* * * * * * * Diabetes Over Christmas * * * * * * *

 

Christmas and NewYear are times of joy and happiness. It’s time to celebrate for everyone. Familiesand friends get together to enjoy this special festive season and there is every reason for you to enjoy it fully too!

 

There is a lot of food involved over Christmas and New Year’s Eve, a lot of traditional food, which play a huge part in this winter season festivities. Plates full of pies, tasty cheese, pates and sausages, fried potato wedges and vegetables with variety of sauces and dressings, and gorgeous Christmas puddings and a selection of lovely cakes are all very tempting for anyone. But don’tworry, you don’t have to have a separate plate for your Christmas dinner, just be more cautious about how much and what you eat and don’t over do it.    

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Any traditional festive food will behigh in calories, fat and sugar, and won’t be healthy foranyone, diabetic or not. And a little extra over Christmas should not affect your long termdiabetes control. As you well know, eating to controldiabetes isn’t just about control of what you eat; it’s about balancing yourdiet, adding variety and not feeling restricted. And certainly during Christmas festive season you should plan ahead.Give some thought to all different options you have and consider what worksbest for you as an individual.

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The main advice is on spreading the food equally throughout the dayand indeed throughout the entire Christmas period, not having too much at onemeal, keeping close eye on your blood sugar levels, and being sensible. Youmight want to let your family and friends know how you want to be served, to feel more comfortable and in control. But allow yourself to have some chocolates, cakes and sweetstoo, only spread them throughout the day and eat them with main meals.

In short think about:

     Christmas and New Year are celebrated over a week period so don’t eat itall in first couple of days.

     Spread your portionsthroughout the day. 

     Avoid eating too much atone meal, and too little at next. 

     Try to avoid sugary drinks, instead have some fresh juice, which willrefresh you better and doesn’t contain large amounts of sugar.

     Enjoy Christmas fruit and vegetables, you can make some lovely saladsand have the half plate of vegetables with your Christmas meals.

     Keep alcohol intake inmoderation and watch your alcohol units 

     And of course don’t forget to take that walk in the evening or into the townto marvel at the Christmas lights and all the festive decorations. You will bedoing that important exercise and also walk off the Christmas meal.

 

Plan well and enjoy Your Christmas andNew Year!

 

 

 

Diabetes mellitus or simply diabetes
is one of the most common conditions in modern society that is continuously on increase.

 

 

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder of the pancreas, a gland in your body that produces insulin, a hormone that helps your body to utilise blood sugar, known as glucose, and turn it into energy.

 

In diabetes production of insulin is either insufficient or your body is not responding adequately to its insulin production, or both. In all cases it leads to increased levels of blood sugar/blood glucose circulating in your blood stream, which if untreated often leads to health damage and complications.

 

There are three main types of diabetes:

·         Type 1 Diabetes

·         Type 2 Diabetes

·         Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, also known as GDM

 

Other less common types are monogenic diabetes, congenital diabetes, steroid diabetes, etc. (Links)

 

Type 1 Diabetes is less common than type 2 diabetes, occurring mainly in young people. In type 1 diabetes all or most of the cells of the pancreas that produce insulin have been destroyed, leading to minimal or no production of insulin. Treatment is by daily insulin injections.

 

 

Type 2 Diabetes is the most common form of diabetes that can affect people of any age. It is characterised in lower production of insulin or body resistance to insulin, which leads to increased levels of blood sugar and in long term can seriously damage your health. Type 2 diabetes can be controlled by diet and physical activity alone, though in many cases oral medications and/or insulin is also required.

 

 

Gestational Diabetes can sometimes only occur in pregnant woman and often resolves with the delivery. Treatment is usually through diet changes and moderate activity.

 

 

Here is the list of articles that you may enjoy:

• Obsession, Purpose, Support & Creativity – DOC Crew. As I told you a few weeks ago, Diabetes Global Handprint, One Touch’s diabetes awareness initiative that was inspired by Word in Your Hand at tudiabetes.com, was to be featured on The CBS Early Show on June 2nd. …

• Comparing Insulins for Type 2s – Some of our doctors don’t help us when they use insulin as a threat: “Unless you reduce your blood glucose, I am going to have to put you on insulin.” So it’s no surprise that many of us who have type 2 diabetes think we have failed …

• How Diabetes Support Groups Can Help You? – The first time I heard about a diabetes support group, I outwardly sneered. I didn’t feel like I needed diabetes support groups. Support groups for diabetics were just not for me, I said. And one day, I took a serious look in the mirror …

people that have a dog with diabetes or other serious illness read this!!?

okay a few days ago I went to the vet because one of my family member gave my 3 year old chihuahua a peice of chicken, then like 1 day later her tummy started to hurt VERY BAD. so i took her to the vet and the vet said said that she has diabetes and this other serious illness. PLEASE HELP!! the vet said when she comes back to my house she has to be injected with this liquid twice a day. I’m scared that she will die soon!! how do you have faith that everything is going to be alright with your dog? and how do you live with a dog with a serious illness?

I had a dog who became diabetic. I injected him daily. The injections were not hard to do. But his illness did become worse. I knew when his life became unbearable and made the decision to let him go (very hard). I would suggest to you that if the injections help, then do it. You should know if your pets life (happiness) is well or not. I did everyhting for my dog. But when the time came to let him go for him and not hold on to him for me I did so.I loved him enough to let him go when his illness took over and the injections no longer helped. It is a very difficult decision. I believe most vets can answer your questions as to how the illness is affecting your pet. Ask the vet more questions if you need to. God Bless

What is the best diet to follow if Diabetes runs in your family?

My grandmother and great grandmother has/had diebetes.. my grandmother controls hers with insulin…. I had Gestational Diabetes with my first pregnancy but not with my second… I know certain genetics skip a generation, but to be on the safe side what diet should i follow and still enjoy flavorful meals?

Keep you weight at a normal area and also there is no diet that cures it but heres some foods that will keep it straight:
Glycemic index is what you need to read up on heres the site:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glycemic_Index. also remember this:Two important M’s to consider when managing diabetes are Meals and Motion.
Meals and Motion are important because they’re the basic natural controls of blood sugar. When you eat Meals, your blood sugar rises as the food is converted into energy. And when you put your body in Motion, you burn that energy, and lower your blood sugar.
Healthy habits make a difference in how well you manage your diabetes. But you might be surprised just how big a difference even a small change can make.
Vegetables and fruits are considered free foods. They are especially good for nutrition and are strongly recommended by dietitians and nutritionists for their beneficial effects in weight control and other health related issues.
typical food plan for an adult with Type 2 Diabetes would include about 3-4 carbohydrate servings (45-60 grams of carbohydrate) at each meal and 1-2 carbohydrate servings (15-30 grams ) for one snack.

Limiting sweets
Eating often
Being careful about when and how many carbohydrates you eat
Eating lots of whole-grain foods, fruits and vegetables
Eating less fat
Limiting your use of alcohol

How would I know if I had Gestational Diabetes? What are the symptoms?

Symptoms vary in severity depending on the individual, but for me it wasn’t apparent that something was wrong.

But, usual symptoms include thirst, frequent urination and tiredness (even more than because you’re pregnant), sick feeling, you may feel full, trouble seeing properly.

What is the criteria for deciding which diabetic diet to place someone on?

I am an RN attempting to find this information and coming up short. How do you decide whether to place someone on a 1200 ADA diet or a 2500 ADA diet?

It depends on the severity, the age of onset, and the type. I assume you are asking about type II diabetes in an older person. If the person is still producing sufficient insulin to control glucose when the diet is stabilized, then

My dog has neuropathy from diabetes. Anyone go through same experience?

My dog started falling all over the place because of his weak hind legs. We took him to the vet and he was diagnosed with diabetes. He hasn’t walked in 3 days and I believe he has diabetes neuropathy, I looked on the internet and it says it’s common in cats but can sometimes happen to dogs (I guess we are one of the few dog owners to go through this). Has anyone else experience this? will he walk again after we get his diabetes in check? any info will be helpful.

As far as I know, neuropathy is not reversible.

However, have has the dog been to the vet since he became completely unable to walk? The vet would be the best source of information on the prognosis.

Diet Plan for Gestational Diabetes?

So it’s been like a week since I found out I have GD. I don’t have my nutrition class until the 8th and on the phone, was only told no juice or pop until then. However, I did some research online and it sounds like I should be making some serious diet changes (like no more cereal for breakfast??) but different websites say different things. Some are drastic and you aren’t supposed to eat carbs at all whereas others say everything is okay in moderation. Please help by sharing what you know about a diet plan, if you can!

I have gd right now and I am currently 35 weeks pregnant. What I have done is eat protein with every meal and I’m now eating 3 small meals and 3 snacks everyday. I’ll give you an example of what I eat everyday.

Breakfast:
2 slices Complete Protein Bread(I get this from Trader Joes) You can eat any kind of whole grain bread. 2 tblspn all natural peanut butter. 1 tblspn for each slice.
I usually toast the bread.

Snack 1:
1 cup frozen fruit,
6 ounces of yogurt(preferably greek and unsweetened)
1 scoop of protein powder
I usually mix some ice in and make a smoothie.

Lunch:
2 slices whole grain bread
lettuce, tomato, carrot, celery
2 ounces of turkey
2 tblspn avocado
1 small apple

Snack 2:
small orange
1 ounce cheese
6 crackers

Dinner:
2/3 cup rice
1 cup broccoli
2 ounces chicken
1-2 tsp veg or olive oil

Snack 3:
2 tblspn nuts
3 graham crackers
6 ounces light yogurt

This is just an example, but it is kind of a guideline. Once you start the diet you just figure out wha tis working for you and your blood sugar and you go from there.

I have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes. How will this diagnosis effect my unborn baby?

Apparently i had this since 16 weeks but did not know now i am 25 weeks and I have to take insulin until the baby is born. How will this effect the baby and how can I help counteract any symptoms. Any recipe websites would be appreciated as well.

just watch your sugar levels .. if you keep them in normal range, your baby will be born perfectly healthy

Gestational diabetes is when your blood sugar (glucose) is too high while you are pregnant. Gestational diabetes often goes away after the baby is born. But, you may get diabetes later if you have diabetes during pregnancy.

In diabetes, your body does not make enough insulin or the insulin it makes does not work right. This causes your blood sugar levels to be too high. This can be harmful to you and your unborn child. Controlling your blood sugar is important for the health of your unborn baby.

The carbohydrates (kar-bo-hi-drates) in your food become glucose in your body. Glucose is a major energy source for your body. Carbohydrates come from starchy foods such as breads, pasta, potatoes, rice, and other grains. Carbohydrates are also found in fruits, dairy foods, vegetables, sugar, and sweets.

You need to eat the right amount of carbohydrates, protein, and fat while you are pregnant. This requires more planning if you are taking insulin to control your blood sugar while you are pregnant.

What is carbohydrate counting? Carbohydrate counting means keeping track of the amount of carbohydrates you eat every day. You should eat the same amount of carbohydrates at the same times each day. This will help keep your blood sugar within the normal range.

One serving of a carbohydrate food contains 12 to 15 grams of carbohydrate. A serving is equal to one of the portions listed below. You can exchange or trade one carbohydrate food for another from the same food group. For example, you can choose 1 slice of bread instead of 1/2 cup cooked cereal.

Vegetables contain only 5 grams of carbohydrate per serving. Do not count vegetables as carbohydrates unless you eat more than 2 servings per meal. Meat, meat substitutes, and fats are not counted as carbohydrates.

Care:

Calorie Intake:

Most pregnant women need about 300 extra calories per day in the second and third trimesters to gain enough weight. This equals about 16 to 17 calories per pound of ideal body weight.

An extra 10 to 12 grams of protein per day is also needed to help your baby grow normally. It is also helpful to get 45 to 60% of your calories from carbohydrates, 15 to 25% from protein, and 20 to 30% from fat.

Eating Plans:

Your dietitian (di-uh-tih-shun) will show you how to meet the guidelines above. You may use the sample menu below or the Diabetes Meal Planning Guide to do this. Ask for the CareNotes?handout about the diabetic exchange diet to find the serving sizes of foods not on the lists below.

Some people with gestational diabetes can control their blood sugar with diet alone. They do this by eating 3 meals and 1 to 3 snacks each day.

You will need a snack at bedtime to prevent your blood sugar levels from being too low overnight. Your dietitian will tell you if you need snacks in the morning or afternoon.

Eat at the same times each day, whenever possible, and never skip meals or snacks. Spread your food out evenly over the day so that you eat about every 2 to 3 hours. Eat only the amount that is on the food list. Or the amount your dietitian tells you to eat for each type of carbohydrate food.

Avoid foods and beverages with added sugar, corn syrup, honey, molasses, or maple syrup, or jams and jellies.

Read the labels of packaged foods to find the grams of carbohydrate a serving has in it.

Other Factors:

Choosing high fiber foods will help control your blood sugar and have regular bowel movements. High fiber foods are fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grain breads, cooked dried beans, and bran cereals.

Check with your doctor before exercising during pregnancy. Tell your dietitian about your exercise plan so your diet can be changed if needed. You may need extra carbohydrates before exercise to keep your blood sugar from dropping too low.

Talk with your caregiver if your blood sugar levels are too low or too high. Make sure your cholesterol and other blood lipids (fats) are checked at least once a year. You may need to follow a lowfat diet if they are too high.

Serving Sizes: Use the list below to measure foods and serving sizes. A serving size means the size of food after it is cooked or prepared.

1 pint or 2 cups (16 fluid ounces) of liquid is the size of 1-1/3 soda-pop cans.

1-1/2 cup (12 fluid ounces) of liquid is the size of a soda-pop can.

1 cup of food is the size of a large handful, or 8 fluid ounces of liquid.

?cup of food is about half of a large handful, or 4 fluid ounces of liquid.

2 tablespoons (Tbsp) is about the size of a large walnut.

1 tablespoon (Tbsp) is about the size of the tip of your thumb (from the last crease).

1 teaspoon (tsp) is about the size of the tip of your little finger (from the last crease).

3 ounces of cooked meat, fish, or poultry is about the size of a deck of cards.

1 ounce of cooked meat, fish, or poultry is about ?cup.

One ounce of hard cheese is about a 1 inch cube.

A serving of vegetables is ?cup (1/2 handful) cooked, or 1 cup (1 handful) raw.

CARBOHYDRATE FOODS AND SERVING SIZES

Breads and Starches: Each serving contains 15 grams carbohydrate. Eat ____ servings per day from this list. Most people need 6-10 servings per day.

1 slice bread (1 ounce)

1/2cup cooked pasta, corn, cooked cereal, mashed potato, or green peas

1/3 cup cooked rice, dried beans, or dried peas

3/4 cup flake cereal

1/2 hamburger or hot dog bun, English muffin, or frozen bagel

3 cups air-popped popcorn

1 small (3 inch) potato

2 rice cakes

6 saltines or three (2-1/2 inch squares) graham crackers

Fruits: Each serving contains 15 grams carbohydrate. Eat ____ servings per day from this list. Most people need 2-4 servings per day. Avoid juice or limit to 1/2 cup per day if your blood sugar levels are too high.

1/2 cup apple, orange, or grapefruit juice

1 small (2-1/2 inch) apple, peach, or orange

1/2 cup applesauce or canned fruit

3/4 cup fresh blueberries

15 small grapes or 12 large grapes

1 kiwi fruit

1/2 large pear or fresh grapefruit

2 Tbsp raisins or 1/4 cup dried fruit

1-1/4 cup fresh strawberries or melon cubes

Dairy: Each serving contains 12 grams carbohydrate. Eat or drink____ servings per day from this list. Most people need 2-3 servings per day.

1/2 cup sugar free custard, pudding, or evaporated milk

1 cup fresh milk or sugar-free yogurt

1/3 cup nonfat milk powder

Vegetables: Each serving contains 5 grams carbohydrate. Only count a vegetable as carbohydrate if you have more than 2 servings per meal. Eat ____ servings per day from this list. Most people need 2-4 servings per day.

2 Tbsp tomato sauce

1 cup vegetable or tomato juice

1/2 cup cooked vegetables or 1 cup raw vegetables

Combination Foods: Each serving contains about 15 grams carbohydrate. Eat ____ servings per day from this list. Most people need 1-2 servings per day.

1/2 cup of any casserole, like tuna or chicken noodle, macaroni and cheese, chili with meat, or spaghetti and meat sauce

1 cup cream, bean, tomato, or vegetable soup

1/8 of a 10-inch pizza

1/2 of a store-bought pot pie, like chicken, turkey, or beef

One 3 ounce taco

NON-CARBOHYDRATE FOODS TO INCLUDE IN YOUR DIET

Meat / Meat Substitutes: The foods on this list do not count as carbohydrates. Eat ____ servings per day from this list. Most people need 3-5 servings per day.

1/2 cup cottage cheese

1/2 cup cooked dried beans

1 to 2 oz low fat cheese

1 large egg (Limit eggs to 2 or 3 per week.)

2 to 3 oz cooked meat, fish, poultry

2 Tbsp peanut butter

Fats: The foods on this list do not count as carbohydrates. Eat ____ servings per day from this list. Most people need 1-3 servings per day.

6 almonds or 10 small peanuts

1/8 avocado

1 teaspoon oil or margarine

6 small olives

2 Tbsp low calorie salad dressing

1Tbsp regular salad dressing

2200 CALORIE SAMPLE MENU A sample of a 2200 calorie gestational diabetic diet is listed below. A dietitian can help you decide how many snacks you need each day.

Breakfast: 42 grams carbohydrate

3 carbohydrate choices such as.

2 breads or starches, like 1 cup bran cereal or 1 cup cooked oatmeal

1 milk, like 1 cup skim milk, 1% milk, or nonfat sugar-free yogurt

1 ounce meat or protein, like ?cup scrambled egg substitute or lowfat cottage cheese

2 fats, like 2 tsp margarine

Morning Snack: 15 grams carbohydrate

1 fruit, such as 1/2 large banana

1 oz. meat substitute, such as 2 Tbsp peanut butter

Lunch: 67 grams carbohydrate

The following foods can be combined to make a sandwich:

2 carbohydrate choices like 2 slices whole wheat bread

2 ounces meat or protein, like 2 ounces lean roast beef or ?cup water-packed tuna

1 vegetable, like 2 lettuce leaves with 2 slices of tomato

1 fat, like 1 tsp mayonnaise or 1 Tbsp salad dressing

1 fruit, like 1-1/4 cups fresh strawberries

1 vegetable, like 1/2 cup vegetable soup or 1 cup carrot sticks

1 free food, like 12 ounces sugar-free soft drink

1 milk, like 1 cup sugar-free nonfat yogurt

Afternoon snack: 15 grams carbohydrate

1 starch, like 3 squares (2-1/2 inch) graham crackers

Dinner: 82 grams carbohydrate

5 carbohydrate choices such as:

2 starches, like 1 large baked potato or 1 cup cooked pasta

1 starch, like 1 small dinner roll (1 ounce)

1 fruit, like 1 cup melon cubes or 4 fresh apricots

1 milk, like 1 cup skim milk or nonfat sugar-free yogurt

2 vegetables, like 1 cup steamed asparagus and 2 cups tossed salad

3 ounces meat or protein, like grilled chicken breast or salmon

2 fats, like 1 tsp margarine and 2 Tbsp lowfat salad dressing

Evening Snack: 27 grams carbohydrate

1 carbohydrate choice such as 1 bread, 6 whole wheat crackers, or 1 slice whole wheat bread

1 meat or protein, like 1 ounce lowfat cheese or 1 ounce lowfat ham

1 milk, like 1 cup skim milk or nonfat sugar-free yogurt

Totals For The Day: About 2180 calories.

About 248 grams carbohydrate, or 47% of calories.

About 123 grams protein, or 23% of calories.

About 72 grams fat, or 30% of calories.

CALL YOUR CAREGIVER IF:

You have questions about the serving sizes in this diabetic diet.

You have questions about how to prepare or cook foods on this diet.

You have questions about how or where to buy foods on this diet.

You have questions or concerns about your illness, medicine, or this diet.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

good luck! God bless!

Diabetics: What is you’re special diet?

Heya all

At school for Food Technology we had to choose a special diet to research. I choose diabetics. I have looked on the internet but can’t really find anything so i was wondering if anyone that is a diabetic (or that knows about diabetic diets) could tell me about their diet?

Like foods that are good for diabetics and foods that are not so good. It doesn’t matter if your type 1 or type 2 im doing it on both. But place state which you are talking about.

Thanks x

Hi. I am so much more than a diabetic. I am a person with diabetes.I hate the word diabetic.

We all have different diets. There is no one size fits all diet for people with diabetes.
We need to learn to count our carbohydrates in our food and does [ insulin ] for what we eat.

Obviously a 2 yr old with diabetes does not eat the same as a 24 yr old olympic athlete with diabetes.
For people not on insulin, it’s more of a need to eat the same amount of carbs through out the day at the same time daily.
We work with dietitians who help us decide how many carbs we should take in at every meal.
Let’s say at breakfast , you have 45 carbs.You can have eggs and 2 slices of toast.Or you can have one toast and an orange.As long as the carbs remain the same- it is changeable.
If we want cake for dessert, we can change out our dinner roll and starchy vegetable to accommodate the cake.
There will always be a better nutritional choices but as adults, we can eat every food on this earth.Nothing is forbidden. There are better choices than others.

Our dog has been diagnosed with cushing’s disease and diabetes. How can we boost his immune system?

He takes anipryl daily for the cushings and receives insulin injections daily for his diabetes. He has a severe dermatitis/skin infection right now and currently takes 2 antibiotics and an antihistamine daily for these complications. What can we give him to boost his immune system so as not to complicate these other health issues?

You should talk to your vet for this question.
Also post animal questions in the animal section . You will get more answers .

BTW- I have both diabetes and Cushing’s.