List Of Foods Pre-diabetics Should Avoid
Two bowls of pistachio ice cream on a wooden table.Photo Credit: tashka2000/iStock/Getty Images August McLaughlin is a certified nutritionist and health writer with more than nine years of professional experience. Her work has been featured in various magazines such as "Healthy Aging," "CitySmart," "IAmThatGirl" and "ULM." She holds specializations in eating disorders, healthy weight management and sports nutrition. She is currently completing her second cookbook and Weight Limita series of body image/nutrition-related PSAs. Pre-diabetes is a condition that involves high glucose, or blood sugar, levels that have not yet escalated to the point that would indicate a diabetes diagnosis. According to the American Diabetes Association, most people who develop Type II diabetes are pre-diabetic first. If you've been diagnosed with pre-diabetes or are at high risk for this disease, a healthy dietary lifestyle is recommended. Refined starches are processed, carbohydrate-based foods such as enriched white or wheat bread, instant rice and sugary sweets, as well as processed snack foods such as chips, cookies and pretzels. Andrew Weil, M.D., a natural health expert, suggests reducing these foods in your diet if you have diabetes or pre-diabetes, as they may cause blood sugar difficulties and offer little nutrient value. Replace refined starches with complex or whole grain carbohydrate equivalents. Saturated fats are found primarily in animal-derived products, and are associated with an increased risk for heart disease and other conditions. According to Dr. Weil, saturated fats should be avoided as a means of preventing or treating pre-diabetes. Avoid foods such as fatty red meat, processed meats, whole milk, high-fat cheeses, deep-friend foods, ice cream and butter. Replace these Continue reading >>
Many Miss Prediabetes Wake-up Call
Type 2 diabetes doesn’t usually appear all of a sudden. Many people have a long, slow, invisible lead-in to it called prediabetes. During this period, blood sugar levels are higher than normal. However, they’re not high enough to cause symptoms or to be classified as diabetes. It’s still possible at this stage to prevent the slide into full-blown diabetes. Think of prediabetes as a wake-up call. Unfortunately, few people ever hear the alarm. A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that among Americans age 20 and older, only 10% of those with prediabetes know they have it. Given that as many as 73 million Americans have prediabetes, that’s a lot of missed opportunities to prevent the ravages of diabetes. One reason many people don’t know that they may be headed toward diabetes is they’ve never had their blood sugar tested. This simple test isn’t part of routine preventive care. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends blood sugar “screening” only in individuals with high blood pressure. (Screening means hunting for hidden disease in the absence of any outward signs or symptoms.) That’s important, because recommendations from the Task Force, an independent panel of experts, are used by many health-care organizations to determine preventive care. In addition, Task Force recommendations will help determine what services are covered under the Affordable Care Act. Expanding the net The American Diabetes Association and other organizations recommend routine blood sugar testing in people at high risk for developing diabetes. These include: everyone over age 45 younger people who are overweight and who also have one of these diabetes risk factors: little or no physical activity family history of diabetes high blood pre Continue reading >>
5 Incredible Low Carb Diabetic Pizza Recipes
Pizza. Who doesn't love it. I dare say there wouldn't be many of us, including myself. But, your regular pizza is jam packed with carbs. Let's check it out. Little Caesars Pizza Pepperoni Soft Pretzel Crust Pizza, 1 slice, 270 cal, 31 g carbs, 11 g protein, 11 g fat, 3.5 g sat fat. Papa John's Pizza 5 Incredible Low Carb Diabetic Pizza Recipes Okay, it's pretty clear that the regular pizza options aren't really suited to you. All those carbs will send your blood sugar soaring. And eating just one slice…that's tough right? You always want a bit more pizza. So, we've got some delicious low carb super tasty recipes. I still wouldn't recommend pizza every day. It is relatively high in calories and fats compared to other diabetic meals. But at least you know you can safely eat it and keep your blood sugar in check. You can also adjust toppings to change the nutrition ratios too. BON APPETIT! Gourmet Pizza – Almond Meal-Based This almond meal base is absolutely incredible. One of my personal favorites. It's just like a regular thin base and maintains it's consistency when cooked – meaning it doesn't go soggy and can be thoroughly enjoyed like a regular pizza. Top with all your favorite items and you'll be loving this one. This is a high calorie pizza, at 650 cal per serve. The almond meal base (ground almonds) really push up the calories and fats in this one. But, you get 4 good sized slices per serve and you will be entirely satisfied by this meal. It's 19 g total carbs for the 4 slices. Find our Gourmet Pizza over here – made with an almond meal base. Zucchini Pizza Boats Zucchini is such a versatile veggie. You can make zoodles, bake it, steam it, put it in veggie bakes, and even make an alteration on pizza. Scoop out the innards and load them up with your desired Continue reading >>
A Simple List Of Foods Prediabetics Should Avoid
If your blood glucose levels are higher than normal, your body is telling you to adjust your diet. When you’re prediabetic, you can bring those numbers down through a diet of fresh, whole foods. Steer clear of processed foods, which often contain high levels of ingredients that aren’t your friends, and rethink your protein choices. Sweetened beverages may be the biggest culprits in increasing your diabetes risk, according to multiple studies cited by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. When you’re prediabetic, avoid sugary drinks such as: For the best beverage choices, choose water or club soda flavored with slices of citrus fruit or cucumber, plain coffee, unsweetened tea and unflavored sports drinks. The American Heart Association advises against alcoholic drinks, but if you occasionally indulge, opt for a mixer like club soda or tonic. Foods with Added Sugar Manufacturers add sugar to most processed foods to improve flavor and shelf life. The Nutrition Facts label tells you the grams of sugar in a serving. If sugar tops the ingredients list – or words like “syrup” or anything ending in “-ose” – chances are the product contains too much of the added sweet stuff. Some examples of commercially manufactured products that prediabetics should use sparingly or avoid completely include: baked goods, like cookies, cakes and pies cereal granola bars frozen desserts tomato sauce and ketchup salad dressings, barbecue sauce and marinades fruit-flavored yogurt jams and jellies Refined Grains White rice, white pasta and white flour products like bread are examples of refined grains that can spike your glucose levels. Switch out these foods for whole grains like brown rice, oats and oat bran, whole wheat, quinoa, millet and corn. Trans Fats While olive o Continue reading >>
Foods’ Strange Tricks
You sit down to eat. How will your meal affect your blood glucose? If you’re on insulin, how much should you take? Turns out that counting carbohydrate will not always give you the answer. Food can affect you in strange ways. Do you know about the pizza effect? In a blog on glycemic index, I mentioned how plain pizza had a much higher glycemic index than a deluxe pizza with all the toppings. Plain dough and sauce raises your blood glucose way faster. What I didn’t mention was that all that carbohydrate in the deluxe pizza will get into your bloodstream eventually. You just don’t know when, unless you check your blood glucose every hour for four hours or even more. That’s because the fats and protein in the toppings slow down the absorption of carbohydrate. As a result, your blood glucose might spike two to five hours after the meal. Other meals that combine lots of carbohydrate with fats and/or proteins could have the same effect. Jan Chait posted here five years ago about a big spaghetti fest she had with her husband. The pasta was covered with a fatty sauce, with a side of garlic bread and lots of butter. Because of the fats (the pizza effect,) her blood glucose levels were up for two days, instead of just spiking high for an hour or two. One commenter posted on HealingWell.com that he injected enough insulin to cover the carbohydrate in a big Chinese meal, including lots of fried food. Two hours after eating, his glucose was 171, the same as it had been before the meal. But three hours later his sugar was over 500! It took him days to get back in control. Sometimes the pizza effect is helpful, like at bedtime. A bedtime snack that includes a small amount of fat and protein can help keep overnight levels from going too low. That way you don’t get a rebound e Continue reading >>
Pizza - Pre-diabetes - Diabetes Forums
Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please,join our community todayto contribute and support the site. This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies. I thought I posted a reply to the Fat Head Pizza link, but I can't find it so I'm starting a new post, lol. I made the fat head pizza dough and added the toppings and it tasted horrible! The dough wasn't the right consistency for a pizza .. too flaky. It was awful and i ended up just eating the toppings. I love Pizza Hut pizzas and think I might try eating just 1/2 of the small personal size, then check to see what it does to my BS. I checked the label on the Hershey's dark chocolate and the sugar content was very high. What about eating one square once in a while? Also my doctor told me to avoid fruit, but I had one small slice of orange with my breakfast and the BS was no higher than when I didn't include the orange slice. Rather than omit our favorite things, has anyone had success with cutting portions dramatically?? As I mentioned in another post. Use your meter and test. Then decide. My experience Hersey products are candy, all full of sugar. There are other companies that make 85% cocoa chick late Portion control of course helps, again test. Real pizza at Pizza Hut. Sure test it, but massive BG spikes for me and most others (often delayed spike) I know it does not sound like a lot of fun right now, but one can learn to get rid of food that spikes and learn to enjoy new favorite Pizza is notorious for late spikes. When you do the test, make sure you check yourself at 3 and 4 hours just to be sure on how you react. I also think we need to adjust our expectations. Of course a pizza made with fathead is not going to taste like Pizza hut, so we can't expect it to. What worked for me, was go Continue reading >>
Can A Diabetic Eat Pizza & Chinese Food?
A person with diabetes can eat anything, so you can certainly include pizza and Chinese food on your menu. This doesn’t mean you can eat either type of fare with abandon or without consideration of other foods on your menu for the day. Careful planning and balanced nutrition play vital roles in managing symptoms of diabetes. Video of the Day A balanced diet for a person with diabetes includes essentially the same foods you’d find on a nutritionally sound diet for anyone – a combination of complex carbohydrates, lean protein, fruits, vegetables and dairy. A healthy diet also includes healthy fats such as those found in olive oil, oily fish, almonds and walnuts. A good balance includes obtaining 40 to 60 percent of your daily carbohydrates from carbohydrates, 20 to 35 percent from protein and 20 to 35 percent from fat. To help manage diabetes, you should limit refined carbohydrates and mix your consumption of both refined and complex carbohydrates with other foods. Pizza crust usually includes a crust made from white flour, a refined carbohydrate. To avoid causing sudden spikes in your blood sugar levels, limit the amount of pizza you eat at any one time. Order thin crust pizza and opt for whole wheat pizza crust when available. Your choice of toppings also proves important in managing diabetes. Cheese, a good source of calcium, contains some sugar. Order a pizza with light cheese. You also need to manage your weight and cholesterol to control symptoms of diabetes. If you want a meat topping, chicken makes a better choice than pepperoni. And if you add a lot of vegetables – tomatoes, broccoli, mushrooms, green peppers, spinach – these complex carbohydrates will help balance out the refined carbohydrates in the pizza crust. The Glycemic Index, a system that rates Continue reading >>
Can I Eat Pizza If I Have Diabetes?
Question: Is pizza incompatible with diabetes? Answer: Absolutely not The real question is how do I manage to incorporate pizza into my diet without experiencing marked hyperglycemia? Answer: Experiment! The “pizza” food group is often a staple in the lives of many children and adolescents. Some of my colleagues have even referred to it as evil! However, I prefer to refer to pizza management as a challenge and thus try to include it in meal planning in moderation. Pizza is a complex assortment of fat, protein, and carbohydrates (carbs). As such, despite coverage with either fast or rapid acting insulin, blood sugars are often elevated several hours after pizza parties. The goal is to perform “damage control” in order to avoid having high blood sugars all day or night. Suggestions for Pizza Strategies 1. All pizzas are not equal! It is important to realize that different brands have differing combinations of fat, protein and carbohydrates. Indeed, apps that can be downloaded to computers and mobile devices such as the Calorie King can provide carbohydrate counts for all the different brands of pizza (e.g. Domino’s, Pizza Hut). Use this information to help you estimate as best as possible the number of carbs per slice, etc. There’s a lot of debate surrounding the pros and cons of using artificial sweeteners especially when living with diabetes. Here are some highlights of recent research. 2. There are many algorithms for estimating carbs based on thickness of the pizza crust. Ask your diabetes team for their favorite. 3. Match your insulin regimen to accommodate the pizza. For those patients on conventional split mixed insulin with NPH/Regular or rapid acting (humalog, novolog or apidra) 2 or 3 injections/ day, time your slice(s) with a meal such that the rapi Continue reading >>
Pizza And Blood Sugar Control: (not Quite) Easy As Pie
by gary scheiner, MS, CDE Since the beginning of time, when cave people discovered the joys of combining cheese, sauce, and crust, people with diabetes have been perplexed on how to manage blood sugar levels when eating pizza. Things became even more complicated during the "toppings revolution" of the Renaissance, when folks started putting everything from salted fish to pineapple on their favorite pies. Today, even with an assortment of new tools and techniques for managing blood sugar, the "pizza effect" continues to elude the masses. Many find it nearly impossible to figure out the carbs-per-slice, whether it be thin-crust, hand-tossed, or deep-dish. For some, indulging in a few slices results in an inexplicable blood sugar drop after eating, followed by a momentous sugar surge. For others, the blood sugar doesn't start to head skyward until many hours later, perhaps overnight. For those who enjoy a slice (or two, or six...), here are three ideas that might help you find that delicate balance between the pizza you love and the healthy blood sugar you covet. 1. counting pizza carbs To count the carbs in pizza, you'll need a hand. Your hand, to be exact. You can estimate the number of carbs in pizza pretty well by using your hand as a measuring tool. A traditional, hand-tossed pizza that is the size of the average adult's hand contains approximately 30g of carb. And don't forget to include the corners! A traditional, hand-tossed pizza that is the size of the average adult's hand contains approximately 30g of carb. And don't forget to include the corners! In this example, the slice of pizza is slightly larger than an adult woman's hand, so we'll call it 35g. An adult's hand-size slice of thin-crust? Go with 20g. Deep-dish, pan or Sicilian? Call it 45g. To see if your ha Continue reading >>
How To Order Fast Food When You Have Diabetes
Although anyone may develop type 2 diabetes, this kind of diabetes is often caused by poor lifestyle choices, such as being overweight and not being physically active. Controlling your diet by avoiding typical fast-food choices can play a large role in helping control your blood sugar levels — a must when managing type 2 diabetes. Taking this important step may even reduce the amount of medication you need to take each day. But there are many reasons that you might need to rely on fast-food restaurants. For instance, you may work late hours or be pressed for time, and fast food might be the most convenient, or even the only, option available to you. There's no denying that these quick-bite chains seem to be everywhere — the United States has about 7.52 fast-food restaurants per 100,000 residents, according to a study published in December 2011 in the journal Critical Public Health. If you do find yourself needing to order at the drive-thru, don't fret. The key is knowing what to order to get the nutrition you need without jeopardizing your health. Type 2 Diabetes: Better Fast-Food Choices Common sense says that fast food isn't likely to be on the preferred-foods list for people with diabetes. After all, a typical fast-food breakfast can put you at or over your daily limit for fat, cholesterol, and carbohydrates. But many fast-food restaurants offer smart choices that can help you get the nutrition you need with the convenience you desire. For starters, fast food doesn’t have to mean fat-laden fare. Planning ahead is key, says Jenny Dejesus, NP, CDE, a diabetes educator at Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City. Many fast-food chains now feature healthier choices, and these are the restaurants you want to go to. “If possible, look at the menu ahead of time Continue reading >>
Low Carb Gourmet Diabetic Pizza
You can ditch the regular pizza crust that is super high in carbs – around 36 g total carbs and 33.5 g net carbs per slice for a 14″ pizza crust – and swap it for our awesome low carb diabetic pizza crust that has just 6 g net carbs for 1/2 large pizza! Sound good? It is. Yes, there are super tasty ‘junk foods' that you can still have when you're diabetic. Sure, they don't come in a pack, but taking the time to make food that is friendly to your blood sugar (and health) is well worth the effort. In fact, right now we're sharing a few pizza options. Our gourmet pizza recipe (today's recipe – YUM!) Big breakfast pizza – coming soon Baked zucchini pizza boats – coming soon Seriously, you are going to LOVE all these recipes because they are so tasty and yummy. Want to receive all these delicious recipes in your inbox? CLICK HERE to subscribe to our weekly newsletter and we'll send them to you. Gourmet Pizza Toppings This recipe includes cauliflower, sundried tomato, ham, olives, bell pepper and mushrooms (and cheese of course). But you can use all sorts of things – chicken strips, ground beef, spinach, avocado, broccoli, onion, feta – yes, you name it, pizza is a versatile meal. The thing that's great about pizza is you can top it with whatever you like – just get creative. Low carb pizza is still a high calorie food compared to simple vegetable dishes, so it's still not something you want to eat everyday. In regards to the low carb pizza, this is mostly due to the pizza crust being made with almond flour – nuts being high in fat. But these are healthy types of fat, so no need to worry there. You can feel confident eating this knowing it is a healthier, safer diabetic option that is equally as satisfying for your pizza cravings. Happy Eating! Essential Continue reading >>
The 4 Common Mistakes All Prediabetics Must Avoid To Prevent Diabetes
Just a “little touch of sugar?” iStock/stocksnapper If you’re among the 79 million Americans with prediabetes—higher-than-normal levels of blood sugar, which boost your risk for full-blown diabetes and related health problems—don’t shrug it off. New research published in the journal The Lancet found that prediabetic patients who had at least one normal blood sugar reading, even for a short period of time, were 56 percent more likely to avoid progressing to diabetes during nearly six years of follow-up after the study. In other words, “This is your chance to take control,” says Matt Longjohn, MD, MPH, senior director of chronic disease prevention for the YMCA-USA. “Research proves that some simple, daily lifestyle changes can dramatically cut the risk for developing diabetes over the next couple of years by 58 percent, which is better than what is seen with frequently prescribed medications like metformin.” The key? Avoid these four roadblocks between you and a healthier future. iStock/martinedoucet The landmark Diabetes Prevention Program study, which followed 3,234 people with prediabetes for three years, revealed that everyday changes—switching up their eating habits and adding more physical activity—helped participants lose a little weight. Trimming just 5 percent to 7 percent of their body weight (that’s 12.5 pounds for a 180 pound person) and exercising slashed the odds for developing full-blown diabetes by a whopping 58 percent. This helps trim abdominal fat—the deep belly fat that settles in your torso, wraps itself around your internal organs, and even invades your liver. It messes with your liver’s ability to regulate blood sugar by pumping out inflammation-boosting compounds that make your body stop obeying insulin. Smart Move: St Continue reading >>
Can Diabetics Eat Pizza?
This is one of those yes and no questions, as it depends on the pizza in question. Pizza can be many things. On the one hand, it can be a thick, cheese-filled dough topped with a thick layer of gooey cheese along with loads of fatty, salty meats like pepperoni and sausage. On the other, pizza can be a thin whole wheat crust, topped with fresh tomatoes, a sprinkle of reduced fat cheese and loaded with veggies. Clearly, the type of pizza we're talking about is significant. In addition, how much to eat and how often to eat come into play. Consuming half of a large pizza (or more) would be extremely high in carbs, fat, and calories -- and is not recommended. However, eating a slice or two of pizza could more easily fit into a healthy eating plan. Also consider how often to eat pizza -- a few times a week is probably too much. Diabetes and pizza: What to do if you're a pizza fanatic? 1. Limit pizza intake and portion size. Consider trying to allow yourself pizza once or twice a month, and when you do enjoy it, try to limit your portion to one or two slices. 2. Choose healthier pizza options. Try rounding out the meal with a veggie-filled salad and some fruit. Choose thin crusts over thick or pan pizzas, and if your pizzeria offers whole wheat, give it a try. Ask them to go light on the cheese, skip the meats, and opt instead for fruits and veggies such as tomatoes, mushrooms, broccoli, pineapple, onions or peppers -- or any combination thereof. 3. Make your own pizza. You could also make your own pizza so you have more control over the toppings. You can make dough, buy dough or buy a pre-made crust. Use reduced fat cheese. You can make a quick pizza sauce by sauteing a bit of garlic in 1 tablespoon of olive oil, adding a 28 oz. can of crushed tomatoes, sprinkling of basil an Continue reading >>
Low Carb Diabetic Pizza Crust
Who loves pizza? We do too. But did you know that regular pizza crust is super high in carbs? We're talking around 36 g total carbs and 33.5 g net carbs per slice for a 14″ pizza crust. I don't know about you but I like more than one slice of pizza! What that means is if you eat a slice of regular pizza you're going to see your blood sugar soaring and you won't be a happy chappy! Of course, we have a solution for you. In fact we've got several options. Over the coming days we're going to be sharing some low carb diabetic friendly pizza options for you to try (and thoroughly enjoy). This low carb pizza crust Our gourmet pizza recipe (pictured above – YUM!) Big breakfast pizza – yes, who said you can't have pizza for breakfast Baked zucchini pizza boats – these are so awesome Seriously, you are going to LOVE these because they are so tasty and yummy. Want to receive all these delicious recipes in your inbox? CLICK HERE to subscribe to our weekly newsletterand we'll send them to you. Well let's get on with it then… This diabetic pizza crust is made with diabetic friendly flour – almond flour, which greatly reduces the carb count. In fact, our version is just 6 g net carbs for half a large pizza. Oh yes, you can feel more than satisfied with this delicious crust. As you can see from the pictures below, it is quite a large pizza – around 4 generous slices per person. It's quite a thin base but it does not go soggy or fall apart either. Here's the recipe: Nutrition FactsLow Carb Diabetic Pizza Crust Amount Per Serving Calories 480 Calories from Fat 378 % Daily Value* Total Fat 42g 65% Saturated Fat 8g 40% Polyunsaturated Fat 18g Monounsaturated Fat 15g Cholesterol 109mg 36% Sodium 452mg 19% Potassium 20mg 1% Total Carbohydrates 12g 4% Dietary Fiber 6g 24% Sugars Continue reading >>
Preventing Diabetes: Small Changes Have Big Payoff
If it's hard to imagine how small differences in lifestyle can make a big difference in your health, consider this story of identical twins Tim and Paul Daly. They shared almost everything in childhood, including the same eating habits, the same love of basketball and the same genes — some of which predispose them to diabetes. Back in 1996, one of the twins was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. "When you first get diagnosed, it's like a punch in the stomach," says Paul Daly, who is now 60. Or it's a wake-up call — if you're the identical twin. Since the disease runs in families, it seemed almost a certainty that Tim would develop it, too. "Because we know that Type 2 is genetic disease, and since he has an identical twin, he has a risk that's about 95 percent," says diabetes expert Dr. David Nathan of Massachusetts General Hospital. But 14 years later, Tim still does not have diabetes. And he doesn't take any medicine to keep his blood sugar down. Instead, he has been able to make small changes to his eating habits and exercise to keep diabetes at bay. He isn't alone — a large national study conducted at 27 sites around the country, including Massachusetts General Hospital, found that small lifestyle changes are far more successful at warding off diabetes than a drug. Overweight And At Risk Both Daly brothers had gained weight in middle age. It's just that one gained more than the other. In 1996, when he was diagnosed with diabetes, Paul weighed 220 pounds — too much for his 5-foot-10-inch frame. Looking back, Paul says he hadn't stuck with much regular exercise. By comparison, Tim was still playing Tuesday-night hoops games with friends. The year his brother was diagnosed, Tim topped the scale at about 200 pounds. At the time, neither brother realized how closely Continue reading >>
