Crystal Light Red Tea

Crystal Light Red Tea,is a delicious sugar free drink you can take with you when you are on the go. There are 10 packets in each box and each packet makes a 16oz. drink. All you have to do is buy a bottle of water, add the red tea mix, shake the bottle and that’s all there is to it.

Crystal Light Red Tea is a herbal tea mix that has a natural mandarin, along with other natural flavors, taste. It also has antioxidants. This tea tastes so good you will think it contains sugar, but remember, it’s sugar free. And it only contains 5 calories per serving. So if you are looking for a great tasting, on the go drink, this is it. Give it a try.

Where Can I Buy Crystal Light Red Tea

One of the biggest problems with this delightful tasting red tea, is its’ availability. It is very hard to find. It seems as though it has just disappeared off the grocery store shelves, never to be seen again, but if you search far and wide, you might be able to locate some. That is not to say it will still be there after you try it, decide you really like it, and then go back to the store for more. People, especially diabetics, love this drink. Fortunately it is available here, although we don’t know for how long.

Is Crystal Light Red Tea Expensive

Originally, this was one of the higher priced Crystal Light drinks to begin with. Now it is priced pretty much the same as any of the other Crystal Light drinks, when you can find it. The main thing is to buy when you find it. You won’t be sorry you did.

Diabetics, just like everyone else, need to eat. And sometimes, they need to eat quickly! Quick diabetic meals are good to be familiar with for these occasions. When most non-diabetics need a quick meal, they may just be able to pick something up at a fast food restaurant or simply chomp down on an unhealthy snack. Diabetics need to be more careful because doing so may disrupt their blood sugar level and cause serious problems. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to whip up a diabetic friendly meal quickly and easily when you don’t have extra time to prepare something a little more intricate.

Super Quick Diabetic Meals

If you have very little time, let’s get right to it? What are some super quick diabetic meals?

1. Whole Wheat Pita Pocket With Salad and Hummus. Just chop up your lettuce, tomato, onion, perhaps a little cheese, throw in some hummus and you are ready to eat!
2. Whole Wheat Grilled Chicken or Turkey Panini. Shredded Carrots, lettuce, and purple cabbage add some extra healthy ingredients, and a little extra flavor.
3. Spinach Salad with Red peppers. A few minutes warming up the spinach adds a nice touch. Add turkey, chicken, or turkey bacon for more flavor.
4. Leftover Spaghetti with Meatloaf. Got some turkey meatloaf and some whole wheat pasta left over? Mash up the meatloaf and add it to pasta sauce. Bam!

These are just a few super quick diabetic meal recipes you can put together in under 5 minutes if you have to eat on the run. If you have a little more time, there are plenty of other meals you can make in under half an hour, which is still pretty quick. Some of these quick meals sound pretty tasty though. You may not even want to make something else anyway!

Quick Diabetic Meals Under Half an Hour

If you have a little more time on your hands, you may want to expand your options a bit. Making a quick diabetic meal ready to eat in under half an hour is still a pretty decent prep time. So here are some more quick diabetic meal options for you if you aren’t in a super hurry.

Quick Diabetic Meal Recipes in Under Half an Hour
1. Grilled Chicken Mojito Sandwich - Prep time: about 20 minutes.

   Preheat your pan to medium. Mix a little low fat mayo, some lime juice, some mint (chopped), a little grated peel, and some minced chili pepper into a small bowl. Grill the chicken breast with onions, and grill the bread while you are at it (if you like). Once sufficiently grilled, spread the mayo mixture on the bread, put the sandwich together, and you have yourself a delicious chicken sandwich.

2. Tsimmes Salad - Prep Time: 10 minutes.

   This one is pretty easy. All you have to do is assemble the ingredients. No cooking is necessary. Peel and chop 2 medium sized carrots, cut 4 plums up small, chop up a scallion, and mix. Done!

3. Cured Red Snapper (Umai) - Prep Time: 35 minutes

   Chop up one red and one yellow onion. Finely chop a red chile pepper. Get some minced ginger and grated lime zest (about one tablespoon each). Juice two limes. Mix it all together in a bowl. Cut two fresh red snapper filets into thin strips and delicately stir into the mix. Add salt to taste. Cover and let refrigerate for about 15 minutes, until the snapper turns white. Serve cold. No cooking!

4. Sesame Noodles - Prep Time: 20 Minutes

   This one is too delicious and too quick! Boil 1 pound of whole wheat pasta for about ten minutes til tender. Strain. While waiting for pasta to boil, whisk sesame oil, canola oil, vinegar (or lime juice), cilantro (optional) together, about 2 tablespoons each. Include 1/2 cup of reduced sodium soy sauce. Also mix in about 1 1/2 tablespoon of crushed red pepper and 1/4 cup of scallions. Whisk it all together nicely. Add in noodles, 4 cups of snow peas, and one red bell pepper thinly sliced. Cover and gently overturn to get pasta fully coated. Garnish with half a cup of toasted sesame seeds, and some more scallions and cilantro.

5. Spinach Frisee Salad with Coriander and Scallops - Prep time: 30 minutes

   This is another great quick diabetic meal. First you make a tangerine vinaigrette. Do this by whisking 2 tablespoons of tangerine juice and olive oil (each), 1 tablespoon of minced shallot, 4 teaspoons of white wine vinegar, 2 teaspoons of spring herbs finely chopped (like dill, tarragon, and/or chives), 1 teaspoon of dijon mustard, 1/2 a teaspoon of tangerine zest, and a 1/4 teaspoon of salt and pepper (each) all together in a bowl. To make the salad, use 6 cups of baby spinach and 6 cups of torn frisee and 2 segmented tangerines. Cover in the vinaigrette and toss it to coat the salad. To make the scallops, start with the coating. Mix 2 teaspoons of chopped coriander seeds, 1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt and pepper (each) together. Cover scallops on both sides with mix. Heat 1 tablespoon of canola oil in a skillet (preferably non-stick) until it shimmers. Cook scallops for about 2 or 3 minutes on each side. They should have a golden crust and be white and opaque. Add to salad and you are done. Phew! Lots of instructions but if you do it right it should only take 30 minutes.

Sugar Free Vegetables VS Vegetables with Sugar. Vegetables are an important part of any diet, and this is doubly true for diabetics. Of course, diabetics also have to worry about their blood sugar levels, so when it comes to consuming vegetables, you have to be careful not to consume too many that contain, or are cooked with sugar. While vegetables are generally good, vegetables with sugar pose a serious risk if you do not monitor them.

So what kinds of vegetables are sugar free? Which vegetables have sugar? Without being aware of sugar content in vegetables and the way they are prepared, you could end up eating something you thought was safe for diabetics, but turn out to be harmful to you and your blood sugar level.

Sugar Free Vegetables

All vegetables are naturally free of processed sugar, and are also naturally gluten free. This is great for diabetics and Celiacs alike. But, some vegetables do have naturally occurring sugar, and so while it is good to eat them, even for diabetics, it is important to be careful when eating vegetables to make sure you don’t go over board with the sugar consumption. Most vegetables are very low sugar or sugar free vegetables. Leafy green, watery vegetables tend to be sugar free, such as spinach, lettuce, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, mushrooms, cucumber, asparagus, and radishes.

These are all great kinds of sugar free vegetables to fill your plate. Additionally, eating them raw will ensure that you prevent sugar from entering into the mix from other sources. If you want to cook them, sauteing, boiling, or broiling them will keep the sugar content out of the vegetables.

Vegetables With Sugar

Root Vegetables and dryer vegetables tend to have the most sugar. Corn, carrots, winter squash, beets, potatoes and sweet potatoes are some of the highest sugar content vegetables. You may consume these vegetables as a diabetic. They are not guaranteed to disrupt your blood sugar level. They are even healthy for you, as all vegetables are. If you eat an inordinate amount of these kinds of vegetables, however, you may run into some problems with your blood sugar. Odds are, you will not eat so many of these that it will cause a problem with your diabetes. However, you should monitor your blood sugar to ensure that you are not running any risks, especially if you eat a lot of any of these in particular or in combination.

Frying vegetables in flour may also add gluten and sugar content, so be sure that if you bread and fry any vegetables, to be aware of the sugar content in the flour. Fried mushrooms could be high in sugar content. Mushrooms by themselves are sugar free, but frying them in the wrong kind of flour may add too much sugar!

Low Sugar Vegetables

Low Sugar Vegetables, vegetables that are somewhere in between the relatively high sugar content of root vegetables and sugar free vegetables, are pretty much any vegetables not mentioned above. Avocado, green beans, fennel, zucchini, garlic, onions, tomatoes, and eggplants are some popular low sugar vegetables. As a diabetic eating these, you won’t have much of a concern. You would have to eat an awful lot of low sugar vegetables to cause a problem. However, if you do, or if you cook them in anything that may contain sugar, you should again closely monitor your blood sugar level.

Low Sugar and Sugar Free Vegetable Recipes

Here are some good sugar free vegetable recipes for you to enjoy. This way, you can have some healthy vegetables deliciously prepared that will not run any risk of increasing your blood sugar levels.
Sugar Free Baked Yam Fries
With a pound of yams, a little salt, paprika, and olive oil, you can bake up some delicious sugar free yam fries. Preheat oven to 400, peel yams and cut into french fry shaped pieces, cover in olive oil, sprinkle salt and paprika. Bake for about 15 minutes, flip, bake for about 5-10 minutes, and you’re ready to eat!
Low Sugar Vegetable Stir Fry
With or without the beef, this is an excellent sugar free vegetable dish. Heat olive oil in a pan, add beef (optional) and cook till it browns, then add frozen mixed veggies (about 32 oz), cook on medium heat until vegetables defrost, and then add soy sauce (about 2 teaspoons) and cook until vegetables are sufficiently tender. Note: some of the mixed veggies may have a little bit of sugar (like carrots), but you should be fine.
Sugar Free Sea Salt Edamame
This is one of the easiest recipes. You can just cook the edamame in the microwave and sprinkle sea salt on top when you are done. For a little more care, you can also boil them in water for about three minutes, and some sea salt into the water so that the flavor gets more absorbed, and sprinkle more after you have strained them. Put them in a tupperware container and toss gently for several minutes to maximize sea salt distribution.

Healthy Diabetic Foods

The healthiest diabetic foods have no sugar, and no sugar substitute. They have appropriate amounts of fat, protein, and carbs. As a diabetic, there is a risk when consuming carbohydrates because they can be broken down into sugar by the body, so although carbs are important, you have to carefully monitor your intake of carbohydrates and check your blood sugar after consuming them. Nevertheless, you need to eat starches (which provide carbs), at every meal, and it is healthy for you to do so. The key to dealing with carbohydrates is realizing that they are necessary, and this is why you should avoid regular sugar at all costs, because your body is already going to be getting some form of sugar from carbs.

Health Diabetic Food Plans

A healthy diabetic food plan not only considers what you eat, but when you eat. It is good to follow a regular pattern of eating. For example, having a consistent breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with consistent in between meal snacks, and at regular intervals is the best way eat in terms of when. Whenever you decide to eat, the most important thing is to keep the pattern consistent. It is also good to eat at relatively evenly spaced intervals as well. In other words, it may not be ideal to eat breakfast at 9 am, lunch at 11 am, and dinner at 6pm. There is too much of a gap between lunch and dinner in this example, which could cause your blood sugar to oscillate to wildly.

Healthy Foods Diabetics Can Eat & Maintain Good Sugar Levels

What kinds of foods are healthy for diabetics and non-diabetics alike? Basically, you are going to want to consume more starch than anything else. Whole grain starches are preferred. Sugar free breads, pasta, and cereal, as well as corn and potatoes, are good sources of starch. You will ideally consume an equal amount of fruits and vegetables, and the total of the two should be roughly equal to your starch consumption. Good vegetables for your diet include carrots, lettuce, tomatoes, spinach, broccoli, green beans, celery and cabbage. Good fruits include apples, strawberries, grapefruit, bananas, oranges, mangoes, peaches, and watermelons. Two servings of dairy, either cheese, fat-free yogurt, or milk is good in just about any dietary plan. 4 - 6 ounces of meat daily is good as well, but be careful of the fat content. And obviously, you want to avoid pure sugar, corn syrup, or honey as much as possible.

Health Living With Diabetes

In addition to what and when to eat, the question of how much to eat is of importance. Depending on your size, gender, and build, health desires, you are going to consume between 1200 and 2400 calories per day. A small woman who exercises may consume 1200-1500 calories each day, whereas a large man may consume 2400 calories daily. Basically, you consume more if you are large, exercising, or a man. And you should exercise. It is healthy in general, and especially healthy for diabetics, because it helps to keep blood sugar levels consistent.

Sugar free foods for children are a great way to contribute to a healthy lifestyle in childhood. Sugar free foods are exceptionally important to diabetic children. But, children tend to love sugar. If an adult is diabetic, it tends to be easier to swear off sugars because typically, we have less of a sweet tooth. But for children, this can be the end of the world! So, for your diabetic child’s health, sugar free foods are a must. For their happiness, however, sweet foods are often a must too! What to do?

Which Sugar Free Foods are best for you Diabetic Child?

Artificial sweeteners pose their own health problems, so truly, the best sugar free foods are foods that are not sweet, so that they have not been artificially sweetened. But, they are likely to still want sweet foods, and you are likely to suffer massive headaches from the endless crying and whining that will ensue should their sweet tooth not be slated. So, you will have to get some sugar free foods with sugar substitutes that your diabetic child will enjoy. In moderation, artificial sweeteners pose no real risk of harm to your diabetic child, so don’t worry! Below is a list of the best sugar free foods for your diabetic child. This way, you can take care of their sweet tooth, and their general health, at the same time.

List of Sugar Free Foods for Kids

• diabetic candy
• baby carrots
• air popped popcorn
• dried fruits*
• homemade sugar free cookies
• blackberries
• peaches
• apricots
• plums
• raspberries
• strawberries

*Note on dried fruits: do not buy dried fruits at the store unless they are advertised as sugar free foods, because these typically have sugar added to them. Homemade sugar free dried fruits are a great way to go about providing your children with sweet sugar free treats.

Other Sugar Free Foods for Children with Diabetes

Outside of the sweet sugar free foods your child will want, you still need to feed them foods with nutritional value, just like any other child. So, chicken, turkey, homemade mac n cheese with whole wheat pasta and low fat cheese, most vegetables, and oatmeal are just a few of the staple, nutritional foods that you can feed your diabetic child.

]]> http://diabeticfoodblog.com/sugar-free-foods-for-children/feed/ http://diabeticfoodblog.com/pregnancy-and-diabetes-diabetic-pregnancy/ http://diabeticfoodblog.com/pregnancy-and-diabetes-diabetic-pregnancy/#comments Thu, 12 May 2011 15:42:13 +0000 Brian http://diabeticfoodblog.com/?p=214 How does diabetes affect pregnancy? How does pregnancy affect diabetes? Find out about the risks of a diabetic pregnancy as well as what to do if you are diabetic and would like to get pregnant.
]]> Being pregnant is wonderful, but can also be scary. Being diabetic can also be scary. But when dealing with pregnancy and Diabetes, it can be terrifying to the uninformed woman. It’s ok though, because a diabetic pregnancy is manageable! You can have a healthy baby, and you can manage your diabetes both during and after pregnancy. Diabetic pregnancies are considered high risk pregnancies. That doesn’t mean that problems are guaranteed, or even likely. It just means that when facing a high risk pregnancy, you have to take extra care to ensure a healthy pregnancy. Many perfectly healthy babies have been born out of high risk pregnancies.

How does Diabetes Affect Pregnancy?

Diabetes can affect pregnancy in several ways. Complications such as premature birth, abnormal weight, low blood sugar, and other health problems can be a result of a diabetic pregnancy. There is also an increased risk of birth defects. And, worst of all, there is an increased risk of miscarriage or still birth. This may seem absolutely horrible, but the good news is that if a diabetic woman carefully controls and monitors her blood sugar during pregnancy, the chances of any of these problems occurring drops off significantly. In fact, the chances of any kind of complications are almost equivalent to that of a woman without diabetes. This is great news for diabetic women looking to have children, because it means that with proper care, they are perfectly capable of having a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.

The other side of the coin, how does pregnancy affect diabetes, is something to consider as well. If you do not control your blood sugar levels before and during pregnancy, your diabetes problems can worsen, and you may be more likely to experience vision, heart, and kidney problems.

Diabetic Pregnancy Facts

• You can have a healthy baby even if you are diabetic.
• Only when you do not monitor and maintain your blood sugar levels does your baby run the risk of complications more so than the typical non-diabetic woman
• High blood sugar levels are especially harmful during the first 8 weeks of pregnancy, when the baby’s brain, lungs, heart, and kidneys are forming.
• The average woman doesn’t know she is pregnant until 5 or 6 weeks after conception
• Checking your blood sugar levels frequently, and having your blood sugar under control prior to getting pregnant, significantly increases the chance of a healthy birth.
• When pregnant, you are at an increased risk of exceptionally low blood sugar levels. This is relatively easy to fix, but still requires constant monitoring of blood glucose levels.

Will Pregnant Women Pass Diabetes To Their Child?

The answer is: possibly. A child born of a diabetic woman is not guaranteed to have diabetes, but they are more at risk for developing diabetes later in life. So, pregnant woman will not pass diabetes to their child, but they are more likely to get it as they grow older. Additionally, some birth conditions such as macrosomia (exceptionally large baby), suggest an even greater risk. The good news is, a diabetic woman that gives birth to a child who grows up eating healthily and maintaining healthy exercise (which is something everyone should do anyway), is less at risk for developing diabetes later. If you are a diabetic woman and you wish to have a baby, what you should take from this is that you can have a perfectly healthy baby, and they can grow up to be a perfectly healthy adult. You just have to be extra careful in controlling your diabetes, and you have to make sure that they live a healthy lifestyle. If you do this, diabetes will have no real affect on your babies life.

]]> http://diabeticfoodblog.com/pregnancy-and-diabetes-diabetic-pregnancy/feed/ http://diabeticfoodblog.com/sugar-free-diet-plans/ http://diabeticfoodblog.com/sugar-free-diet-plans/#comments Wed, 11 May 2011 22:00:53 +0000 Brian http://diabeticfoodblog.com/?p=211 Developing a sugar free diet plan made up of diabetic foods is a great way for diabetics to keep their blood sugar levels in check. Read this article for a guide to developing a healthy sugar free diet plan. You can be diabetic and have a healthy sugar free diet plan that you can still enjoy!
]]> Sugar free diet plans are one very effective way for diabetics to control their blood sugar levels. The key to staying healthy and happy as a diabetic is to keep your blood sugar in check, so sugar free diets handle that pretty effectively! Or course, a sugar free diet plan is not going to be the only solution to the problem of living with diabetes. There is more to consider here, since sugar in its pure form is not the only cause for concern for diabetics.

How to Plan a Sugar Free Diet

When planning a sugar free diet, you need to make sure that it is sufficiently healthy, low in carbs (which can be broken down into sugar by the body), sustainable (you can keep it up without losing your will power), and affordable. Additionally, as a diabetic you may have to concern yourself with gluten free foods.

• For breakfast, around 350 calories and 50 grams of carbs
• For Lunch, about 500 calories and 75 grams of carbs
• For Dinner, about 600 calories and 60 grams of carbs

These are good amounts of calories and carbohydrates to ingest for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Some good food options include whole wheat bread, cottage cheese, oatmeal, skim milk, bananas, vegetable soup, crackers, turkey, chicken, apples, rice, carrots, salad, apricots, tortilla chips, string cheese, and popcorn. Artificial sweeteners should be used instead of sugar, such as equal, splenda, or sweet n low.

Healthy Sugar Free Diet Plans

Just because a diet is sugar free doesn’t mean it’s healthy. Nor does it mean that it is absolutely safe for diabetics. Other food components, such as carbohydrates, can be broken down into sugar by the body. So as a diabetic, you still have to be careful about what you eat. Diabetes aside, any diet should be healthy! You could, for example, have a diet high in fat and protein. The high fat content will solve the sugar problem, provide you with delicious foods, but it certainly won’t provide for a healthy sugar free diet! If you only concern yourself with your diabetes when building your sugar free diet, you could find yourself in a lot of trouble!

Vegan Sugar Free Diet Plans

Vegan Sugar Free Diets are probably one of the most stringent diets out there. No meat, no food products that came from animals, and no sugar! And as a diabetic, carbs are something to frequently avoid too! This pretty much just leaves you with vegetables. If you are a diabetic looking to maintain a vegan diet, my hat goes off to you! Soy, tofu, and peanuts are your best friends. Get to know them. Learn to love them. That is going to be your best source of protein. And actually, peanuts are gluten free, good for most diabetics, and because of their low glycemic index and high magnesium percentage, they are actually good for keeping blood sugar stabilized!

]]> http://diabeticfoodblog.com/sugar-free-diet-plans/feed/ http://diabeticfoodblog.com/what-does-gluten-free-mean/ http://diabeticfoodblog.com/what-does-gluten-free-mean/#comments Tue, 10 May 2011 15:49:32 +0000 Brian http://diabeticfoodblog.com/?p=208 What does gluten free mean? What is the significance of gluten free foods for diabetics? What is gluten anyway? These questions and more are answered here. Whether you are diabetic or gluten intolerant, read on about gluten free diabetic foods!
]]> What does Gluten free mean? Gluten is a type of protein that exists in many carbohydrates, including wheat, barley, and rye. While it is not an unhealthy protein to consume in and of itself, some people are allergic to or intolerant of gluten. The rare, though increasingly more well known disease associated with this is called Celiac’s Disease. So to them, gluten free means a lot! Gluten free foods are an absolute must for people with Celiac’s disease, because consuming food with gluten can cause serious problems, much like people with diabetes consuming sugar.

What is Gluten?

As we said, gluten is a protein commonly found in many carbohydrates. It is not a primary characteristic of these carbohydrates, it is simply a component, as sufficient kneading of the dough will remove all gluten, but this is a risky practice for people with gluten sensitivity or Celiac’s disease. It is insoluble, meaning it won’t dissolve in water. Regardless, Gluten is most commonly known for its presence in carbohydrates like bread. So, what is gluten again? It plays a major role in the consistency of bread and dough. True to its name, gluten is almost like the glue that keeps bread together!

Gluten Free Foods for Diabetics

There is a link between gluten free foods and diabetics. Celiac’s disease and diabetes are two different diseases. One makes you very susceptible to sugar, and the other to gluten. However, it seems that there is some kind of link between the two. The exact association has yet to be defined clearly, but what is certain is that for most people, gluten free foods are good for diabetics. Oftentimes, diabetics have intolerance to gluten. The good news is that carbohydrates themselves can be broken down into sugars, so it is good for diabetics to avoid carbs more frequently. Carbs are where gluten is most commonly found. Therefore, avoiding carbs (bad for diabetics) also avoids gluten (commonly bad for diabetics)

Gluten Free Diet Plan

So one easy way to begin building a gluten free diet plan is to avoid carbs, which is already a good practice for diabetics. When consuming carbohydrates, it is typically good to find foods with a gluten free label. It is also good to know which carbohydrates are gluten free by nature. Buckwheat, amaranth, and oats (jury is still out on oats), are all gluten free grains. Rice, in its pure form, is also gluten free, so rice noodles (cooked properly) are a great option for diabetics avoiding gluten.

Gluten Free Facts

• There are carbs that are gluten free by nature. Not all grains and carbohydrates contain gluten
• Gluten is not bad for you in and of itself. The problem is when the body can’t break down gluten properly and it enters the bloodstream and/or intestines.
• You are about 1% likely to have Celiac’s disease. It affects approximately 1 out of every 111 people.
• Once gluten enters the bloodstream, it can potentially harm any organ in the body
• Symptoms of gluten sensitivity can involve the bones, the lungs, and even mental functionality.
• Rice (even glutinous rice) is gluten free. The only risk of getting gluten in your rice involves the way it is prepared
• Gluten free products only matter when it comes to ingestion. Contact with gluten will not harm you.

The bottom line is, if you have Celiac’s disease, or Diabetes, watch your gluten! Otherwise, gluten is harm free. Just make sure you don’t have either of these two diseases and you should be fine.

]]> http://diabeticfoodblog.com/what-does-gluten-free-mean/feed/ http://diabeticfoodblog.com/how-diabetics-can-best-control-blood-sugar-levels/ http://diabeticfoodblog.com/how-diabetics-can-best-control-blood-sugar-levels/#comments Mon, 09 May 2011 17:15:10 +0000 Brian http://diabeticfoodblog.com/?p=204 The key to a healthy, happy life as a diabetic is to control your blood sugar levels. How is this done? Eating the proper diabetic foods will certainly help. But there is a lot more to understand about high blood sugar, keeping it down, and monitoring it to ensure that what you are eating and what you are doing is keeping your diabetes in check!
]]> Assuming that you know that you have diabetes, controlling your blood sugar level is of utmost importance. If your blood sugar level is too high, or too low, it can cause serious problems, including nausea, stomach pain, blurred vision, altered consciousness, and in worst case scenarios, death. So, as a diabetic, you must constantly monitor yourself. You must monitor how you feel, what you are eating, how much you are physically exerting yourself, and you most directly monitor your blood sugar level. By doing all of these things, and remain conscious of your condition, you can live a happy and healthy life. This article in particular is a focused guide to controlling blood sugar levels for diabetics.

How to Control Your Blood Sugar

The first thing that you need to do to properly control your blood sugar is to understand what is an appropriate level for you. The second thing is to know what your current blood sugar level is. The third is to know how to raise and lower your blood sugar to bring it in alignment with your appropriate level. So, what is the right blood sugar level for diabetics? Well, the most accurate answer is specific to you, and can only be obtained from a qualified physician. However, there are guidelines on what is an appropriate level of blood sugar. The strictest guidelines suggest 90 milligrams per dl before meals, and less than 140 mg per dl after meals (one to two hours after meals). Checking your blood sugar level is easy enough, you simply need a glucose meter. To pick a glucose meter, check with your diabetic health insurance plan to see which ones they will pay for, if any. The final element of controlling your blood sugar, the ability to raise or lower it as needed, is the most difficult part.

How to Keep your Blood Sugar Levels Down

Keeping your blood sugar levels down can be surprisingly difficult. The obvious answer is to not consume sugar! However, complex carbohydrates can be broken down into sugar by the body, and so consuming these can have the same effect. So, you have to closely monitor your blood sugar whenever you eat carbohydrates. To be safe, you can measure the effect any food has with a glucose meter, so you can discover other foods (and drinks) that may cause a problem by frequently checking your meter. With all of the sugar and carbohydrates you consume, you must balance that with appropriate levels of protein and fat as well. Additionally, frequent and consistent exercise is a good way to keep your blood sugar down. The best exercise (for diabetics and non-diabetics alike), involves a steadily more strenuous routine over time. Note: if your blood sugar levels are too high, exercise can potentially increase your blood sugar. If you are experiencing symptoms of any kind, check your urine for ketones. The presence of ketones in your urine means you should not exercise.

What Blood Sugar Levels are Too High?

Truly high blood sugar is marked by a technical term: hyperglycemia. Symptoms of this condition are increased thirst and frequent urination. If you are experiencing these symptoms as a diabetic, your blood sugar levels are probably too high. As a general rule of thumb, 140mg/dl before meals is too high of a level, and 200 mg/dl is probably too high after meals. The real numbers that apply to you should be determined by your doctor.

What are the Causes of High Blood Sugar in Diabetics?

The cause of high blood sugar involves the bodies inability to produce enough insulin, or because the body is resistant to the insulin that it produces, preventin the sugar from being absorbed into the muscles and fatty tissue surrounding the veins and arteries. This problem is often genetic, or due to an unhealthy lifestyle. Regardless of the prime cause, the direct cause is too much sugar consumption without a balance of protein and fat consumption, and exercise. The problem is that sugar can be masked as something else, such as corn syrup. Or, it can be created by the body due to the consumption of carbohydrates. So it is important to know what sugar substitutes, and what can be consumed and converted to sugar by the body to cause high blood sugar in diabetics.

How Can you Check your Blood Sugar?

You can check your blood sugar with a glucose meter. This is just one of several supplies to help you monitor your blood sugar, but it is the most important one. It gives your the accurate measure of blood sugar in your body. You can, and you should check your blood sugar frequently. Glucose meters typically puncture your skin to remove a small amount of blood for testing, so you should also have a disinfectant, antibiotic cream, and possibly some band-aids as addition supplies to monitor your blood sugar levels.

]]> http://diabeticfoodblog.com/how-diabetics-can-best-control-blood-sugar-levels/feed/ http://diabeticfoodblog.com/diabetic-food-at-citizens-bank-park-tastykakes/ http://diabeticfoodblog.com/diabetic-food-at-citizens-bank-park-tastykakes/#comments Mon, 25 Apr 2011 14:25:59 +0000 josh http://diabeticfoodblog.com/?p=200 Food for diabetics is available for the first time ever to my knowledge at Phillie’s Stadium, or Citizens Bank Park. Years ago you used to be able to purchase Tastykakes at the ballpark but due problems wrought by the general heat at your run of the mill ball game, parks stopped carrying these fun desserts. Now I know most of us are probably fairly old fashion when it comes to baseball, America’s favorite past time, but let’s keep in mind that they say variety is the spice of life!

Diabetic Desserts Tastykakes at the Ballpark!

So sure, you’ve got your hot dogs, you peanuts, your cracker jacks, your beer, your soda, and now you have your Tastykakes. Now I’m not saying we should all go gorge ourselves on cakes and candies at the ball park, but let’s take a look at what the ballpark was like for diabetics who enjoy baseball.

Previously a ball park frank on a lovely hot dog roll was a standard choice for food selection when at the ballpark. However from a diabetic food standpoint, the bread that comes with the hot dogs is not the best choice. Everyone know you get a fairly plump ballpark frank at the stadium, which means that there is probably more bread around your dog as well. Cracker Jacks! I don’t think we need to cover why we diabetics are not the first in line for cracker jacks. Peanuts are not the worst thing we can eat, but certainly they should be eaten in moderation. Myself I have to watch out for high blood pressure as well as high cholesterol, which lucky me, means that the peanuts are usually out of the question. Another thing most famous especially in Philadelphia is your standard Philly Pretzel! Again, the bread is a big concern for diabetics and in general is a food we tend to eat in small quantities, as well as the issue with the salt for myself and others with similar conditions.

Sugar Free Tastykake Stand To The Rescue!

So with the installation and addition of the Tastykake stand to Citizens Bank Park, maybe now when you head of to watch the phillies game you can grab a cake. Because in addtional to serving up good old fashion, jammed with sugar tastykakes of all kinds, the Tastykake stand has also stocked a large selection of sugar free tastykake for diabetics! I’m going to have to confess right now to my plans of grabbing 5 packages of some tastykakes on my next trip to the ballpark.

Sugar Free TastyKake Ballpark Prices

Now I haven’t made it to the park yet this year, however I only live an hour away and plan to make my way there at some point in the near future. I’ll check back in a couple weeks and let you out of town’ers know what the prices look like, since we all now most foods are rare at the ballpark and usual double priced. Myself I sometimes find it difficult to find local stores that sell sugar free cakes and candies and I think it’s absolutely amazing that I can pick up a pack of sugar free tastykakes at the ballpark.

As the years pass the foods made available to diabetics in a more mainstream consumer venue has amazed myself and others I know. Though I don’t always appreciate the strides forward we take as a culture, the availability of diabetic foods on a wider basis certainly helps a large percentage of the population be able to enjoy their lives a little more each day.

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