1. Diabetic Diet Plan And Goal 2. Diabetic Diet Sample Meal And Food 3. Type 1 Diabetes Diet Meal Planning 4. Sample Type 2 Diabetes Diet Meal And Menu 5. Gestational Diabetes Meal Planning 6. Diabetic Diet Food Guide Table 7. Diabetic Diet Strategy 8. Diabetic - Nutrients of Benefit 9. Food Portions for Diabetic Diet 10. Diabetic Food Exchange Guide 11. Blood Sugar Levels 12. Collection Of Popular And Healthy Diabetic Recipes 13. How to Keep a Diabetic Log 14. Diabetic Foot Care Guidelines 15. Diabetic Shoes - What to Consider When Buying 16. How To Use Diabetic Test Strips 17. Where and How to Get Discount Diabetic Supplies 18. Exercise Tips for Diabetes 19.List of Foods for Diabetic to Eat 20.Sould Diabetes Consume Alcohol? 21. Natural Diabetes Cure - Maintaining Blood Sugar Levels 22. Human Skin Cells Turned Into InsulinProducing Cells 23. Stevia And Gestation Diabetes Diet Diabetic Diet Basics The basics to diabetic diet meal planning are simple once we understand the way our body breaks down food. Everything we eat is broken down into sugar eventually. Sugary foods such as sweets or fruit hit the bloodstream almost immediately, followed by the slower starches (carbohydrates, or carbs), which take an hour or two to break down depending on their complexity. Proteins are next, taking about four hours, then between six and eight hours the fats finally break down. If strict attention is paid to diet and exercise, many diabetics can control their blood sugar with minimal dependence on medication. Diabetic Diet Plan And Goal Diabetic diet plan differ from person to person due to our daily nutritional needs and type of diabetes a person suffers. Following are the most common type of diabetes diet: Type 1 Diabetes Diet - Type 1 diabetes always requires insulin treatment, the main focus is to find a balance between the food intake and insulin. Type 2 Diabetic Diet - Type 2 diet focus on controlling weight in order to improve the body's ability to utilize insulin. In most cases Type 2 diabetes can be controlled through proper diet and exercise alone. Gestational Diabetes Diet - unlike the Type 2 diet, gestational diabetes diet focus on adequate energy and nutrients to support both the mother‟s body and growing baby while maintaining stable blood glucose levels for the pregnant mother. The diet goal is to eat a balanced, portion controlled meal that will allow our body to stay on an even keel throughout the day as the components of each meal hit the system. Eating every two to three hours is best, five or six small meals being recommended, and light exercise after each meal will help kick start the digestive system and prevent a spike in sugar levels. If we can include appropriate servings from each food category at each meal, they will break down at different rates, delivering a steady trickle of sugar into the bloodstream and keeping our energy level stable. This saves our system from having to deal with a great influx all at once, as it would if we ate only carbs, or only protein. Diabetic Diet Sample Meal And Food The ideal diabetic meal will consist of a combination of foods. Some foods cross categories, like bread products that are high in fat, dairy items that provide protein, and starchy vegetables. Our needs will vary depending on the time of day and how much physical activity we engage in. Following is a sample diabetic diet meal : One serving of protein (3 oz of chicken, lean beef or fish) One serving of bread (whole grain roll, tortilla or ½ cup pasta) One serving of dairy (cheese, milk or low-fat sour cream) One serving vegetables (fist sized portion or a small bowl of salad) One serving fruit (tennis ball sized or ½ cup sliced) Small amounts of unsaturated fats are needed, so add a little dressing or a pat of soft margarine. Avoid sweets; consider the fruit your dessert! Foods that should be avoided include; fatty red meat, organ meat, highly processed food, fried food, fast food, high cholesterol food and foods rich in saturated fat. Type 1 Diabetes Diet Meal Planning The main concern for Type 1 diabetes diet is finding the correct balance between the food they eat and the medicine they take. A well thought out diet can make all the difference, and reduce the amount of medication and frequency of injections required. The body needs sugar to run on. All foods are eventually broken down into sugar, and insulin releases this sugar from the bloodstream into the cells. In a non-diabetic, the pancreas produces insulin as needed, but for Type 1 diabetes insulin must be injected to release the sugar and avoid the build up of glucose in the blood. A good plan is to keep a food and testing journal that shows your meals and glucose test results. This will help you identify problem areas and help you continually improve your meal planning to attain the proper balance. Take into account any exercise plan that will help you burn calories as well. Most insulin dependent diabetes can take an insulin injection shortly before eating. If meals are planned to contain roughly the same amounts of nutrients each time, it will be easier to find an adequate dosage of insulin. Children with diabetes should be carefully monitored, as their dietary needs will change as they grow. Carbohydrates are the bane of diabetics diet. Although necessary for energy, if not burned off quickly they break down fast and dump sugar into the bloodstream. A careful balance of insulin, carb intake and exercise is needed to maintain optimal levels of glucose in the blood. Varying your diet too widely from meal to meal or day to day can cause fluctuations and render it difficult to accurately pinpoint the amount of insulin required. The average Type 1 diabetes requires around 16 calories per pound of body weight per day, and carbs should make up no more than 50 - 60 % of the total. If you plan ahead, you can adjust your insulin dose to counter a high carb meal or a special dessert, and prevent a surge in glucose levels. Being a diabetic means practicing self control where food is concerned, but an occasional treat is OK if you prepare for it in advance. Prepare for low glucose levels as well by keeping snacks on hand for when your blood sugar dips. If you test very low, soda, fruit juice or hard candy combined with rest can bring your level back up and give you time to prepare a meal. If you make it a habit to eat your meals on a regular schedule, you can avoid unexpected highs and lows. Eating balanced healthy meals can also rule out erratic glucose activity, so plan each meal to include the correct portions of each food category as well as the right balance of proteins, fats and carbs. This will help you assimilate the sugar from your food more evenly. With proper nutrition, Type 1 diabetes can be controlled more effectively and insulin intake modified. Type 2 Diabetes Meal Planning Proper meal planning for Type 2 diabetes can often circumvent the need for medication. The first step is to limit the amount of sugar rich foods you consume, but there are many other factors to consider as well. For Type 2 diabetes, the focus is mainly on weight control. 80-90% of Type 2 diabetes are overweight, and this contributes to many diabetes symptoms. Reducing carbohydrate intake along with calories, and replacing some of your carbs with healthy (monounsaturated) fats can keep your glucose levels on an even keel and help you drop those extra pounds. The main goal behind meal planning for type 2 diabetes is to prevent sugar level from spiking or dropping throughout the day. Eating frequent, small meals and watching your portion size will win the battle if you are consistent. Commit to keeping a journal for two weeks, and test your sugar levels rigorously in the morning and 2 hours after each main meal. Log the results as well as the time and contents of each meal, and any exercise you do. This will help you see what areas need improvement. Type 2 Diabetes Diet Characteristic Controlling blood sugar level through proper meal planning In case of obesity reduce weight to improved insulin sensitivity Incorporate exercise to improving the body's use of insulin Minimize the need for insulin and other diabetes medications Sample Type 2 Diabetes Diet Meal And Menu two slices of bread one cup of skimmed milk one boiled egg one serving of your favorite fruit Sample Type 2 Diabetes Diet Menu for Lunch one bowl of pasta two servings of your favorite vegetables one serving of meat (chicken or turkey) Afternoon Snack a fruit three saltines or crackers half a cup of tea or coffee (with artificial sweetener) three servings of meat or fish half of a baked potato two helpings of vegetables a fruit a cup of milk cheese or a few saltines Sample Type 2 Diabetes Diet Menu for Breakfast Type 2 Diabetes Diet Sample Menu for Dinner Snacks After Dinner Type 2 diabetes is generally controllable although some patients may still need insulin or oral medications to help eliminate symptoms. As you learn to manage your condition, you will find it easier and easier to follow these guidelines, and your overall energy level and sense of well-being will improve! Gestational Diabetes Meal Planning Approximately 3 to 5 percent of all pregnant women in the United States are diagnosed as having gestational diabetes, making it one of the top health concerns related to pregnancy. Without care and treatment, mothers with gestational diabetes could have very large babies known as “macrosomia”. These mothers may have a harder time with labor and natural delivery. You will hopefully be able to control gestational diabetes with diet and exercise without resorting to medication or insulin injections. Your dietician will be able to help you customize this plan to fit your specific situation. With care and dedication, gestational diabetes can be controlled and the pregnancy will suffer no ill effects. The following is a sample 5-6 daily meal plan for gestational diabetics. Tracking your sugar at home with a glucose monitoring system and keeping a detailed log of meals and blood sugar readings can be invaluable in helping you and your doctor tailor a plan to your specific needs. Sample Diet For Gestational Diabetes Gestational Diabetes Diet Meal Detail Gestational Diabetes Meal 1 When you first wake up in the morning, your blood sugar will normally be low. If you eat a breakfast that is high in starch and sugar (like pancakes and syrup, or sugared cereal with fruit) your glucose levels will skyrocket. However, skipping breakfast is not a solution! A small, high protein meal that includes a meat serving, a complex carbohydrate such a slice of whole wheat toast, and a glass of milk or cup of low calorie yogurt will start your day off smoothly. Gestational Diabetes Meal 2 A common mistake is waiting too long for lunch and dinner, then overeating. If your sugar level dips too low, it will tend to bounce higher when you finally do eat. A snack of vegetable sticks with low calorie dip, cottage cheese with a small serving of fruit, or whole wheat crackers with peanut butter can help get you through until lunchtime. Keep a tray in the fridge with healthy snacks you can eat on the go. Gestational Diabetes Meal 3 A serving of protein, one of vegetables and one or two of carbs - try whole grain pasta or pita bread for variety. Avoid white processed bread. Water or unsweetened 100% fruit juice is much better than soda, but if you can‟t resist, make any soda you drink diet. If you can plan on some physical exercise after each meal you can eat two bread servings at a time for energy, or indulge in two bites of your favorite dessert! Gestational Diabetes Meal 4 Another snack to help you coast till dinnertime. Again, pick a serving of fruit and or vegetables to help you meet your minimum for the day. Vegetable / fruit juice blends are a great way to help you get enough of both of these important foods. Combine such a drink with a few tablespoons of soft cheese on a whole grain bagel for a quick easy snack on the road. Gestational Diabetes Meal 5 This is possibly the trickiest meal of the day. If you eat late and are inclined to crash into bed shortly afterward, you will need to guard against overeating. A whole grain wrap stuffed with chicken and salad trimmings is a good quick meal when you are beat. Drizzle some dressing over it, or follow up with a sugar free cookie to provide a little fat. This will break down in the early morning hours and help you make it to breakfast without your glucose levels bottoming out. If you eat earlier, and like a larger dinner, make sure you will be active enough to burn off some of the calories before relaxing. Try catch up any missing servings of vegetables and fruit at dinnertime; these are the most often overlooked throughout the day. Gestational Diabetes Meal 6 When you are up for more than three hours after dinner and your sugar level starts to dip, a light snack may be in order. This can be as simple as an apple or a small whole grain muffin. If you go to bed early, and constantly wake with drastically low levels in the morning, consider a wee hours foray to the kitchen to boost yourself. A half sandwich of chicken salad on whole wheat or a few peanut butter crackers with a cup of milk will be enough to keep you from crashing. Diabetic Diet Foods A diet for diabetes is not so different from any good, healthy eating routine. The main goal for diabetic diet is to maintain a level blood sugar, and this can be achieved by a combination of three separate actions. 1. Avoiding foods that are high in sugar, as well as simple carbohydrates that the body will quickly convert to sugar. 2 . Using portion control to limit your intake of all foods while still providing proper nutrition. 3. Eating many small meals a day rather than three large ones. For many diabetics, what you eat is not so much the issue as how much you eat and when you eat it, but there are always choices and picking healthier ones will make controlling diabetes that much easier. What follows is a comprehensive guide to the main food groups for diabetic diet, with recommendations for the best choices in each category and suggestions for portion estimation. Diabetic Diet Food Guide Table Food Group Guide Grains and Starches Bread products are a huge source of carbohydrates in your diet. Choosing whole grain products whenever possible supplies your body with more complex carbs that take longer to break down, relieving your system of the need to deal with sudden influxes of sugar. 6 to 8 servings a day spread out over 56 meals is best. A slice of bread or ½ cup starchy food is a serving. Potatoes, corn and pasta fall in this category as well. Vegetables pinach, carrots, broccoli, tomatoes, lettuce, cabbage and cucumbers are only a sampling of vegetables you can eat as a side dish or for a snack. 3-5 servings a day are needed, and a good rule of thumb is 1 cup raw or ½ cup cooked per serving. Fruits Most contain carbohydrates as well as natural Milk Protein Fats and Sweets sugars, so watch your intake carefully. Combining them with protein at snack time or before exercise is a good idea. A small apple, banana or peach is a serving, or ½ cup canned fruit (make sure canned fruits are packed in unsweetened fruit juice - not syrup). 2-4 servings a day are required. Dairy products can be high in carbs as well, so try to limit your self to one 8 oz serving at a time. Low-fat milk or unsweetened yogurt are good selections. Try to get at least 2-3 servings per day. This can be meat or meat substitutes such as peanut butter, tofu, cheese and eggs. Approximately 6 oz is needed per day, broken into 2-3 servings. A 3 oz serving is the size of a deck of cards; an ounce of cheese is comparable to four dice. A tablespoon of peanut butter or a small egg can be considered an ounce. Fats are necessary; just choose wisely. Avocadoes are a wonderful topping, or make your own dressings to avoid trans-fats. Sweets are actually allowed many diabetics if the portion is strictly controlled; a mini cupcake or two small cookies along with a balanced meal may be permitted if they cause no ill effects. Sugar free desserts are another option, but the extra carbs must be taken into account. By learning which foods you tolerate best, and finding creative ways to include your favorites, you should be able to plan your meals around a wide variety of items. Learning to choose healthy options like whole grain bread and low-fat cottage cheese, and picking veggies for a snack rather than chips is not only good for diabetics, but for anyone seeking a healthier lifestyle. Diabetic Diet Strategy A diabetic diet strategy involves the use of food to control blood sugar level and to achieve a healthy lifestyle. The common diet strategy includes: Consume low GI carbohydrate food to achieve a more stable blood sugar level. Choose food which is low in saturated and trans fat, cholesterol, salt and sugar. Eat plenty of fresh colorful vegetables and fruits rich in nutrients, antioxidants and photochemical. Prefer high complex carbohydrate food. Moderate consumption of alcohol. Moderate amount of lean meat. Glycemic Index (GI) Glycemic index or GI is used to rank how fast the carbohydrate of a particular food is converted into glucose and enters the bloodstream. Low GI foods cause a steady rise in blood sugar level therefore they are preferable in diabetic diet. Low GI foods – Glycemic Index less than 55 Dairy Products - low fat milk and yogurt if not lactose intolerant Certain Fruits - cherries, grapes, grapefruit, peaches, plums, apples, pears and oranges. Legumes - fresh cooked black-eyed beans, chickpeas, kidney beans, lentils and soy beans. Non Starchy Vegetables - asparagus, bok choy, broccoli, cabbage celery, lettuce, mushroom, pepper, spinach, sweet potato, tomatoes and green pepper. Medium GI foods - Glycemic Index 55 to 70 Canned legumes, frozen peas. Sweet potatoes and yams. Whole grain cereals. High GI foods - Glycemic Index more than 70 Grain and starches, pasta, bread, bagel cereals, potatoes and all processed food in general. Candy, honey and table sugar. Grain based snacks - corn chips, cookies etc. Prepared cereals - corn flakes, muesli, instant cereals. Certain fruits - bananas, raisins and most fruit juice. Starchy vegetables, potatoes and corn. The Glycemic Index of food can be lowered by: Eat starchy carbohydrate foods together with lean protein, fiber and fats. This will slow down absorption of sugar into the blood. Eat vegetables and grains in whole form whenever possible. Not over-consuming carbohydrates at any one time of the day. Prevent highly processed food - “nature” carbohydrates have usually lower GI then “manmade” carbohydrate. Distributing intake of carbohydrates throughout the day, three big meals and two snacks to keep blood glucose level as near to normal as possible. Eat dried beans and peas to lower the glycemic effect of other foods Diabetic - Nutrients of Benefit Food supplements and herbs can help to prevent or delay the onset of the long term diabetic complication. Following are some food that will help slow the progress of many long-term complication associated with diabetes like blindness, heart disease, kidney failure and gangrene leading to amputation. Fiber Soluble fiber helps prevent drastic shifts in blood sugar levels, making it a good weapon against diabetes. On top of this, soluble fiber can also lower the cholesterol level. Soluble fiber targets the "bad" LDL faction and leaves the "good" HDL alone. It blind cholesterol in the intestine and prevent it from being reabsorbed. Foods high in soluble fiber include fruits, vegetables, oats and dried bean. Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) EPA is a particular group of essential fatty acids that has shown to have a beneficial effect on the vascular system. Among vascular system problems related to diabetic include: Higher levels of blood lipids such as triglycerides and cholesterol Platelet aggregation, which is responsible for beginning a blood clot thus interfering the blood flow Red blood cells are inflexible making it hard for these cells to enter very small capillaries. This reduces the oxygen supply to the tissues Small blood vessels become constricted Higher blood pressure EPA is found in cold-water fish such as mackerel, haddock, sardines, anchovies, salmon and tuna. Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA) The process of conversion of dietary linolenic acid (the main saturated fat from vegetables) to GLA is inadequate in people with diabetes. Lack of GLA may cause problem with the sheath covering the nerves and reduces blood flow. GLA have positive effect in the approach to prevention and treatment of of diabetic neuropathy. The main source of GLA is evening primrose oil and borage oil seed. Vitamin E Benefits of vitamin E which concern the diabetic include: help to dissolve fresh clots in veins reduces the oxygen requirements of tissues and cells helps form new skin in healing burns and ulcers increase the blood supply to tissues and thus reduces diabetic gangrene and amputations reduce the need for insulin prevents the platelets from clumping together to form dangerous pre-clots Vitamin E has no negative side effect, but only one caution. Vitamin E interact with vitamin K. If you are deficient in vitamin K or are on medication to prevent clotting, you should take high levels of vitamin E only under medical guidance. Vitamin C Vitamin C is extremely important for us because it is involved in so many areas of health. Vitamin C stimulates our immune system to be more aggressive which is very important to diabetics because of their risk of infection. Vitamin C is essential in healing of wounds. This remarkable vitamin can also protects and preserves vitamin E. B Complex B complex is another important vitamin set for diabetic, it intimately involved in sugar metabolism and energy release. in neuropathy about 80% diabetic patients have some improvement with B complex some members of the B complex have been reported to increase glucose utilization in diabetics B6 supplementation may reverse some forms of diabetes associated with pregnancy Zinc Zinc is the most valuable mineral to diabetics. Insulin contain an amazing amount of zinc. Diabetics tend to have higher zinc requirements because: replacement for zinc lost in urine a diabetic pancreas contains only about 50% the amount of stored zinc of a normal person zinc aid in the process of healing wounds zinc can stimulate immune system Magnesium Magnesium has a fundamental role in carbohydrate metabolism, and specific role in the efficient action of insulin. Lack of magnesium can contribute to poor control of the diabetic condition. Low levels of magnesium are also associated with heart disease which is more serious for diabetics due to their propensity for heart disease. Alpha Lipoic Acid Alpha lipoic acid helps to increase utilization of glucose and improves blood sugar control in both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Alpha lipoic acid blocks Glycation (the process by which glucose combines with proteins causing major tissue destruction resulting in neuropathy, kidney damage and retinal injury). Diabetics generally have low levels of alpha lipoic acid and it is important for them to receive it as a supplement. Food Portions for Diabetic Diet Portion control is the most valuable weapon in your arsenal to combat blood sugar highs. In today‟s super-sized world, many people have no idea what a proper serving of food should look like. A large bakery muffin, for example, is not one serving of bread; it‟s two bread servings and a fat serving! A small kitchen scale can be an invaluable tool as you learn how to portion your food; these often come with a listing of recommended serving sizes. Tips for Estimating Food Portions: A) 1 serving of protein (chicken, lean beef, cheese, beans or peanut butter). A 3 oz portion will be approximately the size of a deck of cards. B) 1 serving of dairy (milk, yogurt, etc). A serving is an 8 oz cup. C) 1 serving of fruit or vegetables (make sure to vary these and include leafy green and dark yellow vegetables). A 1 cup serving is about the size of a woman‟s fist, and whole fruit should be about the size of a tennis ball. D) 1 serving of starch (whole grains are by far superior, providing a more complex carbohydrate). I slice of bread, a small tortilla, biscuit or half a pita, a ½ cup of pasta or 1/3 cup rice. Potatoes are considered a starch. E) 1 serving of fat (yes, healthy fats are necessary; just try to avoid trans-fats). A tablespoon of margarine or dressing is a dollop about as big as the first joint of your thumb. Make sure you get adequate nutrition by including enough servings from each food group per day. Your dietician can pinpoint exactly what your ideal number of servings is for each category. Sample Daily Serving Guidelines For Diabetics: 1) Carbohydrates (breads and grains) 5-6 servings 2) Proteins (meats, eggs and legumes) 2-3 servings 3) Dairy (milk based products) 2-3 servings 4) Vegetables (at least 2/3 non-starchy) 3-5 servings 5) Fruits ( take care - these are high in natural sugars) 2-4 servings 6) Fats (again, choose healthy oils and fats) 1-2 servings These are general guidelines only. A licensed dietician can help you tailor a diabetic meal plan to match your specific needs. Once you have pinpointed how much you need to eat of each food on a daily basis, you can plan your meals around your schedule and implement a sensible exercise plan to keep your blood sugar levels stable. Diabetic Food Exchange Guide Food choices for diabetics differ from a regular diet on a few key points. All diabetics must be careful of carbohydrate intake, but calories themselves are also an issue for people with Type 2 diabetes as weight is often contributing factor to the severity of the disease. Many people will substitute foods without taking into account that some foods fit into more than one category. Many meat and vegetable choices also contain carbohydrates that can send blood sugar skyrocketing. It will take time to learn the nutrient information for every single food you eat, and memorizing lists of grams and calories can be confusing. Below are a few rules of thumb for exchanging one food for another within the parameters of a diabetic diet. An exchange equals one serving, and allowed exchanges will contain almost identical caloric, carbohydrate, protein and fat values. Diabetic Starches (carbohydrate) Exchanges 1 piece of bread or tortilla ½ pita or English muffin, 1/3 cup pasta or rice, ½ cup potato Diabetic Meat Exchanges(1 oz servings) (Lean - no fat) Lean beef, chicken, fish or cottage cheese (Medium fat) Ground beef, low-fat cheese, pork, fried fish, eggs (High fat) Bacon, sausage, regular cheese, lunchmeat, peanut butter Diabetic Vegetable Exchange (non-starchy vegetables only) ½ cup cooked or canned vegetables 1 cup raw or leafy vegetables Diabetic Fruit Exchange 1 small apple, banana or other whole fruit 1 ¼ cups strawberries or watermelon ½ cup canned fruit or 100% fruit juice Diabetic Dairy Exchange (No fat) 1 cup milk or buttermilk, 2/3 cup yogurt (Low fat) 1 cup milk, 2/3 cup yogurt (Whole) 1 cup milk or buttermilk, 2/3 cup yogurt Diabetic Fat Exchange Mono (unsaturated Poly (unsaturated - in best) moderation) 6 almonds or cashews, 4 1 Tbsp low fat margarine, Saturated (use carefully) 1 tsp butter, shortening or pecan halves 2 tbsp avocado 10 olives reduced fat mayo or regular salad dressing 1 tsp oil, regular margarine or mayo 1 Tbsp pine nuts or sunflower seeds lard 1 Tbsp heavy cream or cream cheese 2 Tbsp coconut, half and half or sour cream Diabetic Exchange : 1 Starch Plus 1 Meat Beans, peas and lentils (lean) Hummus, tofu, soy (medium) Diabetic Exchange : 1 Starch Plus 1 Vegetable ½ cup corn, yams, spaghetti sauce 1 cup pumpkin, squash, or mixed vegetables w/ corn and peas Diabetic Exchange : 1 Dairy Plus 1 Carbohydrate 1 cup chocolate milk 2/3 cup yogurt with fruit Diabetic Exchange : 1 Carbohydrate Plus 1 Fat 1 cup light soy milk (add ½ fat) 1 cup regular soy milk (add 1 fat) 1 cup eggnog (add 2 fats) By using this exchange guide, you can tweak your diabetic diet meal plan to include your favorite foods and still stay within the parameters which are healthiest for you. Blood Sugar Levels Diabetes is a controllable disease. One of the most helpful tools for managing your diabetic condition is a home blood glucose monitor. These are readily available, inexpensive, and in many cases covered by health insurance. The average home testing unit is compact, and uses tiny chemically reactive strips to measure glucose levels in the blood. A spring loaded „pen‟ is fitted with a sterile lancet (a tiny needle embedded in a plastic sheath) and discharged against a fingertip or the forearm. A strip is inserted into the machine, and a clean drop of blood applied. A digital readout will inform you of your results within seconds. The guidelines for blood sugar vary slightly from person to person, but an average chart follows to provide a general idea of ideal parameters. On waking up (before breakfast) Before meals 2 hours after meals At bedtime 80 to 120mg/dl 80 to 120mg/dl 160mg/dl or less 100 to 140mg/dl Your doctor may give you target levels that differ slightly from these depending on your specific condition. Keeping track of your levels for a predetermined length of time and charting your activity in a log or journal is the best way to track your glucose tolerance. Type one diabetics should plan to test before and after each meal or insulin injection, and Type 2 patients should test in the morning, 1-2 hours after each main meal, and before bed. Write down the date, time and result of each test. Make notes of each meal and snack, and keep track of your physical activity. Take this log with you to each doctor appointment. After a few weeks you will begin to see patterns and you can adjust your habits to maintain a steady glucose level. Ideally, you will be able to cut back on testing as your body settles into a stable routine. Monitoring your blood sugar levels is the most important part of diagnosing Collection Of Popular And Healthy Diabetic Recipes : We understand the important of recipes to help you prepare your daily meal, therefore we have come up with a list of selected popular diabetic recipes from different online and offline source. Following is the list of recipes carefully selected for your meal planning purposes. If you have some good recipes to share with us please send them to : [email protected] Diabetic Recipes for Chicken & Eggs: Diabetic Grilled Chicken Ingredients And Preparations Ingredients: - 1 can orange juice concentrate - (6 oz), undiluted - 1 cup chili sauce - 1/4 cup lite soy sauce - 1/4 cup molasses - 1 tbsp lemon juice - 1 garlic clove, crushed - 2 chickens - (3 lbs ea), quartered, skinned Instructions: - Place first 6 ingredients in a bowl. - Beat with wire whisk until smooth. - Add chicken quarters and toss to coat. - Marinate in refrigerator 3 to 4 hours, turning occasionally. - Remove chicken and drain. - Place on heated grill and grill over charcoal or broil in the oven 40 minutes. - Turn and baste with marinade every 10 to 15 minutes. Nutrition Facts: Calories 324; Calories from Fat 81; Total Fat 9g; Saturated Fat 2g; Cholesterol 108mg; Sodium 816mg; Without Soy Sauce 517mg; Carbohydrate 23g; Dietary Fiber 0g; Sugars 3g; Protein 37g. Servings. 8 (serving size: 1/4 chicken) Exchanges Per Serving: 4 Lean Meat, 1/2 Fruit. Diabetic Crispy Baked Chicken Ingredients And Preparations Ingredients: Nonstick cooking spray - as needed 8 oz nonfat French onion dip - 1 cup Fat-free (skim) milk - as needed cornflake crumbs - 1 cup wheat germ - 1/2 cup skinless chicken breast halves or thighs - 6 (about 1 1/2 lbs) Instructions: - Preheat oven to 350 degrees. - Spray baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. - Place dip in shallow bowl; stir until smooth. - Add milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, until pourable consistency is reached. - Combine cornflake crumbs and wheat germ on plate. - Dip chicken pieces in milk mixture; then roll in cornflake mixture. - Place chicken in prepared pan. - Bake 45 to 50 minutes or until juices run clear when pierced with fork and chicken is no longer pink near the bone. Nutrition Facts: Calories 267; Calories from fat 13%; Total Fat 4g; Saturated Fat 1g; Protein 31g; Carbohydrates 25g; Cholesterol 69mg; Sodium 373mg; Dietary Fiber 2g. Servings: 6 Exchanges Per Serving: 1 1/2 Starch, 3 Meat. Comments: This crunchy baked chicken uses cornflakes and wheat germ to give it a crispy outside and moist inside. Diabetic Lemon Lime Chicken Ingredients And Preparations Recipe Ingredients: - 3 lb fryer chicken, skin removed - 1/4 cup lime juice - 1/4 cup lemon juice - 1/3 cup dry white wine - 1 garlic clove, crushed - 1 tsp thyme - 1 tsp salt - 1/8 tsp freshly-ground black pepper Recipe Instructions: Cut the chicken into pieces, rinse and pat dry. Place the chicken in a bowl or plastic bag. Combine the remaining ingredients and pour over the chicken. Marinate 2 or more hours in the refrigerator. Heat the oven to 425 degrees. Spray a baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Arrange the chicken pieces in the pan and bake for 40 minutes or until done. This recipe yields 6 servings. Serving size: 4 ounces. Nutrition Facts: Calories 141; Calories from Fat 49; Fat 5g; Saturated Fat 3g; Cholesterol 65mg; Sodium 160mg; Carbohydrates 0g; Dietary Fiber 0g; Sugars 0g; Protein 31g. Servings: 6 Exchanges Per Serving: 3 Very Lean Meat, 1/2 Fat. Diabetic Breakfast Egg & Bread Ingredients And Preparations Ingredients: Eggs, beaten - 2 Nonfat milk - 0.3 cup Vanilla - 1 tsp Sugar - 1 tsp Cinnamon - 0.15 tsp French bread - 10 slices (3/4-inch thick rounds) Instructions: - In a shallow dish, combine eggs, milk, vanilla, sugar, and cinnamon. - Dip bread slices into milk mixture, coating both sides. - Allow excess to drain. - Place slices on a nonstick baking sheet. - Bake in a preheated 400 degree F. oven for 10 minutes on each side or until golden brown. - Makes 10 baguette slices, Nutrition Facts Per Serving: calories 110, protein 5gm., fat 3gm., carbohydrates 14gm., cholesterol 110mg., sodium - 174mg., potassium 76mg. Servings: 5 (2 slices each) Diabetic Exchanges: Starch/Bread - 1, Fat - 1/2. Buffalo Chicken Salad Diabetic Recipies Ingredients And Preparations Buffalo Chicken Salad Recipe Ingredients - 2 medium red or white potatoes - 2-1/2 cups skinless roast chicken breast, in 1" pieces - 1 large celery rib, cut in 3/4" pieces - 1/2 cup diced red onion - 4" piece seedless cucumber, peeled - 1/4 cup buttermilk - 2 Tbsp. canola-based mayonnaise - 5-6 drops hot sauce - 1/8 tsp. ground black pepper - Salt, to taste - 4 cups chopped romaine lettuce - 1/4 cup (1 oz.) crumbled blue cheese Buffalo Chicken Salad Recipe Directions Place potatoes in deep saucepan and cover to a depth of 2 inches with cold water. Cook potatoes over medium-high heat until thin knife easily penetrates center of potatoes, about 15 minutes. Drain and set potatoes aside until cool enough to handle. Peel potatoes and cut into 1-inch pieces. Place potatoes in mixing bowl. Add chicken, celery, and onion. Cut cucumber lengthwise into 4 pieces. Cut each piece crosswise into 3/4-inch chunks and add to salad. For dressing, whisk together buttermilk, mayonnaise, hot sauce, black pepper and salt. Pour dressing over salad and toss with fork to combine. On serving plate, arrange bed of lettuce. Mound salad on top of lettuce. Sprinkle on blue cheese. Mix well and serve immediately. Servings : 4 Nutrition Facts Per Serving: 250 calories, 8 g fat (2 g saturated fat), 14 g carbohydrate, 31 g protein, 2 g dietary fiber, 330 mg sodium Low-Fat Chicken Wings Diabetic Ingredients And Preparations Low-Fat Chicken Wings Recipe Ingredients: 1 1/2 tbsp hot sauce 1 pinch cayenne 1/4 tsp paprika 1/2 lb chicken tenders Celery sticks === DRESSING === 1/2 cup reduced-fat blue cheese dressing 1/4 cup low-fat mayonnaise 3 tbsp crumbled blue cheese Low-Fat Chicken Wings Recipe Instructions: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. In a shallow bowl, combine the hot sauce, cayenne, and paprika. Roll the chicken tenders in the mixture. Place the chicken tenders on a small nonstick baking sheet. Bake, uncovered, for 15 minutes until chicken is tender. Combine the dressing ingredients. Serve the dressing with the chicken and celery sticks. Servings : 4 servings (size: 2 ounces chicken) Nutrition Facts: Calories 192; Calories from Fat 104; Total Fat 12g; Saturated Fat 3g; Cholesterol 42mg; Sodium 572mg; Carbohydrate 7g; Dietary Fiber 0g; Sugars 4g; Protein 14g. Exchanges Per Serving: 2 Medium-Fat Meat, 1/2 Carbohydrate. Diabetic Dessert Recipes: Diabetic Apple Cheese Tartlets Recipe Ingredients And Preparations Apple Cheese Tartlets Recipe Ingredients: 2 large Granny Smith apples, skins on, and thinly sliced 1 tbsp brown sugar 1 tbsp honey 1 tbsp unbleached white flour 2 tsp cinnamon 1 cup shredded low-fat cheddar cheese 1/2 cup unbleached white flour 1 tbsp sugar 2 tbsp low-calorie margarine 1 tsp cinnamon 1/4 tsp nutmeg Water, as needed Apple Cheese Tartlets Recipe Instructions: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine the apples with the brown sugar, honey, 1 tablespoon flour, and cinnamon. Toss well. Divide the apple mixture among 6 custard cups. Sprinkle each tart with some cheese. Combine 1/2 cup flour, sugar, margarine, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Sprinkle evenly over the tarts. Sprinkle with a little water to moisten. Bake until the apples are cooked and the topping is browned, about 20 minutes. Nutrition Facts: Calories 161; Calories from Fat 32; Total Fat 4g; Saturated Fat 1g; Cholesterol 4mg; Sodium 147mg; Carbohydrate 27g; Dietary Fiber 2g; Sugars 16g; Protein 6g. Servings. 6 (serving size 1/2 cup) Exchanges Per Serving: 2 Carbohydrate, 1/2 Fat. Apple Pudding Diabetic Ingredients And Preparations Apple Pudding Recipe Ingredients: 3 medium Cooking apples, peeled sliced Vegetable cooking spray 1 cup All-purpose flour 1 tsp Baking powder 1/4 tsp Salt 1/2 cup Reduced-cal margarine Sugar substitute to equal 1/3 cup sugar 1/2 tsp Vanilla extract 1 Egg 1/2 cup Skim milk Apple Pudding Recipe Instructions: Arrange apple slices in button of an 8" square baking pan coated with cooking spray. Set aside. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt, stirring until blended. Set aside. Combine margarine, sugar substitute, rind, and vanilla in a medium bowl; beat at medium speed of an electric mixer until well blended. Add egg; beat until fluffy. Add flour mixture to creamed mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Spoon batter into prepared pan, and bake at 375 degrees for 40 to 50 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cut into 6 squares, and serve hot. Nutrition Facts : CAL: 157; CAR: 24: PRO: 4gm; FAT: 5gm; SOD:330mg; Servings : 6 Food Exchange per serving: 1 1/2 STARCH EXCHANGE + 1 FAT EXCHANGE; Diabetic Banana Kiwi Pudding Recipe Ingredients And Preparations Banana Kiwi Pudding Recipe Ingredients: 1 1/3 cup Cooked Rice 1 1/3 cup Milk 1 tsp Vanilla extract Sugar substuite equal to 2 Tb of the real thing 1 Ripe Banana, Mashed 1/4 cup Whipping cream, Whipped (or substuite should do) 2 Kiwi fruits, sliced for garnish Banana Kiwi Pudding Recipe Instructions: 2 Kiwi fruits, Sliced, for garnish. Cook Rice and milk in 2-quart saucepan over medium heat until thick and creamy (about 15-20 minutes) stirring frequently. Remove from heat; Cool. Stir in Vanilla and sugar substitute. Just before serving, fold in banana and whipped cream. Garnish with kiwi slices. Nutrition Facts : calories-195, protein-4.6g, fat-6g, carbohydrate-31g sodium-49mg and cholesterol-22mg (less if use substuite whipped cream) Servings : 4 Food Exchanges : 1/2 starch/bread, 1 fruit, 1/2 skim milk and 1 fat Diabetic Baked Custard Recipe Ingredients And Preparations Baked Custard Recipe Ingredients: 1 1/2 cup Skim milk 2 large Eggs, beaten slightly ** 2 tbsp Sugar 1/8 tsp Salt 1 tsp Pure vanilla extract 1/8 tsp Ground nutmeg, optional Baked Custard Recipe Instructions: Preheat oven to 325F. Heat milk in the top of a double boiler over simmering water until surface begins to wrinkle. Blend together the eggs, sugar, salt, and vanilla. Add hot milk gradually, stirring to mix well. Pour into four 6-ounce individual custard cups. Sprinkle surface lightly with nutmeg. Set cups in a deep pan; pour hot water around cups to come to within 1/2 inch of tops of custard cups. Bake 50-60 minutes or until knife tip inserted in center of custard comes out clean. Remove from heat and water pan. Chill for several hours before serving. If you want to unmold this Baked Custard, leave cups in the refrigerator 2 to 3 extra hours. Note : To cut down on fat content - use egg substitutes instead of eggs Nutrition Facts Per Serving : Cho 11 g, Pro 6 g, Fat 3 g, Cal 95, Fiber 0 g, Sodium 143 mg, Chol 139 mg. Servings : 4 servings (serving size = 1/2 cup) Food Exchanges per serving: 1 Low-fat Milk Exchanges. Diabetes Recipes for Seafood: Diabetic Fish Soup Ingredients And Preparations Ingredients: 4 oz uncooked pastina (or other small pasta) Nonstick cooking spray, as needed 3/4 cup chopped onion 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 tsp fennel seeds 1 can no-salt-added stewed tomatoes, (14 1/2 oz) 1 can fat-free reduced-sodium chicken broth, (14 oz) 1 tbsp minced fresh parsley 1/2 tsp freshly-ground black pepper 1/4 tsp ground turmeric 8 oz firm white-fleshed fish, cut 1" pieces 3 oz small shrimp, peeled, deveined Instructions: Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt. Drain and set aside. Spray large nonstick saucepan with cooking spray. Add onion, garlic and fennel seeds; cook over medium heat 3 minutes or until onion is tender. Stir in tomatoes, chicken broth, parsley, pepper and turmeric. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes. Add fish and cook 1 minute. Add shrimp and cook until shrimp just begins to turn pink and opaque. Divide pasta among bowls; ladle soup over pasta. Nutrition Facts: Calories 209; Calories from Fat 10%; Total Fat 2g; Saturated Fat 1g; Protein 19g; Carbohydrates 28g; Cholesterol 59mg; Sodium 111mg; Dietary Fiber 3g. Servings : 4 (1 1/2-cup) servings. Exchanges Per Serving: 1 1/2 Starch, 1 1/2 Meat, 1 1/2 Vegetable. Diabetic Sea Food Salad Ingredients And Preparations Main Ingredients: 3/4 lb swordfish, skin removed, cut into 3/4" cubes 3/4 lb raw large shrimp, shelled, deveined 1 tbsp orange juice 1/8 tsp garlic powder 1/2 tsp ground cumin 1 cup raw basmati rice 1 can black beans - (15 oz), rinsed well 1/8 tsp dried red pepper flakes - (to 1/4), or to taste 1/4 tsp kosher salt, (optional) Dressing Ingredient: Juice 1 lime 3 tbsp fresh orange juice 1/2 tsp ground cumin 2 tsp grated orange zest 1 tbsp canola oil 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped 2 tsp minced fresh ginger 2 garlic cloves, minced Canola cooking spray, as needed 1 red bell pepper - (12 oz), stemmed, seeded, and cut into julienne strips 2 scallions, white part only, chopped 1 mango - (12 oz), peeled, cubed Extra cilantro, (optional), for garnish Instructions: Place the fish and shrimp into a bowl. Sprinkle with orange juice, garlic and cumin. Marinate for at least 30 minutes. Prepare the rice according to package directions. Combine with the rinsed black beans, red pepper flakes, and salt (if using). In a small cup, combine all ingredients for the dressing. Toss with the rice mixture. Allow flavors to meld as you continue the recipe. Coat a nonstick skillet with cooking spray and heat the pan until very hot. Quickly sauté the red pepper and scallions for 2 minutes until they just begin to soften. Add to the rice and beans. Re-coat the pan and quickly cook the seafood until browned and cooked through. Set aside. To serve, add the mango to the rice and bean salad. Place in a serving bowl. Surround the perimeter with the cooked seafood and decorate with extra cilantro (if using). Serve immediately or refrigerate. Nutrition Facts: 326 calories (17% calories from fat), 26 g protein, 6 g total fat (0.9 g saturated fat), 44 g carbohydrates, 6 g dietary fiber, 89 mg cholesterol, 295 mg sodium. Servings : 6 Exchanges Per Serving: 3 Lean Protein, 3 Carbohydrate (2 bread/starch, 1/2 fruit, 1 vegetable). Diabetic Oyster Stew Ingredients And Preparations Ingredients: 1 tbsp canola oil 1 large celery stalk with leafy tops, thinly sliced 1 small garlic clove, chopped 2 tbsp flour 1 cup thinly-sliced green onions 3 cups skim milk 2 jars oysters - (8 oz ea), drained, and liquid reserved 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce 1 dash hot pepper sauce Instructions: Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the celery and garlic and saute until they begin to soften (about 2 to 3 minutes). Mix in the flour, then 1/2 cup of the green onions, and stir for 2 minutes. Gradually mix in the milk and reserved oyster liquid. Stir until the soup comes to a boil and thickens. Add the oysters and Worcestershire sauce and simmer until the edges of the oysters begin to curl, about 3 minutes. Ladle the soup into bowls. Garnish with remaining green onions and serve. Let people add a dash of hot pepper sauce if they wish. Nutrition Facts: Calories 213; Calories from Fat 75; Total Fat 8g; Saturated Fat 2g; Cholesterol 70mg; Sodium 247mg; Carbohydrate 19g; Dietary Fiber 1g; Sugars 13g; Protein 15g. Servings. 4 (1 1/2 cups per serving) Exchanges Per Serving: 1 Lean Meat, 1 Low-Fat Milk, 1/2 Starch. Diabetic Recipes for Meat: Diabetic BBQ Meat Loaf Ingredients And Preparations BBQ Meat Loaf Ingredients: 1/4 cup Finely chopped onion 1/4 cup Finely chopped celery 1/4 cup Catsup 1 large egg whites 1/4 cup Dry bread crumbs 1 tsp Liquid smoke 1 tsp Salt 1/8 tsp Black pepper 1 lb Ground round BBQ Meat Preparation Instructions: Place all ingredients except beef in mixer bowl and mix at low speed to blend well. Add beef to catsup mixture and mix at low speed until blended. Do not overmix. Shape into a loaf about 3 1/2" x 7". Place in a pan that has been sprayed with pan spray or lined with aluminum foil. Bake at 325 degrees F.for about 1 hour or until browned and firm. Pour off any fat anddrippings and let set equal slices. Nutrition Facts:: calories - 138, carbohydrate - 6 g., protein - 17 g., fat ~ 4 g., salt - 513 mg Serving : 6(1 slice per serving) Food Exchange = 2 lean meat, 1 vegetable Diabetic Fat Free Gravy Ingredients And Preparations Fat Free Grave Ingredients: 1 cup Broth & defatted drippings 2 tsp All purpose flour 1 tsp Cornstarch 1 tsp Ketchup 1 pinch Salt 1 pinch Freshly ground pepper 1 pinch Basil (beef) or sage (chick) Fat Free Gravy Preparation Instructions: A waist-watcher gravy - quite thin. Serve over meat or potatoes. Cook up bones as for soup, strain liquid. Refrigerate overnight or until white fat on top can be removed with a spoon. Refrigerate meat drippings from the pan and skim off the fat. Combine broth, flour and cornstarch in a screw-top jar, cover and shake until well combined or use a blender for a larger batch. Pour into saucepan, stir in ketchup, salt, pepper and basil for beef (or sage for turkey, or other herb of your choice). Stir-cook over medium heat until gravy thickens. Makes about 1 cup. Nutrition Facts: 3 g carbohydrate, 1 g protein, 16 calories Serving : 4 Diabetic Greek Burgers Ingredients And Preparations Greek Burgers Ingredients: 1 lb Extra-lean ground beef 1 cl Garlic, minced 2 tbsp Fresh lemon juice 1 tsp Dried oregano leaves 1/4 tsp Ground cumin 1/4 tsp Ground pepper 1 medium Size plum tomato 2 tbsp Flat-leaf parsley, minced 4 6" whole-wheat pita pocket, breads; Romaine lettuce lea 1 small Red onion Greek Burgers Preparation Instructions: Mix ground beef, garlic; lemon juice, oregano leaves; cumin, pepper, plum tomato, and parsley. Form into 4 patties about 3/4" thick. Grill or broil, 4" from souce of heat, ofr 3 minutes, for 3 minutes on each side for medium-rare. Cut the top thrie off each of four 6" whole-wheat pita pocket breads. Turn the cut-off piece round side down; tuck inside to pocket bread to reinforce bottom. Place a grilled burger in each pocket bread along with a romaine lettuce leaf and paper-thin slices from 1 sm red onion. Pass 1/4 cup Cilantro Chutney (page 218) to spoon into burgers. Note: These hamburgers could be made with lean ground lamb. The exchanges would stay the same, but lamb add 17 calories and 2 grams of fat (mostly saturated fat) per serving Nutrition Facts: CAL: 346 PRO: 27; CAR: 26g; FAT: 15g;(CALORIES FROM FAT 39%) FIR: 2g;CHO: 54mg; SODIUM: 285mg; POTASSIUM: 441mg; Servings: 4 Food Exchanges per serving: 3 MEDIUM/FAT MEAT EXCHANGES + 2 BREAD/ STARCH EXCHANGES Diabetic Recipes for Vegetable: Diabetic Broccoli And Cauliflower Stir-Fry Ingredients And Preparations Broccoli And Cauliflower Recipe Ingredients: 2 dry-pack sun-dried tomatoes 4 tsp reduced-sodium soy sauce 1 tbsp rice wine vinegar 1 tsp brown sugar 1 tsp dark sesame oil 1/8 tsp red pepper flakes 2 1/4 tsp vegetable oil 2 cups cauliflowerets 2 cups broccoli flowerets 1 garlic clove, finely chopped 1/3 cup thinly-sliced red or green bell pepper Broccoli And Cauliflower Recipe Instructions: Place tomatoes in small bowl; cover with boiling water. Let stand 5 minutes. Drain; coarsely chop. Meanwhile, blend soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, sesame oil and red pepper in small bowl. Heat vegetable oil in wok or large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add cauliflower, broccoli and garlic; stir-fry 4 minutes. Add tomatoes and bell pepper; stir-fry 1 minute or until vegetables are crisp-tender. Add soy sauce mixture; cook and stir until heated through. Serve immediately. Nutrition Facts: Calories 155; Calories from fat 41%; Total Fat 8g; Saturated Fat 1g; Protein 6g; Carbohydrates 19g; Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 467mg; Dietary Fiber 6g. Servings : 2 Exchanges Per Serving: 3 Vegetable, 1 1/2 Fat. Diabetic Asparagus Vinaigrette Ingredients And Preparations Asparagus Vinaigrette Recipe Ingredients: 1 1/2 lb fresh asparagus 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar 2 tbsp low-fat low-sodium chicken broth 2 tbsp olive oil 2 tsp lemon juice 2 tbsp Dijon mustard 1 tbsp minced parsley 2 tsp capers 1 tsp minced chives Asparagus Vinaigrette Recipe Instructions: Snap off the tough ends of the asparagus. Steam the asparagus in a metal steamer or asparagus cooker over boiling water for 5 to 8 minutes until asparagus is tender crisp and bright green. Drain the asparagus and splash cold waster over it to stop the cooking process. Combine the remaining ingredients and to make the vinaigrette. Pour the vinaigrette over the asparagus and serve. This recipe yields 6 servings. Nutrition Facts: Calories 60; Calories from Fat 5g; Saturated Fat 1g; Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 73mg; Carbohydrates 4g; Dietary Fiber 1g; Sugars 2g; Protein 2g. Servings : 6 Diabetic Baked Stuffed Pumpkin Ingredients And Preparations Baked Stuffed Pumpkin Recipe Ingredients: 2 lb Pumpkin, washed 2 Apples, cored, quartered 1/2 cup Pineapple chunks 1/2 cup Broken walnuts 1 tsp Ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp Ground nutmeg 1/4 tsp Ground cloves Baked Stuffed Pumpkin Recipe Instructions: Cut the top off the pumpkin and remove the seeds. Place cut side down i a baking pan and bake at 350 F for about 40 minutes or until soft. With a metal spoon, scrape out the cooked pumpkin, leaving a 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick shell. Process the apples in a food processor until chunky. Add the remaining ingredients and process until just mixed. Spoon into the pumpkin shell. Cover with the top. Bake in 400 F oven for 45 minutes or until the filling is hot. Nutrition Facts Per Serving : 118 calories 18 gm carbohydrate, 3 gm protein, 5 gm fat, 3mg sodium, 376 mg potassium, 0 cholesterol. Servings : 8 Exchange : 1 vegetable exchange, 1 fruit, 1 fat Diabetic Cake Recipes : Diabetic Birthday Cake Ingredients And Prepartions: Ingredients: sifted cake flour - 2 cups baking powder - 1 tbsp salt - 1/2 tsp egg whites - 4 at room temperature granulated sugar (finely ground in a food processor or blender for 2 minutes) - 2/3 cup canola oil - 1/3 cup buttermilk(room temperature) - 1/2 cup vanilla extract - 2 tsp almond extract - 1 tsp Seven-Minute Frosting Instructions: - Arrange the oven racks to divide the oven into thirds. - Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. - Line 2 8-inch round baking pans with parchment or wax paper rounds and spray with nonstick cooking spray. - Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt onto a sheet of wax paper. - In a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer on high speed, beat the whites until foamy, 1 minute; gradually add 1/3 cup of the sugar and beat until firm peaks form, 3 to 4 minutes. - In another large mixing bowl with an electric mixer, combine the oil, remaining 1/3 cup sugar, buttermilk, and vanilla and almond extracts; beat until well blended, 30 seconds. - Whisk in about half of the flour mixture, then alternately fold in the remaining flour with the beaten whites. - Spread evenly in the prepared pans and bake 15 to 18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely on a rack and frost. Nutrition Facts (without frosting): Calories 270; Calories from Fat 71; Total Fat 8g; Saturated Fat 0g; Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 272mg; Carbohydrate 46g; Dietary Fiber 0g; Sugars 24g; Protein 5g. This recipe yields 10 servings. Serving size: 1 piece. Exchanges Per Serving (without frosting): 3 Carbohydrate, 1 Fat. Comments: This is the snowy-white cake so many of us associate with birthdays, a perfect match for the fluffy "Seven-Minute Frosting". Because this cake is so delicate and light, it requires careful preparation: make sure the ingredients are room temperature, and that you've measured your ingredients precisely. Diabetic Cheesecake Ingredients And Preparations Ingredients: wafer squares - 6 graham margarine, melted - 1 1/2 tbsp granulated gelatin - 1 tbsp cold water - 1/2 cup boiling water - 1/3 cup grated lemon rind - 1/2 tsp fresh lemon juice - 1/2 cup sugar substitute equal to 1/4 cup sugar water - 2 tbsp 4%-fat cream-style cottage cheese - 2 cups lemon extract - 1/2 tsp large strawberries - 4 Vegetable pan spray - as needed Instructions: - Prepare an 8- by 8- by 2-inch cake pan with vegetable pan-coating; set aside. -Make fine crumbs with graham crackers (1/2 cup) and mix thoroughly with melted margarine; set aside. - Soak gelatin in cold water. - Combine boiling water and lemon rind; add to gelatin. - Add lemon juice and sweetener, stirring until completely dissolved. - Chill until it is the consistency of unbeaten egg whites. - Put 2 tablespoons water, cottage cheese, and lemon extract into a blender or food processor and cover; turn to high speed for 10 to 15 seconds. - Add partially set gelatin mixture; turn to high speed 15 seconds or until well blended. - Pour into prepared pan. Sprinkle graham cracker crumbs evenly over top. - Wash, hull, and dry strawberries. - Slice in halves lengthwise. - Arrange on top of cake so that, when cut into eight servings (4 by 2 inches) each will have a strawberry garnish in center. - Chill several hours, until set. Nutrition Facts: Carbohydrates 8g; Protein 8g; Fat 5g; Calories 106; Fiber 0.3g; Sodium 263mg; Cholesterol 8mg. This recipe yields 8 servings. Exchanges Per Serving: 1 Medium-fat Meat, 1/2 Fruit. Note: This recipe is suitable for occasional use if sodium restriction is not severe. Diabetic Carrot Cake Ingredients And Preparations Ingredients: chopped walnuts - 1/4 cup all-purpose flour - 1 1/3 cups granulated sugar - 1/2 cup baking powder - 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon - 1 tsp ground cloves - 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg - 1/2 tsp ground allspice - 1/2 tsp salt - 1/4 tsp canola oil - 1/4 cup low-fat (1%) buttermilk - 1/3 cup eggs - 2 vanilla extract - 1 tsp grated carrots (abt 3 med) - 1 1/2 cups well-drained crushed pineapple - 1/2 cup Frosting: powdered sugar, sifted - 1 cup neufchatel cheese, softened - 1/4 cup yogurt cheese - 1/4 cup(or fat-free brick-style cream cheese) Instructions: - Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 9-inch tube or bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray. - In a shallow microwavable dish, spread the walnuts in a single layer and microwave on high, stirring every 30 seconds, until lightly toasted and fragrant, about 2 minutes. Set aside. - In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice, and salt. Add the oil, buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla; beat until smooth. - Stir in the reserved nuts, the carrots, and the pineapple. - Spread evenly in the prepared pan and bake, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 35 - 40 minutes. - Cool completely before frosting. - To make the frosting, in a medium bowl, stir together the powdered sugar and neufchatel cheese until smooth. - Gently stir in the yogurt cheese, just until blended (do not stir excessively; the frosting will thin). Spread on the cake and refrigerate until chilled, at least 2 hours. Nutrition Facts: Calories 218; Calories from Fat 74; Fat 8g; Saturated Fat 1g; Cholesterol 39mg; Sodium 283mg; Dietary Fiber 1g; Sugars 20g; Protein 4g. This recipe yields 12 servings. Serving size: 1 piece. Exchanges Per Serving: 2 Carbohydrate, 1 1/2 Fat. Comments: Everyone has a favorite recipe for carrot cake that dates back to the '70s. This new millennium version preserves the cake's famously moist, dense texture without the sugary sweetness. Toasting the nuts brings out their flavor so you can use fewer of them, and the perfect combination of spices compensates for missing fat. It tastes best when refrigerated overnight: make it a day ahead, cover it with plastic wrap, and refrigerate. It will keep up to 4 days. Diabetic Carrot Pineapple Cake Ingredients And Preparations Ingredients: Butter or oleo, softened - 1/2 cup Eggs - 3 Salt - 1/4 tsp Shredded carrots - 3 cup Thawed frozen unsweetened icing pineapple juice concentrate - 1 cup Vanilla - 2 tsp All-purpose flour - 2 1/2 cup Baking powder - 2 tsp Baking soda - 1 tsp Ground nutmeg - 1 tsp Ground cinnamon - 1 tsp Cream cheese, softened - 8 oz Crushed pineapple in unsweetened juice, drained well - 1 can (8 oz) Vanilla - 1 tsp Chopped toasted pecans (op) - 1/2 cup Instructions: - Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. - Beat butter in large bowl until creamy. - Blend in eggs, pineapple juice concentrate and vanilla. - Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, spices and salt. - Gradually add to egg mixture, beating until well blended. - Stir in carrots. - Spread batter evenly into greased 12 x 8" baking dish. - Bake 30 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. - Cool completely on wire rack. - Prepare Icing by combining all ingredients except pecans. - Mix well. Spread over cooled cake. - Sprinkle with pecans, if desired. Nutritional information per serving: calories - 319, protein - 6 g., fat - 16 g., carbohydrates - 37 g., cholesterol - 95 mg., sodium - 346 mg. Servings: 12 Diabetic Exchanges: 1 1/2 Starch/Bread, 3 Fat, 1 Fruit. NOTE : Lower fat content by using egg substitutes, omitting pecans, and using Neufchatel (light) cream cheese in icing. Blueberry Cheescake Tart Diabetic Ingredients And Preparations Blueberry Cheescake Recipe Ingredients - Basic Pie Crust (All-Purpose Flour) (recipe follows) - 1 package (8 ounces) fat-free cream cheese, softened - 1/2 cup Splenda sweetener - 1 tablespoon flour - 1 egg - 1 tablespoon lemon juice - 2 cups fresh, or frozen, thawed, blueberries - 1/3- 1/2 cup light currant jelly, melted - Ground nutmeg, as garnish Blueberry Cheescake Directions Bake Basic Pie Crust, using 10-inch tart pan; cool on wire rack. Beat cream cheese in medium bowl until fluffy; beat in Splenda and flour until smooth. Mix in egg and lemon juice. Pour filling into crust. Bake at 350 degrees F. until set, about 20 minutes. Cool on wire rack. Place cheesecake on serving plate. Arrange blueberries on top and brush or drizzle with currant jelly; sprinkle lightly with nutmeg. Refrigerate until chilled, 2 to 3 hours. Servings : 8 Nutrition Facts Per Serving (1/8 of recipe): Calories: 206, Fat: 5.6 g, Saturated Fat: 1.3 g, Cholesterol: 23.1 mg, Sodium: 244 mg, Protein: 5.9 g, Carbohydrate: 33.6 g Diabetic Exchanges: 2 Bread/Starch, 1 Fat Diabetic Cookie Recipes: Diabetic Chocolate Chip Cookie Ingredients And Preparations Ingredients: Vegetable oil - 3/4 cup Sugar - 2/3 cup Egg - 1 large Baking powder - 1 tsp Baking soda - 1/2 tsp All-purpose flour - 1 1/2 cup Unsweetened cocoa - 1/3 cup Water if dough is dry - 2 tbsp Chopped walnuts - 1/4 cup Semisweet chocolate chips - 1/2 cup Instructions: - Beat together the oil, sugar, and egg. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir to blend well. - Let stand for 10 minutes. Drop by spoonfuls, about 1 inch apart, onto a lightly oiled baking sheet. - Bake for about 8 minutes at about 375 F. Nutrition Facts For One Cookie : 106 calories, 1 starch/bread, 1 fat exchange 2 g protein, 18 g carbohydrate, 6 g fat, 124 mg sodium Servings: 36 Diabetic Oatmeal Cookie Ingredients And Preparations Ingredients: Margarine(1 Stick) - 1/2 cup Sugar - 1/4 cup Brown sugar - 1/4 cup Dry sugar substitute equal to 1/4 cup of sugar Egg, whites - 1/4 cup Vanilla - 1 tsp Black walnut flavoring - 1/2 tsp Water, at room temperature - 1/4 cup All-purpose flour - 1 1/2 cup 1 tsp Baking soda Salt - 1/4 tsp Black or English Walnuts(chopped) - 1/2 cup Instructions: - Cream margarine, sugars and dry sugar substitute together at medium speed until light and fluffy. - Add egg whites, flavorings, and water, and mix at medium speed for 30 seconds, scraping down the bowl before and after adding egg whites, flavorings, and water. - Stir flour, baking powder, salt, oatmeal and walnuts together to blend, and add to creamy mixture. - Mix to blend. - Drop dough by 1 1/2 T onto cookie sheets that have been sprayed with pan spray or lined with aluminum foil. - Press each cookie down lightly with the back of a tablespoon dipped in color water. - Bake at 350 for 12 to 14 minutes, or until cookies are lightly browned. Remove them to a wire rack and cool to room to temperture. Nutrition Facts : Calories: 122, Fat: 6g, CHO: 15g, PRO: 3g, NA 120 mg, Cholesterol: 0 Servings: 24 Food exchanges per serving: 1Starch/bread exchange + 1 fat exchange Diabetic Recipes for Chili: Black And White Chili Diabetic Recipe Ingredients And Preparations Black And White Chili Diabetic Recipe Ingredients: 1 lb chicken tenders, cut 3/4" pieces 1 cup coarsely-chopped onion 1 can Great Northern beans - (15 1/2 oz), drained 1 can black beans - (15 oz), drained 1 can Mexican-style stewed tomatoes - (14.5 oz), undrained 2 tbsp Texas-style chili powder seasoning mix Black And White Chili Diabetic Recipe Instructions: Spray large saucepan with nonstick cooking spray; heat over medium heat until hot. Add chicken and onion; cook and stir over medium to medium-high heat 5 to 8 minutes or until chicken is browned. Stir remaining ingredients into saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; simmer, uncovered, 10 minutes. Nutrition Facts: Calories 181; Calories from Fat 5%; Total Fat 1g; Protein 22g; Carbohydrates 29g; Cholesterol 32mg; Sodium 1014mg; Dietary Fiber 9g Servings : 6 (cup) Food Exchanges Per Serving: 1 1/2 Starch, 2 Meat. Serve It With Style!: For a change of pace, this delicious chili is excellent served over cooked rice or pasta. Steak And Black Bean Chili Diabetic Ingredients And Preparations Steak And Black Bean Chili Diabetic Recipe Ingredients: 3/4 lb sirloin steak 1 tsp vegetable oil 1 cup chopped onion 2 garlic cloves, minced 2 cans black beans - (15 oz ea), rinsed, drained 1 can diced tomatoes - (15 oz), undrained 1 cup chopped green bell pepper 1 cup chopped red bell pepper 1 jalapeño pepper, minced 1 cube beef bouillon 2 tbsp chili powder 1/2 tsp sugar 1 cup chopped tomato 2/3 cup sliced green onions with tops 6 tbsp reduced-fat sour cream Steak And Black Bean Chili Diabetic Recipe Instructions: Remove fat from steak. Cut steak into 1/2-inch cubes. Heat oil in large nonstick saucepan over medium heat until hot. Add steak, onion and garlic; cook and stir 5 minutes or until meat is no longer pink. Add beans, diced tomatoes with juice, bell peppers, jalapeño pepper, bouillon, chili powder and sugar. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low. Simmer, covered, 30 to 45 minutes. Top with chopped tomato, green onions and sour cream. Nutrition Facts: Calories 277; Calories from Fat 18%; Total Fat 7g; Saturated Fat 1g; Protein 26g; Carbohydrates 40g; Cholesterol 37mg; Sodium 790mg; Dietary Fiber 12g. Servings : 6 Exchanges Per Serving: 2 Starch, 1 1/2 Meat, 2 Vegetable. Note : This hearty chili, featuring steak and black beans, proves that it doesn't take magic to serve six with only one steak. Caution: Jalapeño peppers can sting and irritate the skin; wear rubber gloves when handling peppers and do not touch eyes. Wash hands after handling. Chicken Chili Diabetic Ingredients And Preparations Chicken Chili Diabetic Recipe Ingredients: 1 tbsp canola oil 1 onion, chopped 1 garlic clove, crushed 3 cups finely-chopped cooked chicken 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth 1 can no-salt-added crushed tomatoes - (28 oz) 1 can pinto beans - (15 1/2 oz), rinsed, drained 1 can black beans - (15 oz), rinsed, drained 1 can chopped jalapeño peppers - (4 oz), drained = (or 2 oz for less heat) 1 tbsp chili powder 1 tbsp ground cumin 1 tsp salt, (optional) Freshly-ground black pepper, to taste Chicken Chili Diabetic Recipe Instructions: Over medium-high heat, heat the oil in a large pot. Add onion and cook until limp, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add all remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened (approximately 50 to 60 minutes). Nutrition Facts: Calories 236; Calories from Fat 36; Total Fat 4g; Saturated Fat 1g; Cholesterol 44mg; Sodium 818mg; Without Added Salt 605mg; Carbohydrate 24g; Dietary Fiber 3g; Sugars 2g; Protein 24g. Servings : 10 (size: 1/10 recipe) Food Exchanges Per Serving: 2 Lean Meat, 1 Starch, 1 Vegetable Spicy Asian Chili Diabetic Ingredients And Preparations Spicy Asian Chili Diabetic Recipe Ingredients: 2 tsp peanut oil 2 shallots, minced 3 garlic cloves, minced 2 tsp minced ginger 2 tsp minced lemongrass 4 cups low-fat low-sodium chicken broth 2 tbsp hoisin sauce 1 tbsp oyster sauce 2 tbsp lite soy sauce 1 tsp Asian chili sauce - (to 2) 1 tsp sesame oil 1 tsp Chinese five spice 3 cups black beans, drained, rinsed Spicy Asian Chili Diabetic Recipe Instructions: Heat the oil in a stockpot over medium-high heat. Add the shallots, garlic, ginger, and lemongrass and sauté for 2 minutes. Add the broth and bring to a boil. Simmer. Combine the remaining ingredients except the beans. Add to the pot. Add the beans and simmer for 1 hour. Serve, or for a thicker, stew-like consistency, take two cups of the chili and puree it, then add the mixture back to the remaining; soup. Nutrition Facts: Calories 172; Calories from Fat 38; Total Fat 4g; Saturated Fat 1g; Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 644mg; Carbohydrate 26g; Dietary Fiber 8g; Sugars 6g; Protein 11g. Servings : 6 (size: 1 cup) Exchanges Per Serving: 1 Very Lean, 1/2 Fat. Venison Chili Diabetic Ingredients And Preparations Venison Chili Diabetic Recipe Ingredients: Vegetable cooking spray, as needed 2 cups chopped onion 4 garlic cloves, minced 2 fresh Anaheim chiles, seeded, minced 2 fresh jalapeño chiles, seeded, minced 2 lb boneless shoulder or leg of venison, trimmed of all fat, and cut into 1/2" cubes 1 tbsp freshly-ground black pepper 3 tbsp good-quality chili powder 2 tbsp ground cumin 1 tbsp ground cinnamon 2 dried ancho chiles, seeded, chopped 1/4 tsp crushed dried oregano 1/4 tsp crushed dried thyme 1 can light beer - (12 oz) 3 cups water 1 can low-sodium Italian-style tomatoes - (28 oz), with their juice 1 can black beans - (15 oz), drained, rinsed, and drained again 1/4 cup finely-chopped fresh cilantro Venison Chili Diabetic Recipe Instructions: Lightly spray the bottom of a large pot with cooking spray. Add onion, garlic, and fresh chiles. Saute over medium-low heat, stirring, until onion is limp, about 4 minutes. Transfer the onion mixture to a dish; keep warm. Sprinkle the cubed venison with pepper. Add the seasoned venison to the pot (if necessary, lightly spray with cooking spray to prevent sticking) and cook, stirring, until venison is well browned. Return onions to the pot and add the remaining ingredients except black beans and cilantro. Stir well, breaking up the tomatoes with the back of a spoon. Simmer, uncovered, for 1 1/2 hours, until the venison is tender. If chili seems too dry, add water as needed to maintain desired consistency. Stir in black beans and cilantro. Cook for another 10 minutes, until beans are heated through. Ladle the chili into soup bowls and serve. Nutrition Facts: 251 calories (14% calories from fat), 31 g protein, 4 g total fat (1.2 g saturated fat), 21 carbohydrate, 6 g dietary fiber, 96 mg cholesterol, 224 mg sodium. Servings : 8 Exchanges Per Serving: 3 Lean Meat, 1/2 Carbohydrate (1/2 bread/starch), 3 Vegetable. How To Keep A Diabetic Log There are several different methods you can use to keep track of your dietary intake. A diet log is one of the easiest, and some helpful hints follow along with a sample page to help you begin your own. As you go along, you can look back and see your progress as you bring your disease under control. It is important to note here that diet is only part of a true diabetes control plan, so the log suggested here provides a place to record all aspects of your method. If you test your blood sugar regularly, you will need to note the reading and time. If you have a bad reading, write down how you feel physically; this can help you notice early warning signs your body may give. Likewise if you are insulin dependent, note the time and dosage of each injection. Make sure you accurately record the time of each meal as well as precisely what you eat, and any exercise you take through the day. Exercise does not have to be hard or gym-based; any activity such as brisk walking (shopping or taking the kids for a walk) or even vigorous housecleaning can apply. Commit to tracking yourself for a month, and take your log with you to all doctor appointments. Your log can be a valuable tool in helping to determine future treatment. This format provides a place to keep all pertinent information, so keep it close at hand. As you progress through the day, you can adjust your food choices and add medication or exercise to help keep your sugar levels stable. Make sure you are getting adequate servings of each food group by totaling your servings at the midpoint and bottom of the page. Don‟t be discouraged if you miss an entry or two, but do try to implement a habit of meticulous record keeping. It will have an enormously positive impact on both your treatment and your daily health. Once you have managed to keep your log for a month, you can re-evaluate. Another month of logging is a wise plan to ensure your good eating habits have been firmly entrenched, then if you have stabilized your condition you may wish to move to a more informal style of record keeping. You may come to enjoy seeing the correlation between your diet and your health, however, and many people keep a food journal long after the initial need has passed. You will see below that there are places to enter the details of each meal such as the number of exchanges of each type of food (carbs, meats, vegetables, fruits, dairy and fats) as well as any activity and dosage amounts of medication. You should also enter the times that you get up, eat, test your sugar, and go to bed. Diabetic Diet Log TIME AM MEAL ONE 2 HRS LATER MEAL TWO 2 HRS LATER MEAL THREE 2 HRS LATER NOON TOTAL MEAL FOUR 2 HRS LATER CARB MEAT VEG FRUIT DAIRY FAT ACTIV DOSE MEAL FIVE 2 HRS LATER MEAL SIX 2 HRS LATER PM SNACK (OPT) DAILY TOTAL Diabetic Foot Care Guidelines Diabetic foot care is as important as diet in managing diabetes. Statistic shows that 6 out of every 1,000 diabetic patients have foot amputations . For people with diabetes even a small cut could lead to serious foot problem if not well taken care of. In order to prevent amputation of your foot or leg people with diabetes should take extra care of their foot health. Following are some of the diabetic foot care guidelines suggested by the American Diabetes Association : Check your feet every day. Look at your bare feet for red spots, cuts, swelling, and blisters. If you cannot see the bottoms of your feet, use a mirror or ask someone for help. Wash your feet every day. Dry them carefully, especially between the toes. Keep your skin soft and smooth. Rub a thin coat of skin lotion over the tops and bottoms of your feet, but not between your toes. If you can see and reach your toenails, trim them when needed. Trim your toenails straight across and file the edges with an emery board or nail file. Wear shoes and socks at all times. Never walk barefoot. Wear comfortable shoes that fit well and protect your feet. Check inside your shoes before wearing them. Make sure the lining is smooth and there are no objects inside. Protect your feet from hot and cold. Wear shoes at the beach or on hot pavement. Don't put your feet into hot water. Test water before putting your feet in it just as you would before bathing a baby. Never use hot water bottles, heating pads, or electric blankets. You can burn your feet without realizing it. Ask your doctor about Medicare coverage for special shoes. Diabetic Shoes - What to Consider When Buying Life should not end the moment you find out that you are suffering from diabetes instead use it as an inspiration to make life better. However, no matter how someone would impose to himself that everything is still normal even after the diagnosis, there are still some activities which are deprived to do, take walking as an example! Will walking aggravate the condition? The answer is no, but it can cause foot injuries and other problems such as peripheral neuropathy. Diabetic shoes are the answer! Your doctor might have already oriented you about the harm that these ordinary shoes would pose in terms of your health; these can lead you to experience the condition known as peripheral neuropathy given that ordinary shoes would badly allow the feet to undergo extreme rubbing. However, diabetic shoes are specially created to be deeper and wider with insoles that provide enhanced ventilation and fit. Reduced rubbing tendency is also provided to prevent amputations and ulcers In case you are shopping for ideas on the internet for some considerations when buying diabetic shoes. Either you want to give it as a gift to your friend suffering from the sickness or perhaps you simply want to buy one for yourself then there are four factors that you should look for: first is it should be created in varying width, second is it should have a lace or Velcro closure, third, it should be created using breathable materials, and lastly, it should contain removable inner sole. All of the considerations listed above seem to be an easy task to do, but there is a problem still and that is the fact that you just can‟t get these kinds of shoes anywhere. You‟ll be asked to visit a podiatrist who will decide the kind and material of shoes that would work well for your condition. He‟ll determine the right kind by assessing your need and give his findings through prescriptions. Yes, the term is prescription since he‟ll write the instruction on a piece of paper just what you‟ll expect from a usual doctor, If you happen to be a member of Medicare then your shoes will be given to you for free, this is because patients of the said health company are given the chance to get one free pair of shoes at least every year. This is indeed a big help for someone who is looking day and night for food by which he can serve on the table. He no longer has to worry about the expenses incurred by buying a new shoe since it is given to him for free. Here are some extra friendly tips to ensure that your feet are on its utmost shape: Inspect signs of blisters and lesions especially in the middle of toes. Use specially made footwear such as slippers, socks, orthotics, insoles, etc. Look for a footwear that fits you well Go for removable insoles for comfort. In case you see that your condition gets worse, go to the nearest physician and let him inspect your condition so you would know how to treat your case. How To Use Diabetic Test Strips The need for diabetes strips are crucial for people who had been identified with diabetes in order for the patient to keep a keen eye on his sugar level. Varying upon the type of diabetes, the need for self testing may differ. It will provide information on how factors like physical activity, food, and medicines would affect the total health of a person. Advisably, one should keep track on the record so as to prevent any diabetic-related health complications from coming up. For sure, anyone could attest that diabetic test strips are a must-have; nevertheless the only obstacle that would hinder people from using these is the fact that they are available at extremely expensive prices. So what makes these strips special? Well, it is not the material that decides the price rather it is the process of research, manufacturing, and testing. During its production, the product undergoes rigorous production process therefore making the price a bit expensive as anyone would expect. In view of this, some patients resort in using generic test strips which are economical solution to the problem. However, you need to ensure first that the strips would work accurately with the monitor thus checking their compatibility is an inevitable method to take. How do you use diabetic test strips? Above anything else, wash your hand first on warm soapy water then allow it to completely dry. If you expect to test even outside your homes then it would be advisable to bring with you aid kits that contains all the necessary supplies that would help in washing and doing the test itself. When you are ready, wash the body part that will be pricked by the use of alcohol. Through the help of the lancet, pierce your fingertip while applying pressure on the finger for small drops of blood to come out. Collect the blood trough the use of the strips. For the sake of information of those who are not aware of what the strip is, it does not principally read information of glucose level but it is merely use to collect the blood that will be read rather it is the meter that will determine such. A simple walk on your favorite department store will give you the opportunity to get hold of various kinds of meter. Consult professional recommendation of which brand and type would work best for your case. There are highly advanced meters which contains memory storage for patients to record results, if you have the cash to spare, its better to get this kinds. What are the factors that need to be considered when buying diabetic strips? Look at the label, if instructions are written on other languages aside from English or in case the measurement is written in S.I. then there is a great probability that it is intentionally for sale in other countries thus it may not have passed the specifications longed by US standards. Furthermore, check the homepage of the FDA so you could verify if the product is approved by the country. If not, report it to FDA for proper action. Where and How to Get Discount Diabetic Supplies On a survey conducted by University of Michigan Health System, the average monthly bill of a diabetic totals to $100 each month. Because of this, one out of five individual would have no choice but to cut back the quantity of medicine prescribed by their doctor that result to poorer diabetes control and weakening of physical and mental ability. Need not to worry; you can get discounted diabetic supplies almost anywhere particularly if you are looking at the right place. Cheap diabetes medicine is always regarded as a boon that would help bring back the physical vigor lost due to abnormal glucose level. Patients are definitely aware of the importance of these supplies and medications but due to their prices, some would simply consider these things as white elephants in their everyday life. Nevertheless at present times, one should no longer fuss over the price since the internet had already spread its wings in order to accommodate inexpensive yet useful diabetes supplies. Say goodbye to those long line that you have to suffer just to get your personal supplies rather wait at your home until the delivery man would bring your orders right in front of your doors. All you have to do is to search the name or brand through search engines like Yahoo and Google, this will arrive you to hundreds of websites that stock up these supplies on their online inventory. After then, carefully analyze each site and look for the one with the best deal. These simple steps will yield you to hassle free purchasing. Others would have the impression that discounted diabetic supplies would mean purchasing something which will compromise the quality. But wait until these products were delivered at your own houses, you will then begin to realize that it is basically the same product which you‟ve been purchasing locally for a high fee before. If you are thinking why most online shops would sell products on cheaper cost, simply put it this way, when selling online the cost for marketing and sales are highly reduced therefore sellers would have the chance to sell their supplies at reasonable prices. The list for discounted diabetes supply is long and it includes lancets, syringes, sugar tablets, alcohol swabs, glucose meter, glucose tablets, test strips and more. Some cases would even necessitate dialysis machines which are important to clean out the kidneys or liver thus most doctors would ask you to stock up the machine at your homes, from the sound of it you know that available at high price. Generally speaking, diabetic supplies are expensive no matter if its oral medication, inhaler, syringes but with internet shopping, you really need not to worry. To better help you with the price, your health company should be contacted to obtain needed information about discounted diabetes supplies. Some of them like Medicare and Liberty diabetic would work personally with doctors in order to assure that their patients would get the utmost help needed. Avail of the service of these companies for ease. Exercise Tips for Diabetes Almost everybody knows about the benefits of exercise. Nearly everyone should try to get at least an hour of exercise a day, and that doesn‟t necessarily mean hard, physical activity at the gym . Normal things you do daily can be kicked up a notch, and you might be surprised at what can qualify for exercise under the right conditions. For diabetes, the „when‟ to exercise is as important as the exercise itself. Physical activity burns calories, and causes blood glucose levels to drop. It also has a myriad of other benefits, such as lowering blood pressure, bad cholesterol and the risk of heart attack or stroke. Exercise can also help raise your good cholesterol, give you energy and help your body to use insulin more effectively. Exercising after meals is usually best, as you can burn the carbs you have eaten for energy instead of letting the sugar enter your blood stream and drive up your glucose level. Type 1 Diabetes Exercise Type 1 diabetes should be aware that starting a physical exercise program may require an adjustment in their insulin dosage. If the body suddenly starts receiving help to burn off glucose, levels could dip too far and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) could result. Planning to exercise at the same time each day, and eating a snack before such activity can help you maintain. Carry a regular soda or sugared hard candy with you in case of a sudden severe drop in sugar. If your blood sugar is overly high (250 - 300) and you are insulin dependent, check your urine for ketones before exercising. If they are present, there is a risk that exercise can actually drive your sugar higher. Check with your physician before starting any type of routine exercise program. Type 2 Diabetes Exercise People with type 2 diabetes perhaps can receive the most positive effects from exercise. In many cases, a proper exercise program combined with a healthy low calorie diet can work together to reduce weight, control blood sugar and actually eliminate many diabetic symptoms altogether. For those who are at risk for diabetes, diet and physical activity to maintain a sensible weight can often delay or prevent onset of diabetic symptoms for years. Consider your daily routine, and find areas where you can implement exercise. Some ideas could include planning your shopping after a meal, when you need to kick-start your metabolism. Start by parking at the back of the parking lot so you have to walk all the way across it to the store. Shop when the grocery is less crowded, so you can go up and down each aisle at a brisk walk. Carry your groceries in and put them all away before sitting down to rest. You will be surprised how much exercise you can get just going to the store! If you like to meet and chat with friends once or twice a week, consider forming a group to walk together. If the weather is bad or it is a hot summer, try speed walking through the mall while you talk. Window shop at high velocity, and keep track of each time you make a circuit. Stick a dollar for each lap in a jar when you get home, and after a month you can reward yourself with that special something you‟ve had your eye on. The importance of exercise to the Type 2 diabetes cannot be stressed enough. Almost all Type 2 diabetes are overweight, and diet alone can take time to help reduce weight. Combining diet with the proper exercise program can show visible results in a matter of weeks. Be sure to ask your doctor for more hints on how to plan the perfect exercise program for you! List of Foods for Diabetic to Eat Suffering from diabetes does not rob the opportunity of eating delicious and nutritious foods. It‟s not like finding yourself in the middle of a very bad nightmare where you hurriedly seek for the food that you want but they on the other hand are desperately running away from you. Truth is, you need not to suffer this horrendous dream in your real life since you could still eat foods that you are used of eating before as long as it falls under the list of foods safe for diabetic. Following is a list of foods for diabetic Diabetic Food List • Complex high fiber carbohydrate- Through careful research, it was found that taking food high in dietary fiber could help protect one‟s body against the harms brought by diabetes. Fiber functions by slowing the absorption as well as digestion of carbohydrate which result to the boost the responsiveness of tissues on insulin medication therefore the level of blood sugar is normalized. Among foods which fall under this category are oats, legumes, lentils, cereals, dried beans, wholegrain products, peas, fruits and vegetables. Just go away with foods that are high of refined carbohydrates and fat. • Low glycemic index- This is safe to be taken since does not create rapid peaks in terms of blood glucose levels. • Omega 3- This is extremely important to prevent hardening of the arteries. A good example of foods rich in Omega 3 is cold water fishes which include mackerel, tuna, salmon, herring, etc. • Alpha-lipoic acid- This function comparable to an antioxidant since it augments glucose uptake as well as repairs nerves that had been damaged because of the sickness. • Artificial sweeteners- Since diabetic are expected to shun away from foods rich in sugar then the only option left is to consume artificial sweeteners like aspartame and saccharin. These will give the same rich taste but minus the guilty feeling. • Protein- Tofu, cheese, eggs, and peanut butters can be used as meat substitutes. Only a total number of six ounces of protein which on the other hand is spread into two meals is the maximum requirement of protein in one day. • Omega 6 fatty acid- Shields the body from the damage brought by diabetes neuropathy. Examples include: primrose oil, blackcurrant oil, and borage oil. • Starch- Also incorporates starch in your daily meal. Notwithstanding the fact that white bread is detrimental for diabetic, you must still ensure that you get the daily requirement of starch in your diet which is found in pasta, vegetables, grains, breads and cereals. Diabetes is just a matter of taking control over your illness. If your daily food intake is managed the right way, meaning you are merely consuming foods that are good for you then you can expect change in your body and condition. Sad to say, because of the abundance of food choices that people are provided these days, only a meager amount of 20 percent of the total vitamins and nutrients requirements are furnished into the body. This is also the same reason why more and more people are experiencing overweight crisis in their life. Should Diabetes Consume Alcohol Should people with diabetes drink alcohol? That is a question ask by many diabetics. The answer is you are able to dink alcohol but in moderation. The American Diabetes Association recommends that maximum of 2 drinks a day for man and 1 drink a day for woman. In reality it is going to be better for you to avoid drinking alcohol so that you are not going to have to worry about any complications that may come about. Also, it is really not a good idea mixing alcohol with any kind of medication. People with diabetes should consult their doctor about the use of alcohol with the medications that they are taking. How Alcohol Affect Diabetes? Alcohol can make blood glucose too high or too low. Moderate amount of alcohol can cause blood sugar to rise but excess alcohol can actually decrease our blood sugar level even to an unsafe level. When we drink, the alcohol goes from our stomach straight into our blood. Within 30 to 90 minutes after drinking, the alcohol in our bloodstream hit its highest point. It takes our liver about 2 hours to break down one drink. When there is no alcohol in our blood, our liver keeps blood sugar level from going too low by changing stored carbohydrate into glucose, the glucose is then release into our blood. If we drink alcohol faster than our liver can breaks it down, the liver will be busy breaking down alcohol and therefore will not be able to release glucose into our blood. This cause our blood glucose continue to drop and we may end up with very low blood sugar. Alcohol Consumption Guidelines For Diabetes : Alcohol should only be used if your diabetes is under good control and with your doctor's prescription. Avoid mixing alcohol with any kind of medication - alcohol can interfere the effects of oral diabetes medicines or insulin. Drink not more than 2 drinks per day. Do not drink when your stomach is empty in order to prevent very low blood sugar level. Drink slowly to make sure that you liver have enough time to break down the alcohol. Choose your drinks, select drinks that are lower in alcohol and sugar - dry wine, light beer, or unsweetened liquor (whiskey, brandy, rum, vodka or gin) mixed with plenty of low calorie mixer, club soda or water are better than other alcoholics drinks. Stick with sugar-free mixers such as diet soda, diet tonic, club soda or seltzer for mixed drinks. Always check your blood glucose after you drink to see how alcohol affects you Include alcohol's calories into your daily calorie count. Alcohol Diabetic Food Exchange Table Drink Non-alcoholic beer Light beer Regular beer Non-alcoholic wine Dry wine Sweet wine Wine cooler Liqueurs, cordials Daiquiri Bloody Mary Gin, rum, vodka, whisky, brandy Amount 12 fl oz 12 fl oz 12 fl oz 4 fl oz 4 fl oz 4 fl oz 12 fl oz 1.5 fl oz 4 fl oz 5 fl oz Exchanges 1 starch 2 fats 2 fats, 1 starch 1/2 fruit 2 fats 2 fats, 1/2 starch 2 fats, 2 fruits 2 fats, 1 starch 2 fats 2 fats, 1 vegetable 1.5 fl oz 2 fats Alcohol Nutrition Facts Table Drink Non-alcoholic beer Amount 12 fl oz Carb.* Grams Calories 60 100 150 25-35 80-85 105 215 160 220 115 100 Light beer 12 fl oz Regular beer 12 fl oz Non-alcoholic wine 4 fl oz Dry wine 4 fl oz Sweet wine 4 fl oz Wine cooler 12 fl oz Liqueurs, cordials 1.5 fl oz Daiquiri 4 fl oz Bloody Mary Gin, rum, vodka, whisky, brandy 5 fl oz 12 5 13 6-7 0-2 6-7 30 18 2 5 1.5 fl oz 0 Natural Diabetes Cure - Maintaining Blood Sugar Levels There is no known direct cure yet for diabetes. A person diagnosed with diabetes irregardless whether it is type I or Type II diabetes , has a very important task at hand in order to care for such sickness. His task is to constantly maintain his blood sugar levels to a normal range. There are three natural ways to maintain one‟s blood sugar level and these are proper diet, exercise and stress management. One factor that can directly induce blood sugar to rise is the food that we eat. Hence, people with diabetes must be conscious of what he is eating. Doctors recommend that diabetics should eat more those foods which are rich in soluble fibers and low in saturated fats and sugar. Eating fruits and vegetables is highly recommended. A diabetic must also eat in the proper time. This is important to make sure that his metabolism can properly process the foods that he has eaten. If under medication, the diabetic person must make sure that his stomach is not empty to prevent further injury to the body caused by the medicine. Diabetes is a unique disease in a way because to lessen the effect of the disease, doctors do not recommend to the patients to stay in bed all the time. Instead, they are advised to get exercise. The reason? It is for the purpose of burning fat and balance the sugar which can increase the body‟s sensitivity to insulin. Exercise however, should be taken in moderation. Too much exercise can lead to stress and being under stress is not a good thing for a diabetic. Stress can cause the body to release adrenaline consequently mobilizing the sugar in your body reserves. It can also lead you out of focus of the other important things, eating and exercising. If this happens, it is advised that you have to relax and put things into perspective and get into the proper routine again. Unless a cure has is discovered, the life of a diabetic person is confined on these three routines. If a diabetic is not careful enough or negligent in these simple tasks then there is a high probability that he cannot live up to the full life. A diabetic person has to give something up in order to gain something. Giving up sugar is a small price to pay in exchange for one‟s own life. A diabetic person needs the support and understanding of the family. If there is a diabetic person in the family, other family members should voluntarily present help because the fact of the matter is, diabetes is primarily hereditary. Human Skin Cells Turned Into Insulin-Producing Cells Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine have transformed cells from human skin into cells that produce insulin, the hormone used to treat diabetes. The breakthrough may one day lead to new treatments or even a cure for the millions of people affected by the disease. The approach involves reprogramming skin cells into pluripotent stem cells, or cells that can give rise to any other fetal or adult cell type, and then inducing them to differentiate, or transform, into cells that perform a particular function - in this case, secreting insulin. Several recent studies have shown that cells can be returned to pluripotent state using "defined factors" (specific proteins that control which genes are active in a cell), a technique pioneered by Dr. Shinya Yamanaka, a professor at Kyoto University in Japan. However, the UNC study is the first to demonstrate that cells reprogrammed in this way can be coaxed to differentiate into insulin-secreting cells. Results of the study are published online in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. "Not only have we shown that we can reprogram skin cells, but we have also demonstrated that these reprogrammed cells can be differentiated into insulin-producing cells which hold great therapeutic potential for diabetes," said study lead author Yi Zhang, Ph.D., Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator, professor of biochemistry and biophysics at UNC and member of the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. "Of course, there are many years of additional studies that are required first, but this study provides hope for a cure for all patients with diabetes," said John Buse, M.D., Ph.D., president of the American Diabetes Association and professor and chief of the endocrinology division in the UNC School of Medicine's department of medicine. Recent research exploring a possible long-term treatment the transplantation of insulinproducing beta cells into patients - has yielded promising results. But this approach faces its own challenges, given the extreme shortage of matched organ donors and the need to suppress patients' immune systems. The work by Zhang and other researchers could potentially address those problems, since insulin-producing cells could be made from diabetic patients' own reprogrammed cells. Zhang is collaborating with Buse to obtain skin samples from diabetes patients. He said he hoped his current experiments will take this approach one step closer to a new treatment or even a cure for diabetes. Source : Article adapted by Diabetic Diet For Diabetes from original press release. Stevia And Gestation Diabetes Diet Most women who are undergoing pregnancy are prone to gestational type of diabetes. Due to their pregnancy their blood sugar level shoots up more than the normal levels. It is a natural phenomenon that occurs because of pregnancy. To address this problem strict diet is usually prescribed by doctors to limit sugar intake so that the mother will not suffer from sever diabetes. Gestational diabetes is mostly mild and it naturally subsides after childbirth. However, if there are no steps taken to reduce sugar intake the possibility of to have permanent type 2 diabetes is probable. Diet is the key factor to prevent diabetes. It is essential to consult a nutritionist in order to know how to plan your eating schedule. Aside from low cholesterol diet the commonly restricted is the intake of sugar. You can still take foods with sugar but it should be in a minimum. Do not over indulge yourself. Watch what you eat because it will affect both you and your baby. Dedication and commitment is required for mothers in order to ensure success. It entails a lot of sacrifices on the mother‟s part because for months until the baby is born they have to regulate their dietary intake. They have to limit sugar and that would mean reducing the ingestion of sweets. For pregnant women it is really difficult to strictly follow your diet plan for the week. The temptation to indulge eat sweets is strong that you would sometimes try to make an exemption for most days. In the end your seven day diet that you and your nutritionist planned will be useless. When this happens it really becomes a problem because you have to start from day one all over again. The cycle noncompliance will continue because sugar or sweeteners are just too hard to resist. This should not be the case. The best solution to the problem at hand is not to refrain from eating sweeteners. Instead you should find alternatives that would enable you to enjoy and savor the sweetness of sugar. How could this possible? The answer is to eat natural sweeteners. One of the best natural sweeteners is the Stevia. It has no cholesterol and has practically no sugar. The best thing about this sweetener is that it actually helps your body lower sugar levels. It helps insulin to absorb sugar in your body. You could say that it has an insulin like effect due to the necessary proteins it posses. Stevia not only lowers sugar levels but also lowers your blood pressure. The natural sweetener can do both, hitting two problems at the same time. However, it is necessary to consult your physician first before using this natural sweetener. Too much lowering of blood pressure could also be risky but if you have a high blood pressure Stevia is really a big help. Stevia enables pregnant women to enjoy the taste of sugar. Your pregnancy will be a bit easier if you a friend like Stevia at your bedside. Your nine months of pregnancy would be more enjoyable when you embrace this natural sweetener and make it as a part of your daily diet.
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