Springtime is the perfect "lower your A1C" time
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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Take a new look at your lunchbox
Whether it's your child's school lunchbox or something to eat at your desk, it's easy to get caught in a lunchtime rut. Here are a few diabetes-friendly lunchbox ideas to help you shake things up without a lot of extra preparation or planning. Start with dinner. If you're already cooking, make extra food. You can just reheat and eat, but you don't have to. Tonight's roast chicken makes a great quesadilla with a little cheese and sweet red pepper. A baked pasta dish becomes finger food when cut into...
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Lighter Chicken and Leek Pie
4 steps to a lighter chicken and leek pie We've slimmed down this chicken and leek pie so it still has all of the comforting goodness of the original, without the extra fat, calories and carbs1. How? Skip the bottom crust. This may seem like cheating—of course a single-crust pie will be easier on the carbs. But it also means you don't have to pre-bake the bottom crust or try cutting through soggy pastry when you reheat the leftovers. Use a prepared top crust....
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Handy Guide to Portion Control
Many people living with diabetes learn how to count carbohydrates in order to manage their blood sugar, and others are asked to watch their weight. But one of the easiest ways to miscount carbs or calories is by underestimating portion sizes, so here are a few handy tips. Measure now, feel good later Using a food scale and measuring cups can save you a lot of worry. This way, you'll know that you had a half-cup of brown rice with 22 carbs and 100 calories1, instead of "about" that much and "20-ish carbs...
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Here comes the sun!
The warm weather is finally here: time to cut loose on vacation, go on a picnic excursion, or laze by the pool. Let the good times roll! Here are a few ideas to help you get your proper dose of vitamin D this summer. Create your own personal oasis After all those months of hibernation, the deck and the back yard are finally yours to enjoy! Since you’re going to be outside a lot, why not fix up your outdoor space just the way you like it? Plant a few fragrant flowers here and there, create a...
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Travel Smart
Due for a holiday? San Francisco, Moncton, Milan or Kelowna: wherever you choose to go, the golden rule is to plan your trip carefully—and this is especially true when you’re living with diabetes. Before leaving Do your research. Does the destination have good access to medical care? What should you pay special mind to at mealtimes? What type of trip do you want to go on? Naturally, you won’t plan a week at the beach the same way as a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. Talk to your doctor...
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Spooked By Halloween?
October 31 is fast approaching, but you don’t need to barricade yourself indoors with the lights off, nor do you have to stop your children from celebrating! Adults can have fun too Don't pretend that Halloween is only for children: have fun! Opt for dark chocolate. The higher its cocoa percentage, the lower its glycemic index. Buy lots of candy… that you don’t care for. That way, you can hand out sweets free of temptation. Celebrate differently. Invite your friends to a costume ball...
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Halloween Treats For Grown-Ups
Let children have their candy. Adults can have their own fun! Set up a horror movie marathon Watch or rewatch the classics—Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Carrie—or choose a theme: black and white movies, B movies, vampires, ghosts… there’s no lack of options! Instead of popcorn, prepare raw vegetables or roasted cauliflower for snacking. Invite friends over for a themed dinner Why not make it a potluck? Here are some ideas: ...
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For Frightfully Fun Halloween Festivities
On Halloween night, invite your child’s friends to celebrate at your house. By organizing a fun party, you’ll be stealing the spotlight from candy and sweets. A costume pageant Set up a fashion show for the kids where they show off their costumes to the tune of “Monster Mash” or another Halloween hit. Ask everyone to explain why they chose their costume. Hand out lots of prizes—pens, balls or small toys—or hold a draw. This way, several kids get something. Games The classics can be...
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Take a new look at your lunchbox
Whether it's your child's school lunchbox or something to eat at your desk, it's easy to get caught in a lunchtime rut. Here are a few diabetes-friendly lunchbox ideas to help you shake things up without a lot of extra preparation or planning. Start with dinner. If you're already cooking, make extra food. You can just reheat and eat, but you don't have to. Tonight's roast chicken makes a great quesadilla with a little cheese and sweet red pepper. A baked pasta dish becomes finger food when cut into...
Read More Lighter Chicken and Leek Pie
4 steps to a lighter chicken and leek pie We've slimmed down this chicken and leek pie so it still has all of the comforting goodness of the original, without the extra fat, calories and carbs1. How? Skip the bottom crust. This may seem like cheating—of course a single-crust pie will be easier on the carbs. But it also means you don't have to pre-bake the bottom crust or try cutting through soggy pastry when you reheat the leftovers. Use a prepared top crust....
Read More Handy Guide to Portion Control
Many people living with diabetes learn how to count carbohydrates in order to manage their blood sugar, and others are asked to watch their weight. But one of the easiest ways to miscount carbs or calories is by underestimating portion sizes, so here are a few handy tips. Measure now, feel good later Using a food scale and measuring cups can save you a lot of worry. This way, you'll know that you had a half-cup of brown rice with 22 carbs and 100 calories1, instead of "about" that much and "20-ish carbs...
Read More Here comes the sun!
The warm weather is finally here: time to cut loose on vacation, go on a picnic excursion, or laze by the pool. Let the good times roll! Here are a few ideas to help you get your proper dose of vitamin D this summer. Create your own personal oasis After all those months of hibernation, the deck and the back yard are finally yours to enjoy! Since you’re going to be outside a lot, why not fix up your outdoor space just the way you like it? Plant a few fragrant flowers here and there, create a...
Read More Travel Smart
Due for a holiday? San Francisco, Moncton, Milan or Kelowna: wherever you choose to go, the golden rule is to plan your trip carefully—and this is especially true when you’re living with diabetes. Before leaving Do your research. Does the destination have good access to medical care? What should you pay special mind to at mealtimes? What type of trip do you want to go on? Naturally, you won’t plan a week at the beach the same way as a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. Talk to your doctor...
Read More Spooked By Halloween?
October 31 is fast approaching, but you don’t need to barricade yourself indoors with the lights off, nor do you have to stop your children from celebrating! Adults can have fun too Don't pretend that Halloween is only for children: have fun! Opt for dark chocolate. The higher its cocoa percentage, the lower its glycemic index. Buy lots of candy… that you don’t care for. That way, you can hand out sweets free of temptation. Celebrate differently. Invite your friends to a costume ball...
Read More Halloween Treats For Grown-Ups
Let children have their candy. Adults can have their own fun! Set up a horror movie marathon Watch or rewatch the classics—Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Carrie—or choose a theme: black and white movies, B movies, vampires, ghosts… there’s no lack of options! Instead of popcorn, prepare raw vegetables or roasted cauliflower for snacking. Invite friends over for a themed dinner Why not make it a potluck? Here are some ideas: ...
Read More For Frightfully Fun Halloween Festivities
On Halloween night, invite your child’s friends to celebrate at your house. By organizing a fun party, you’ll be stealing the spotlight from candy and sweets. A costume pageant Set up a fashion show for the kids where they show off their costumes to the tune of “Monster Mash” or another Halloween hit. Ask everyone to explain why they chose their costume. Hand out lots of prizes—pens, balls or small toys—or hold a draw. This way, several kids get something. Games The classics can be...
Read More