Why Being Social Can Be Scary When You Have Chronic Illnesses

Recently, my social life has been quite busy (unusual for me these days). My sister turned 50, my dad turned 80, a friend had a baby shower and I’ve had a number of other catch-ups with friends.
I work from home, but I also manage to get out of the house regularly with two different weekly exercise classes, two different monthly support group meetings, grocery shopping and various other bits and pieces. Nothing extraordinary there, I here you say. But wait! I also have rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia and type 2 diabetes along with other related conditions and side effects. These give me fluctuating and unpredictable levels of pain, strength and energy.
At home, I have routines that help keep these symptoms relatively stable. I have frequent rest breaks during the day. I don’t stand or walk for long periods and I wait until I feel up to it before attempting physical tasks like vacuuming. I also have control over the foods I eat so I avoid excess sugar, overly-processed foods, and gluten. (I don’t have celiac disease but I am trying it to see if it helps with my overall energy and vitality – so far, so good.)
A lot of that attempted stability disappears when I go out with others. Don’t get me wrong, I want to go out. I enjoy celebrating big events and seeing my friends.
But… There are always consequences.
Limited energy supply
Some of you may be familiar with the spoon theory. The idea behind it is that people with chronic illnesses only get a limited supply of energy (or spoons) each day. We have to ration our energy so it lasts until we go to bed. If we use t Continue reading

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Broccoli Compound Lowers Risk of Obesity and Helps Treat Diabetes

Broccoli Compound Lowers Risk of Obesity and Helps Treat Diabetes
Sulforaphane, an organic sulfur found in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables, may lower your risk of obesity and may be an ideal substitute or complement to metformin in the treatment of type 2 diabetes
Sulforaphane reduces glucose production and improves liver gene expression. Patients with dysregulated diabetes who received broccoli sprout extract in addition to metformin had 10 percent lower fasting blood glucose levels than the placebo group
Broccoli and broccoli sprouts also have potent anticancer activity courtesy of sulforaphane and other chemoprotective compounds
Broccoli and broccoli sprouts have potent anticancer activity courtesy of sulforaphane , a naturally occurring organic sulfur, and other chemoprotective compounds. Studies have shown sulforaphane:
Supports normal cell function and division and acts as an immune stimulant 1
Causes apoptosis (programmed cell death) in colon, 2 prostate, 3 breast 4 and tobacco-induced lung cancer 5 cells; three servings of broccoli per week may reduce your risk of prostate cancer by more than 60 percent 6
Activates nuclear factor-like 2 (Nrf2), a transcription factor that regulates cellular oxidation and reduction and aids in detoxification, 7 as well as other phase 2 detoxification enzymes.
Broccoli sprouts, in particular, have been shown to help detox environmental pollutants such as benzene. 8 , 9 , 10 In another study, sulforaphane was found to increase excretion of airborne pollutants by 61 percent. 11 The phytonutrients glu Continue reading

2 Things People With Type 1 Diabetes Can Learn From The Cancer & AIDS Community

2 Things People With Type 1 Diabetes Can Learn From The Cancer & AIDS Community
Cancer is scary. Diabetes is scary. Chronic illness in general is scary. But each condition holds a different social connotation which is why Cancer & AIDS receive more funding, research, and general support from the government and the media than diabetes.
Diabetes is such a large, yet largely ignored, problem that it is almost difficult to comprehend. For that reason, here is some perspective, comparing AIDS, Diabetes, and Breast Cancer:
There are 29 million diagnosed cases of some type of diabetes in the USA. A speculated 79 million people are living with undiagnosed diabetes or prediabetes. If that doesnt get your attention, the cost associated with diabetes will.
While the American Cancer Society estimated costs of all cancers annual amounts to $201 billion, diabetes takes the cake (low-carb of course) with a staggering $245 billion annual impact. Not only are these costs associated with inhumanely astronomical health care prices of managing the chronic condition daily, the health care cost of diabetes isskyrocketing because of untreated diabetes.
Yet, you can hear a pin drop when it comes to diabetes advocacy in American (and most other countries) culture. Why is it that so much of the awareness, media attention, fundraising, and community support is mostly going to other justifiable causes like Cancer and AIDS but not diabetes? Is diabetes not that deadly? Clearly it is killing at a higher rate. Is diabetes not a big financial problem? Clearly it is bankrupting patients and the heal Continue reading

Junk food and diabetes: Recommendations and tips for eating out

Junk food and diabetes: Recommendations and tips for eating out
Reviewed by Natalie Olsen, RD, LD, ACSM EP-C
More than 29 million people in the United States have diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is a condition where the body is unable to make enough insulin, or to use it properly.
Insulin is necessary both to regulate levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood and to use this sugar to fuel the body's cells.
Healthful eating is one of the easiest and most effective ways to prevent or manage the symptoms of diabetes . However, by making smart decisions, it is possible for those with diabetes to enjoy their favorite junk foods from time to time.
Diabetes-friendly options at popular chain restaurants
Junk food is high in calories and sugar but low in nutrients, so should be consumed as infrequently as possible.
Fast food, processed foods, and prepared snack foods all fall into the category of junk foods. They are high in calories , sugar, and fat but low in nutrients. Therefore, these types of foods should be consumed infrequently, especially when trying to manage diabetes.
Junk foods may contribute to diabetes in the following ways:
Rapid effect on blood sugar levels. Highly processed foods that are high in calories and low in vitamins , minerals, and fiber are digested quickly and can cause a rapid rise in blood sugar levels.
Poor portion control. Junk foods are usually not very filling and frequently come in larger portion sizes than recommended. Both these factors may lead people to overeat junk foods, something that c Continue reading

Gifts for Diabetics: The Ultimate Guide (Always Updated)

Gifts for Diabetics: The Ultimate Guide (Always Updated)
Finding a thoughtful gift for a friend or family member with diabetes can be hard. Thats why I created this Ultimate Guide to Gifts for Diabetics!
Gifts for diabetics used to be less exciting than getting socks for Christmas, but now there are so many beautiful, useful or just plain cool diabetes products available that I really want to share them with you!
All the items in this guide are things that I either already own, or that I would be excited to unwrap myself. We deal with diabetes 24/7, so why not add a little color, technology, information and fun to make our everyday diabetes management a little less clinical and a little more tolerable?
I will update this guide whenever I find a new product that deserves to be on it, so it will always be the Ultimate Guide to Gifts for Diabetics, no matter when youre reading it. If you use a product that you think I should include, please leave a link in the comments below so that I can check it out.
When you have read this guide, remember to also check out my Ultimate Fitness Gift Guide for the best fitness equipment, gadgets, and accessories.
Think before you buy: Diabetes can be overwhelming sometimes, and not everyone will appreciate getting a diabetes-related gift on a day that should be all about fun, family, and friends. If in doubt, I suggest you buy a gift that is useful for people with diabetes without being made specifically for people with diabetes (like the workout pants or Apple watch).
We look at our testing supplies and injection devices every day, f Continue reading