DIET VERY CRUCIAL FOR DIABETICS
by Lisa Riddle
Chances are diabetes affects you or someone you know.
The message at hand for National Diabetes Education Week recently was: "Take charge of your diabetes--team up with a Diabetes Educator." A successful approach to blood sugar control includes on-going care.
For the more than 14 million people living with diabetes, each day brings new challenges. Certified Diabetes Educators (CDE) are there to help you make healthy choices. A dietitian on your team can help guide the way to fine-tune with the ever-challenging task of planning meals and snacks for good blood sugar levels.
Ingredients to a healthy plan for managing diabetes include:
* A realistic meal plan based on your everyday habits--school or work schedule, daily routine and eating habits and special needs.
* Family and friends included in class to provide support.
* On-going education in new developments for diabetes care.
* Continual follow-up with diabetes team.
* Careful record keeping of blood sugar readings.
* Regular exercise.
* Weight management.
* Healthy eating habits.
* Using medications as prescribed.
* Stress reduction.
Putting all these ingredients together can be baffling at times, which is why your CDE's help can be so valuable.
Many people say that the toughest part of the plan is nutrition. Everyone has certain foods they don't want to give up! Ask your dietitian about the healthy alternatives to the high-fat, high-sugar foods you may crave. Information from the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial tells us that some favorites may be worked in your meal plan on occasion.
Pinpoint the time of the day that you seem to be hungriest. Stay with your routine by planning a healthy snack at that time. Find "free foods" that you enjoy to help with curbing the munchies.
Plan for days "on-the-run" and keep foods in the cabinet that will be quick and easy to use. If you travel, be sure to carry foods that will get you through parts of the trip when "junk-food" is all that is available.
A key to good glucose levels is consistency. Eating about the same amounts of the same types of foods about the same time every day will factor in consistency. Your diabetes team can help you discover a plan that will allow you to manage your diabetes and live life to its fullest.
For a diabetes educator near you, call 1-800-TEAMUP4.
Healthy Dessert: Cranberry Sorbet
3 cups low calorie cranberry juice cocktail, divided
1 pkg. (4-serving size) raspberry sugar-free Jell-O
1 cup cold evaporated skim milk
Bring 1 and one-half cups of juice to boil in saucepan. Stir into Jell-O powder in large bowl until dissolved. Stir in remaining 1 1/2 cups juice and milk. Pour into 13 x 9 inch pan. Freeze 1 and one-half hours or until frozen 1 inch from edges. Spoon in food processor or blender and process until smooth. Pour in a bowl and freeze 3 hours or until firm. Makes 8 servings. Exchange: 1 fruit, 50 calories.
(Note: This article appeared in the "Monroe News-Star", Monroe, LA.)