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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To Drink Or Not To Drink: That Is The Question
Alcohol is often on the guest list at everything from family reunions to evenings with friends, but it doesn’t always mix well with diabetes. Unless otherwise specified by your doctor, nothing is stopping you from having a drink as long as you follow some basic guidelines. First, what effect does alcohol have? When you drink some alcohol, your liver goes into a “cleaning” mode: instead of producing glucose, it works at eliminating alcohol from your system. This puts you at risk of having a low blood sugar episode which may...
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Put A Stop To Cravings!
People living with diabetes often think they have to ban all unhealthy foods. Yet, dealing with your cravings, rather than trying to eliminate them, is the best way to prevent possibly damaging binges. Defuse high-calorie bombs. Bored? Stressed? Cravings often arise in response to a psychological need. Outsmart them: dive into a novel, or go for a walk or a run. Self-indulgence or true hunger? All you had for lunch was a green salad? It’s no surprise that your stomach is growling! Add some fibre and protein to...
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Diabetes And Intimacy
When talking about diabetes management, sex remains a taboo subject. You hear a lot about risks for eyes, nerves, kidneys and the heart. You hear a lot less about possible problems in the bedroom—be they psychological barriers or dysfunctions. Can diabetes affect your sexuality? There might be some potential inconveniences when it comes to diabetes and sex. However, it does not mean that you have to give up on sex. Let’s take a closer look at this topic in five points. Dialogue. It’s true...
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A matter of chocolate!
Why deny yourself the pleasure? Good for both your mood and your cardiovascular health, chocolate can very easily be integrated into your diet—as long as it’s consumed in moderation, of course. Good fats The types of fats contained in cacao butter, such as monounsaturated fatty acids, prevent high cholesterol, which contributes to good cardiovascular health. Antioxidants The flavonoids contained in dark chocolate help lower blood pressure by...
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How and Why to Get a Good Night’s Sleep
When you are getting enough sleep, you may find that you have an easier time controlling your blood sugar. You’ll be more alert during the day, have more energy, less stress, and an overall better mindset for monitoring and managing your diabetes. Consider what happens when you don’t get enough sleep. In addition to other things that may interfere with your sleep like schedule changes or stress, people living with diabetes can have potential complications with sleep. Both high and low blood sugar levels can interrupt your sleep. People living with type 2 diabetes who don’t get a good night’s...
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Delicious Valentine’s Day
Picture this: it’s Valentine’s Day and all that chocolate is looking mighty fine. You’d like to enjoy a good dinner without worries—so what do you do? Do not fear, here we come to the rescue. Here are three ideas to celebrate the occasion while keeping your diabetes managed. 1. This year, forget about overcrowded restaurants and prepare a five-star meal in the comfort of your home by drawing inspiration from Ricardo’s excellent recipes for people with diabetes. You’ll have peace of...
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Breaking Free Of The Sofa Without Forsaking TV
So you don’t have the time, or the inclination, to go for a run or visit the gym? If you own a stationary bike or other type of exercise machine, combining workouts with binge-watching a good series is a no-brainer. Otherwise, there are still plenty of ways to work out in the comfort of your living room. No equipment needed besides comfortable clothing! You can choose from a wide range of exercises: Running in place, jumping jacks… as long as you don’t have a downstairs neighbor! Leg...
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Managing Sick Days
Feeling fine? It's the perfect day to create a sick day plan. When you're feeling ill, you'd like nothing more than to lie in bed with a good book or a good movie. Yet that's when you need to focus even more on diabetes self-care. The key to manage sick days when living with diabetes is doing all of the thinking ahead of time. That way, when you don't feel like concentrating, you can simply follow the plan. What to include in your plan? Involve your diabetes care team in...
Read MorePages
To Drink Or Not To Drink: That Is The Question
Alcohol is often on the guest list at everything from family reunions to evenings with friends, but it doesn’t always mix well with diabetes. Unless otherwise specified by your doctor, nothing is stopping you from having a drink as long as you follow some basic guidelines. First, what effect does alcohol have? When you drink some alcohol, your liver goes into a “cleaning” mode: instead of producing glucose, it works at eliminating alcohol from your system. This puts you at risk of having a low blood sugar episode which may...
Read More Put A Stop To Cravings!
People living with diabetes often think they have to ban all unhealthy foods. Yet, dealing with your cravings, rather than trying to eliminate them, is the best way to prevent possibly damaging binges. Defuse high-calorie bombs. Bored? Stressed? Cravings often arise in response to a psychological need. Outsmart them: dive into a novel, or go for a walk or a run. Self-indulgence or true hunger? All you had for lunch was a green salad? It’s no surprise that your stomach is growling! Add some fibre and protein to...
Read More Diabetes And Intimacy
When talking about diabetes management, sex remains a taboo subject. You hear a lot about risks for eyes, nerves, kidneys and the heart. You hear a lot less about possible problems in the bedroom—be they psychological barriers or dysfunctions. Can diabetes affect your sexuality? There might be some potential inconveniences when it comes to diabetes and sex. However, it does not mean that you have to give up on sex. Let’s take a closer look at this topic in five points. Dialogue. It’s true...
Read More A matter of chocolate!
Why deny yourself the pleasure? Good for both your mood and your cardiovascular health, chocolate can very easily be integrated into your diet—as long as it’s consumed in moderation, of course. Good fats The types of fats contained in cacao butter, such as monounsaturated fatty acids, prevent high cholesterol, which contributes to good cardiovascular health. Antioxidants The flavonoids contained in dark chocolate help lower blood pressure by...
Read More How and Why to Get a Good Night’s Sleep
When you are getting enough sleep, you may find that you have an easier time controlling your blood sugar. You’ll be more alert during the day, have more energy, less stress, and an overall better mindset for monitoring and managing your diabetes. Consider what happens when you don’t get enough sleep. In addition to other things that may interfere with your sleep like schedule changes or stress, people living with diabetes can have potential complications with sleep. Both high and low blood sugar levels can interrupt your sleep. People living with type 2 diabetes who don’t get a good night’s...
Read More Delicious Valentine’s Day
Picture this: it’s Valentine’s Day and all that chocolate is looking mighty fine. You’d like to enjoy a good dinner without worries—so what do you do? Do not fear, here we come to the rescue. Here are three ideas to celebrate the occasion while keeping your diabetes managed. 1. This year, forget about overcrowded restaurants and prepare a five-star meal in the comfort of your home by drawing inspiration from Ricardo’s excellent recipes for people with diabetes. You’ll have peace of...
Read More Breaking Free Of The Sofa Without Forsaking TV
So you don’t have the time, or the inclination, to go for a run or visit the gym? If you own a stationary bike or other type of exercise machine, combining workouts with binge-watching a good series is a no-brainer. Otherwise, there are still plenty of ways to work out in the comfort of your living room. No equipment needed besides comfortable clothing! You can choose from a wide range of exercises: Running in place, jumping jacks… as long as you don’t have a downstairs neighbor! Leg...
Read More Managing Sick Days
Feeling fine? It's the perfect day to create a sick day plan. When you're feeling ill, you'd like nothing more than to lie in bed with a good book or a good movie. Yet that's when you need to focus even more on diabetes self-care. The key to manage sick days when living with diabetes is doing all of the thinking ahead of time. That way, when you don't feel like concentrating, you can simply follow the plan. What to include in your plan? Involve your diabetes care team in...
Read More