What Is Resistance Training—and Why You Should Care?
Guest article by Christel Oerum, DiabetesStrong.com. I absolutely love resistance training! I love how empowered it makes me feel and how it helps me manage my diabetes. Resistance training simply means that you put your muscles to work—building strength by using your body weight, resistance bands or weights. The beauty of all of these options is that resistance training doesn't have to happen in a gym and you don't need a lot of expensive equipment. I find it so empowering because I love seeing myself get physically stronger week by week, and it is immensely satisfying to be...
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Healthy new year! 5 steps to getting back into your routine.
What healthy habits went out your window over the holidays? Portion control? Enough sleep? Getting your steps? The entire vegetable category? It's easy to wake up in January and realize that your routine isn't quite a routine anymore. So how can you get back on track? 1. Give up the guilt. You may have eaten too much, tested too infrequently or chosen eggnog over the treadmill. But that's in the past. Be glad you enjoyed the holidays, then let it go and look forward.2. Go to bed early. Give yourself the extra energy it often takes to get out of a slump.3. Clear...
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<h2>Springtime is the perfect "lower your A1C</h2>
If your healthcare provider has talked to you about reducing your A1C test result, or you want to make some improvements to your diabetes care, this is the ideal time to get started. After all, warmer weather makes it easier to get outside and get active, fresh foods are easier to come by, and the sunshine may help you feel like you can conquer anything. 7% vs. 7.0 mmol/L First, let's be clear on what your A1C result means. It can be a little confusing, as the A1C is a percentage, rather than a direct measurement of the glucose in your blood. Your regular blood sugar checks tell you the amount of...
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Better Diabetes Care in a Single Step
The big secret to living a long and healthy life with diabetes is not really a big secret. There are certain phrases that seem to be played on a loop in every physician's office. "Check your blood sugar levels, administer medication appropriately, eat nutrient-dense foods and exercise," is common advice, but putting it into action can be a challenge. After all, when you're busy with work, school, family, social activities and other obligations, something has to be left along the way. Unfortunately, exercise is often the first thing to be dropped. Why is exercise important for...
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A Makeover for Your Home and Habits
There are 2 ways even people who already manage diabetes well can make their self-care even better: Set up your environment for success Practise healthy habits We tend to think people who do something well, do so because they are highly motivated or have lots of willpower. But that is not necessarily true. An environment that supports the actions you want to take can make a positive difference. And while willpower is great, it is a finite resource—it will run out. Think about it this way. Keeping your toothbrush in the bathroom makes...
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Aim for better, not perfect
Guest article by Riva Greenberg. Let's dispel a diabetes myth right now—the idea that you can manage your diabetes and blood sugar perfectly. You can't. There are so many tasks involved in managing diabetes and blood sugar that you will not be able to do them all, every day, with absolute success. For example, you won't eat perfectly all the time. There will be times an event will prevent you from being active. You may forget to take your medicine or log your blood sugar every now and then. Further, while we know keeping our blood sugar in the recommended target range helps delay or prevent diabetes...
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Healthy new year! 5 steps to getting back into your routine.
What healthy habits went out your window over the holidays? Portion control? Enough sleep? Getting your steps? The entire vegetable category? It's easy to wake up in January and realize that your routine isn't quite a routine anymore. So how can you get back on track? 1. Give up the guilt. You may have eaten too much, tested too infrequently or chosen eggnog over the treadmill. But that's in the past. Be glad you enjoyed the holidays, then let it go and look forward.2. Go to bed early. Give yourself the extra energy it often takes to get out of a slump.3. Clear...
Read More <h2>Springtime is the perfect "lower your A1C</h2>
If your healthcare provider has talked to you about reducing your A1C test result, or you want to make some improvements to your diabetes care, this is the ideal time to get started. After all, warmer weather makes it easier to get outside and get active, fresh foods are easier to come by, and the sunshine may help you feel like you can conquer anything. 7% vs. 7.0 mmol/L First, let's be clear on what your A1C result means. It can be a little confusing, as the A1C is a percentage, rather than a direct measurement of the glucose in your blood. Your regular blood sugar checks tell you the amount of...
Read More Better Diabetes Care in a Single Step
The big secret to living a long and healthy life with diabetes is not really a big secret. There are certain phrases that seem to be played on a loop in every physician's office. "Check your blood sugar levels, administer medication appropriately, eat nutrient-dense foods and exercise," is common advice, but putting it into action can be a challenge. After all, when you're busy with work, school, family, social activities and other obligations, something has to be left along the way. Unfortunately, exercise is often the first thing to be dropped. Why is exercise important for...
Read More A Makeover for Your Home and Habits
There are 2 ways even people who already manage diabetes well can make their self-care even better: Set up your environment for success Practise healthy habits We tend to think people who do something well, do so because they are highly motivated or have lots of willpower. But that is not necessarily true. An environment that supports the actions you want to take can make a positive difference. And while willpower is great, it is a finite resource—it will run out. Think about it this way. Keeping your toothbrush in the bathroom makes...
Read More Aim for better, not perfect
Guest article by Riva Greenberg. Let's dispel a diabetes myth right now—the idea that you can manage your diabetes and blood sugar perfectly. You can't. There are so many tasks involved in managing diabetes and blood sugar that you will not be able to do them all, every day, with absolute success. For example, you won't eat perfectly all the time. There will be times an event will prevent you from being active. You may forget to take your medicine or log your blood sugar every now and then. Further, while we know keeping our blood sugar in the recommended target range helps delay or prevent diabetes...
Read More