Take Control Of Your Weight And Your Diabetes!

Take Control of Your Weight and Your Diabetes!

Join The 8-Week Diabetes Weight Loss Challenge SparkTeam!
SparkPeople's Official 8-Week Diabetes Weight Loss Challenge will help you take control of your diabetes and get real results! Get weekly challenges and a simple exercise program that's been proven to help people with diabetes manage their blood sugar levels. By tracking your progress and completing the challenge you'll receive a special SparkTrophy to display on your SparkPage. Join anytime to start the challenge! Continue reading

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Best vegetables for people with diabetes

When you have diabetes, not all vegetables are created equal.
While most vegetables are packed with fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, some will affect your blood sugar much differently than others.
Keeping a list of starchy vs. non-starchy vegetables on hand will help you make the best choices when you're grocery shopping or eating out.
Non-starchy vegetables
Non-starchy vegetables are the best for diabetes, as they are naturally low in sugar, carbohydrates and calories. Some common non-starchy vegetables include:
-Artichokes
-Asparagus
-Baby corn
-Bean sprouts
-Brussels sprouts
-Cauliflower
-Carrots
-Eggplant
-Peppers
-Greens (collard, kale, turnip, romaine, spinach etc.)
-Tomato
If you fill your plate mostly with non-starchy vegetables that are steamed or cooked in a light amount of oil, you generally don't have to worry about portion sizes with non-starchy vegetables.
One study from Newcastle University even found that a low-calorie diet consisting mainly of non-starchy vegetables could successfully reverse type 2 diabetes.
Starchy vegetables
Starchy vegetables, like potatoes, green peas, beans or pumpkin, can still be enjoyed when you have diabetes, but certain precautions should be taken. First, note that the proper serving size is about 1/2 cup to one cup, depending on the vegetable. Cooking starchy vegetables can also raise their glycemic index profile, so you should account for that when meal planning around your blood sugar. Starchy vegetables are also higher in calories - especially if they are cooked in fat.
Canned vs. fresh
Fresh vegetables are always Continue reading

Glucomannan: A Super Fiber for Weight Loss & More?!

In recent decades, glucomannan has been introduced to the United States and European markets as a food additive and dietary supplement. What is glucomannan? It’s a beneficial, soluble and fermentable dietary fiber derived from the root of the konjac plant, which is native to Asia.
People in East Asia have used konjac fiber, also known as glucomannan powder, for thousands of years as both food and traditional medicine. The indigenous people of China have used konjac to treat asthma, breast pain, coughs, hernias, burns and various skin disorders. Fast-forward to present day and scientific studies have revealed that supplementing with konjac glucomannan can significantly lower plasma cholesterol, improve carbohydrate metabolism, encourage bowel movements and promote a healthy colon. (1)
One of the reasons some people may be familiar with glucomannan is because it’s marketed for its ability to promote weight loss. Search for “glucomannan Walmart” and you’ll see that chains like Walmart are already selling this plant fiber as a supplement. There is even a brand-name dietary supplement called Lipozene with glucomannan as its primary ingredient.
Glucomannan weight loss just might be possible if you also lead a generally healthy lifestyle, but it’s important to choose the right product and take it in a safe manner. The fiber from konjac root also holds many other surprising health benefits. There are not many glucomannan side effects, but the most dangerous one (choking) is possible yet avoidable. Pretty much tasteless, glucomannan powder can be added to smoothies and b Continue reading

7 Reasons To Use Aloe Vera For Treating Diabetes

Aloe vera has been long used as a natural remedy, mostly because of its soothing and invigorating effect, which make it a perfect skin care product. Recent studies have shown that aloe vera can be also used in the treatment of diabetes.
When used properly, aloe vera can reduce blood glucose. In this article we will explain why is aloe vera beneficial when it comes to treating and preventing diabetes, and how to use the maximum of its benefits.
Today, diabetes is one of the most common auto-immune diseases. The number of people diagnosed with hyperglycemia escalates quickly, and health experts are quite worried about the actual state.
Luckily, people are aware that regular physical activity, proper diet and healthy lifestyle choices can prevent diabetes, or at least help diabetics control their condition. Even though lifestyle choices and regular workout depend on our free time, nothing affects the choices you do when it comes to your daily menu, and here comes the importance of including aloe vera to your diet.
Check out some of the most important facts scientists have revealed:
Aloe vera is one of the most effective means when it comes to regulating blood sugar naturally..
Regular consumption of fresh aloe vera juice regulates the glucose in the bloodstream.
Aloe vera has strong hypoglycemic ability, and it is beneficial for patients diagnosed with both IDDM (insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus) and NIDDM (non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus).
Two doses of aloe vera juice, or 5-15 ml, daily decrease blood sugar significantly.
How can aloe vera help diabetics?
Here are Continue reading

Your 8-Step Daily Diabetes Checklist

Managing type 2 diabetes can seem like an endless to-do list of eating healthy, exercising, testing your blood sugar, and taking medications. But by taking some simple steps to control diabetes, you can help prevent or delay serious diabetes-related complications including nerve damage, vision loss, kidney disease, and stroke.
Streamlining your daily checklist will help you stick to it more easily. Here are the essentials:
1. Test your blood sugar and record it in a logbook.
Monitoring your blood sugar levels is an important part of managing diabetes. Daily monitoring provides ongoing feedback about your blood sugar levels and diabetes management, says Alison Massey, RD, CDE, LDN, director of diabetes education at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore. Use the information to guide your decisions about what to eat and when and how to exercise, and to provide insight into proper medication dosing if you’re on insulin, she adds.
Recording the information in a logbook is vital, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA). Your logbook becomes a tool that can be used during visits with your doctor to see how well your diabetes management plan is working and to make changes if necessary.
2. Take your medication.
When diet and exercise alone are not able to keep diabetes under control, your doctor may prescribe medication to help with blood sugar management, Massey says. “It’s important to understand how your diabetes medications work to control blood sugar levels, how to treat low blood sugar if that happens, and how and when to take your medication,” she says. Your Continue reading