muscle cramps and headaches are all common symptoms. Who is at risk? The body’s ability to regulate its temperature in young children is not yet developed, and is reduced in the elderly, which increases their risk of suffering from...
Read More How to be more eco-friendly
Diabetes is by no means easy on the planet. It generates a lot of waste - for example, used lancets, product packaging and unused medications. That said, why not limit the damage by adopting more responsible practices in your everyday life? Here are a few easy tips to get started! Give pill bottles a second life. Most pill bottles are recyclable, but plastic number 6 sometimes isn’t (you’ll find this number on the bottom of the bottle, outlined by a recycling triangle). Another option: your empty containers are perfect for storing cotton swabs, loose change and...
Read More How To Quit For Good
Smoking is extremely harmful to your health, and this is especially true for people living with diabetes. It increases the existing risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, eye problems and nerve damage, plus it increases insulin resistance. If you’re ready to stop smoking—you have to do it for your own sake, and willingly—we have a few tips to help you. First of all… Set a quit date within 30 days. Mark your calendar, tell your friends and family about it so you don’t back out when the day comes, and sign a symbolic quitting contract (it’s not...
Read More 5 additions to your back-to-school-with-diabetes supply list
You've got the ICP (Individual Care Plan) written and the DCT (...
Read More Too Good To Be True
“Lose 15 pounds in 15 days!”, “Burn calories just by sitting!”, “Discover the marvelous superpowers of the magical Malaysian Meme Beans!”... you've probably heard promises like that before. The idea of losing weight effortlessly sounds great, but what’s the truth of it? Miracle diets, shock diets and company Extreme diets promise drastic and rapid weight loss using severe calorie deficits and dietary restrictions. Of course you’ll shed pounds like crazy if all you have is smoothies or cabbage soup. But in the end, it’ll only harm your...
Read More