Finding Fats in Foods
If someone wanted to cut non-essential fat from their diet, you might suggest they try eating soup and a sandwich for lunch, eating more salads and choosing desserts that are low in saturated fat. Sounds like a good plan, right? Unfortunately, it’s not quite that simple. The fact is, saturated fats and trans fats are lurking in many foods that seem healthy. Here are a few examples: Salad dressing. All those crisp, delicious vegetables are great for you—high in vitamins, minerals and fiber. But at 20 grams of fat per tablespoon,...
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Pros and cons of going vegetarian with diabetes
Have you noticed more veggie-meat options at your grocery store or at your favorite restaurants lately? Dairy-free cheese, meatless sausages and plant-based burgers are just a few tasty vegetarian selections that even meat eaters can enjoy. Even fast-food restaurant has a selection of meat-free burgers that's too good to pass up. Nearly 10% of Canadians have cut meat out of their diets1—people choose to adopt a vegetarian lifestyle for a variety of reasons. Some want to lose weight, some care about animals, and others do it to support their health or the environment. For people...
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To your health! Enjoying a drink with diabetes
Any time you get together with friends or family, especially during the holidays, you may feel inclined to raise a glass. Why not? Living with diabetes does not mean you can't enjoy a cocktail or some champagne. Just know how alcohol can affect your blood sugar numbers or interact with insulin or medications before you start pouring, so you can avoid any surprises. Nobody wants a holiday low Drinking alcohol can affect you in a few ways: When your liver is processing alcohol, it does not produce sugar to regulate your blood...
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Women with diabetes - own your strength and lift each other up
BY CHRISTEL OERUM (DIABETES STRONG) I am a woman living with diabetes, and if you read this, there is a high likelihood that you are too. Aside from living with diabetes, we might not have much in common, but that does not mean that we cannot or should not support each other. Living with diabetes as a woman comes with a tremendous number of challenges, and there is no reason why any of us should have to face those challenges entirely on our own. Strong women lift each other up...
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The incredible, unbelievable value of having a friend living with diabetes.
Guest article by Christel Oerum. Have you ever imagined having a best friend who also lives with diabetes? How wonderful it would be to meet the perfect "diabuddy" who truly understands what it means to live with diabetes and relates to what you deal with every day. They wouldn't have to guess at what you're thinking—they'd know because it's their life too. You are not alone. There are so many of us living with diabetes around the world. If you're open to it and willing to share your experience with others, the chance of meeting another person living with...
Read More
Sleeping better for people living with diabetes: Tips for your body and mind.
Sleep is a fundamental need for the body. It affects emotional well-being, cognitive function, daytime performance and physical health. Poor sleep quality can influence weight, appetite and mental health, and has been associated with obesity, diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease risk. It can also affect your body's sensitivity to insulin1. For most adults, 7 to 9 hours of sleep is optimal, whereas a child can require between 8 and 15 hours of sleep each day1. If you aren't getting the sleep you need, some causes may be caffeine or alcohol consumption, diet...
Read More
Good reasons to open your home and heart to a pet
When you run across a pet adoption event, are you drawn in? Those cute little fur-babies are so tempting—perhaps it's time to give in. You already know that pets offer wonderful emotional benefits, but did you know that they can provide physical benefits as well? In addition to unconditional love and companionship, a pet can be just the motivation you need to take better care of yourself or get more exercise. They can also make a big difference in your stress levels and mood. And, if you're walking a dog every day, there may be social benefits as well1...
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One resolution: Drink more water
If you have been reading us for a while, you know we are not big fans of resolutions. Goals? Yes. Commitments to yourself at any time of year? Certainly. However, we are bending our own rule a bit this year. Because if ever there were a resolution worth making, and super easy to boot, it is this one: drink more water. Even better, drinking water may help you with other goals and resolutions if you were to decide to go that route. Here is a peek at how: Water for weight loss or management A 2019...
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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 brushing your teeth...
Read MorePages
Pros and cons of going vegetarian with diabetes
Have you noticed more veggie-meat options at your grocery store or at your favorite restaurants lately? Dairy-free cheese, meatless sausages and plant-based burgers are just a few tasty vegetarian selections that even meat eaters can enjoy. Even fast-food restaurant has a selection of meat-free burgers that's too good to pass up. Nearly 10% of Canadians have cut meat out of their diets1—people choose to adopt a vegetarian lifestyle for a variety of reasons. Some want to lose weight, some care about animals, and others do it to support their health or the environment. For people...
Read More To your health! Enjoying a drink with diabetes
Any time you get together with friends or family, especially during the holidays, you may feel inclined to raise a glass. Why not? Living with diabetes does not mean you can't enjoy a cocktail or some champagne. Just know how alcohol can affect your blood sugar numbers or interact with insulin or medications before you start pouring, so you can avoid any surprises. Nobody wants a holiday low Drinking alcohol can affect you in a few ways: When your liver is processing alcohol, it does not produce sugar to regulate your blood...
Read More Women with diabetes - own your strength and lift each other up
BY CHRISTEL OERUM (DIABETES STRONG) I am a woman living with diabetes, and if you read this, there is a high likelihood that you are too. Aside from living with diabetes, we might not have much in common, but that does not mean that we cannot or should not support each other. Living with diabetes as a woman comes with a tremendous number of challenges, and there is no reason why any of us should have to face those challenges entirely on our own. Strong women lift each other up...
Read More The incredible, unbelievable value of having a friend living with diabetes.
Guest article by Christel Oerum. Have you ever imagined having a best friend who also lives with diabetes? How wonderful it would be to meet the perfect "diabuddy" who truly understands what it means to live with diabetes and relates to what you deal with every day. They wouldn't have to guess at what you're thinking—they'd know because it's their life too. You are not alone. There are so many of us living with diabetes around the world. If you're open to it and willing to share your experience with others, the chance of meeting another person living with...
Read More Sleeping better for people living with diabetes: Tips for your body and mind.
Sleep is a fundamental need for the body. It affects emotional well-being, cognitive function, daytime performance and physical health. Poor sleep quality can influence weight, appetite and mental health, and has been associated with obesity, diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease risk. It can also affect your body's sensitivity to insulin1. For most adults, 7 to 9 hours of sleep is optimal, whereas a child can require between 8 and 15 hours of sleep each day1. If you aren't getting the sleep you need, some causes may be caffeine or alcohol consumption, diet...
Read More Good reasons to open your home and heart to a pet
When you run across a pet adoption event, are you drawn in? Those cute little fur-babies are so tempting—perhaps it's time to give in. You already know that pets offer wonderful emotional benefits, but did you know that they can provide physical benefits as well? In addition to unconditional love and companionship, a pet can be just the motivation you need to take better care of yourself or get more exercise. They can also make a big difference in your stress levels and mood. And, if you're walking a dog every day, there may be social benefits as well1...
Read More One resolution: Drink more water
If you have been reading us for a while, you know we are not big fans of resolutions. Goals? Yes. Commitments to yourself at any time of year? Certainly. However, we are bending our own rule a bit this year. Because if ever there were a resolution worth making, and super easy to boot, it is this one: drink more water. Even better, drinking water may help you with other goals and resolutions if you were to decide to go that route. Here is a peek at how: Water for weight loss or management A 2019...
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 brushing your teeth...
Read More