#Diabetes: Type 2 Diabetes: Can You Eat Sweets?

Another good article from EverydayHealth.com that helps debunk some of the myths about Diabetes.

Type 2 Diabetes: Can You Eat Sweets?

A type 2 diabetes diagnosis does not mean you must forgo sweets forever. Careful carbohydrate counting, a sugar substitute or two, and changes in portion sizes can keep your sweet tooth happy.

By Madeline Vann, MPH

Medically reviewed by Pat F. Bass III, MD, MPH

Many people assume a diabetes diagnosis means they must starve their sweet tooth. But a careful approach to designing your diabetes diet means you don’t have to kiss sweets goodbye.

But to be able to enjoy that cookie or cup of cocoa without guilt while keeping your blood sugar levels in check, you need to know:

• What you are eating
• How much you are eating (portion size)
• Carbohydrate, sugar, and calorie contents of everything you consume

After that, do the math. Your decision to go with a natural sugar or a sugar substitute will depend on your overall carbohydrate and calorie counts as well as your personal taste preference. Carbohydrates are important because they affect your blood sugar control, and many people with diabetes are watching calories in order to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight.

Natural Sugars

Natural sugars are those that come from plant or animal sources. For example, sugar comes from sugar cane, beet sugar comes from beet roots, and honey is made by honeybees. Other types of natural sugars include:

• Maple syrup or sugar
• Agave
• Turbinado sugar

All these sugars contain carbohydrate and calories — and they all can affect your blood sugar levels. Another sweetener, high-fructose corn syrup, is classified by some as a "natural" sugar because it is made from corn, but it is highly processed to give it a longer shelf life.

Occasionally you will find natural sugars in products, but they may have names that are unfamiliar to you. If you are reading labels (and you should be!) sugars often appear in the ingredient list with names ending in -ose. When you see a list including sucrose or fructose, you know you are looking at added sugar.

Sugar also occurs naturally in certain foods, such as fruit and even milk. The key is to know your numbers — count the carbs and calories.

According to Amy Kranick, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator with the adult diabetes program at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn, there are two sweet treats you should always avoid: fruit juice (even without added sugars) and regular sodas. These both have too much sugar per serving. Instead, try a piece of whole fruit or a diet drink.

The only naturally occurring source of sweetness that doesn’t contain calories or carbohydrates is commonly called stevia or rebiana. This is a sweetener from the leaves of the stevia plant, a plant native to Central and South America. You may have seen reports suggesting that using stevia as a sweetener could help blood sugar levels and could have beneficial effects on blood sugar.

But research on stevia has not led to any clear conclusion about its benefit relative to other sugar substitutes. In fact, a recent three-month study comparing the blood sugar levels of people with diabetes who used stevia and those who did not showed no difference between the study groups. However, stevia does offer a sweet flavor without the calorie and carbohydrate counts of regular sugar and is an acceptable sugar alternative.

Sugar Substitutes

Many people living with diabetes find that sugar substitutes, man-made sweeteners with no calories or carbohydrates, give them the sweet flavor they crave without spiking blood sugar or adding pounds. At the same time, it’s easy to become concerned over the use of sugar substitutes, as they are not “natural” and therefore could be harmful to someone’s health.

Sugar substitutes include sucralose (Splenda), saccharin (Sweet ’n’Low), and aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal).

You may not need to worry about the long-term impact of consuming a reasonable amount of sugar substitutes, however.

“Really, with any of the artificial sweeteners, there’s no scientific evidence to say they have a negative effect,” says Kranick. However, she does recommend moderation in all things, even sugar substitutes, so don’t go overboard.

For people with type 2 diabetes, it’s important to know that “sugar substitutes do not elevate your blood sugar,” adds Kranick. That’s why people with diabetes are advised to switch from regular soda to diet soda, for example.

Kranick offers a word of caution for those who use sugar substitutes for baking. Some sugar substitute products designed for baking are a blend of white or brown sugar and the sugar substitute. Pay close attention to the product labeling so you have an accurate assessment of the carbohydrates and calories in the food you are preparing. Additionally, bakers need to remember that flours also add to the carbohydrate count.

The bottom line for people with diabetes who would like to keep the sweet in their diet is this: Do your research so that you know how many carbs are in the foods you like and experiment a bit to find the flavor of sugar substitute that you like best. Living with diabetes does not mean giving up the sweetness in your life.

#Diabetes Week 26

Monday, July 18, 2011 8:00 a.m.
All numbers were pretty darn good last week. I'm doing okay keeping this disease in it's place. I know that won't always be the case so I will enjoy these days while I can. 


I have decided that sugar-free ice cream is just not as good as the real thing, but I'll get by. Skinny Cow actually has a smoother texture than the Blue Bunny I tried. And I can't really speak for the texture of the Breyer's Carb Smart Vanilla since I have only used it in Root Beer Floats (with A&W Diet Root Beer - so cute in old fashioned brown plastic long-necks!).  But, considering my love for ice cream I will stick with these sugar-free/carb smart options and maybe one day I won't notice the differences anymore.


Read the following article and decided to buy some almonds and pistachios. I have eaten some of them, but TBH, if I am really hungry for a snack a handful of nuts didn't cut it. I need something with some substance, like pop-corn or pork rinds. I will nibble them when I'm watching TV though, At least that will get some of their "good" qualities in me. 


Good article on eating nuts to help control T2:

Eating Nuts Daily Could Help Control Type 2 Diabetes and Prevent Complications

ScienceDaily (July 12, 2011) — Eating nuts every day could help control Type 2 diabetes and prevent its complications, according to new research from St. Michael's Hospital and the University of Toronto.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE

12 Common #Diabetes Myths Debunked

12 Common Diabetes Myths Debunked ~ By Sarah Henry, Caring.com
(source: Health.msn.com)


Myth #1: People with diabetes can't eat anything sweet.
Relax—despite what you may have heard, a piece of cake or a couple of cookies won't cause a health crisis. In fact, sweets can be eaten in moderation by people with type 2 diabetes, if eaten as part of a healthy meal plan and combined with exercise, according to the American Diabetes Association.
Still, while avoiding sweet treats isn't mandatory, limiting them is. Sweets often contain not only empty calories but a lot of sugar, a carbohydrate that raises glucose levels considerably. For better glucose control, diabetics should have dessert only after a low-carb meal. It's important to eat that chicken breast, broccoli, and salad before dishing into some ice cream.


Myth #2: Eating too much sugar causes diabetes.
No, chocaholics aren't destined to develop diabetes. The disease is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic and lifestyle factors. And the high level of sugar in someone's bloodstream is not the same thing as the refined stuff you buy in bags from the supermarket. That said, being overweight can increase the risk for developing type 2 diabetes, and eating a lot of sugar can pack on the pounds. If your family has a history of diabetes, eating healthfully and exercising regularly is recommended to keep everyone's weight in check. For those who already have diabetes, those same things will help them manage the disease.


Myth #3: People with diabetes must eat a special diet.
A healthy diet for someone with diabetes is the same as a healthy diet for anyone else. How does that look? A wholesome meal plan is based on whole-grain foods, lean protein, vegetables, and fruit. Such a diet is low in fat (particularly saturated and trans fat), salt, and simple sugars. So-called diabetic foods offer no special benefits. The best bet is to skip these costly commercial offerings and head for the produce aisle instead.


Myth #4: You can catch diabetes from someone else.
Diabetes is not an infectious or contagious disease. Scientists don't know for sure exactly what causes the disorder, but it can't be caught from another person, like a cold or the flu. There, does, however, appear to be a genetic link with type 2 diabetes: If a family member has the condition, you're at higher risk for the disease.


Myth #5: There's only one dangerous kind of diabetes.
Not so. Diabetes refers to a group of diseases—all of which require serious attention—that have in common the body's inability to properly convert glucose from food into energy, leading to a high level of sugar in the blood. The main kinds include type 1 (formerly known as juvenile-onset diabetes), type 2 (once called adult-onset diabetes), and gestational (which occurs only during pregnancy). The suspected causes differ for each type, but managing any type of diabetes requires balancing food, physical activity, and, if needed, medications. And while people with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day for their entire lives, type 2 diabetes is no less of a concern, because ignoring it could lead to devastating complications such as blindness, heart attack, and stroke.


Myth #6: Only people with diabetes need insulin.
Everybody needs insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas that allows the body to convert food into energy for activity. People who don't have diabetes make and use the right amount of this chemical. People with diabetes either don't make any insulin, don't make enough, or can't use the insulin they make properly. If you or someone you're caring for has type 2 diabetes, it's important to balance food, activity, and—in some cases—medications, which may include insulin injections or an insulin pump (insulin isn't available in pill form), to get the necessary amount of this essential hormone. And to dispense with another myth in this area: Insulin is a tool to manage diabetes, not a cure.


Myth #7: Nothing can be done to prevent diabetes complications.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Studies show that diabetes-related complications can be prevented or delayed by following a self-care treatment plan that keeps blood sugar levels under control and by getting regular medical checkups. Many people with type 2 diabetes also have high blood pressure and cholesterol. Keeping these twin conditions in check as well can also go a long way toward warding off complications such as nerve damage and kidney failure.


Myth #8: Only overweight people get diabetes.
Here's the skinny on this one: Many people who have type 2 diabetes carry excess pounds, and some are obese, but many elderly people with the condition aren't particularly overweight. If you or the person you're caring for needs to shed some weight, it may be motivating to learn that even modest weight loss through healthier eating and increased activity can help keep long-term complications at bay. But diabetes doesn't discriminate: Even Slim Jims can succumb to the disease.


Myth #9: People with diabetes shouldn't exercise.
The exact opposite is true: Exercise is a key component of any diabetes treatment plan, as it helps diabetics better use insulin and lower or maintain weight. Alas, exercise is often the most overlooked weapon in the arsenal against this disease, underestimated by both patients and care providers. If  the person in your care hasn't been active in a long time, is overweight, or has other medical conditions or mobility issues, then it's wise to get his or her main diabetes care provider's green light before he or she embarks on an exercise regimen. But barring severe disability or serious complications, physical activity of some sort—and this doesn't have to mean working out at a gym—should be done regularly by everyone with diabetes, regardless of age. You might encourage the person you're caring for to take walks with you, for instance.


Myth #10: People who follow their treatment plan never have high blood sugar readings.
It's too bad this myth isn't true. Unfortunately, someone with diabetes may experience the odd stubbornly high reading even if he's diligently following all his doctors' orders. Type 2 diabetes isn't an easy disease to manage—and as we age, our bodies are constantly changing, as is our reaction to stress, infections, illness, medications, exercise, and diet. Little wonder, then, that sometimes our blood sugar doesn't cooperate.
It's best to praise a diabetic's hard work when he does hit his recommended range, but don't let an occasional high reading give him the excuse to throw in the towel. If he keeps on following his treatment plan, he'll find that, overall, his glucose control is on target.


Myth #11: It's possible to have "just a touch" or "a little" diabetes.
Nope, you either have type 2 diabetes or you don't—period. And if you have the disease, you need to pay attention to it. Even if diet and exercise changes keep the disease in check and you don't need oral medications or insulin injections, the condition still demands that you follow a self-management treatment plan that includes glucose monitoring and making careful lifestyle choices.


Myth #12: People diagnosed with diabetes are doomed.
Far from it. While it's true that diabetes is a long-term disease without a cure and that diabetics might experience some pretty nasty complications if their blood sugar levels are allowed to soar sky-high for years, they can avoid that fate.
Many people can and do lead busy, active, spontaneous lives while also managing their type 2 diabetes. A diabetes diagnosis alone doesn't rule out travel, having fun, or partaking in many common pastimes or pursuits. Simply put, they must follow their treatment regimen, plan ahead, and take extra precautions when necessary, such as checking blood sugar more often if they're traveling across the country, or packing the right foods if they're taking a long car trip. With a little help and support from family or friends and the assistance of a good healthcare team, it's possible to live a full and fulfilling life even with a diabetes diagnosis.

Day 175 Week 25

Monday, July 11, 2011, 11:30 a.m.
Nothing new going on. It seems the roller coaster ride of the new diagnosis of Diabetes has reached a level spot with a lot less ups and downs. Along with that there is just hardly anything to chat about so I've figure less often blog posts will suffice. 


So, nothing new to report.

Day 171

7:45 p.m.
Haven't posted in a few day - there really has been nothing going on. All my numbers are pretty good. Just doing my best to stay on track with the right diet and some exercise. Seems to be a good plan so far. :)

#Diabetes Day 166

11:00 p.m.
Good day - numbers were decent except breakfast cereal. 


Not much more to my day - laundry and swimming. 


Good Night Moon!

#Diabetes Day 165

10:30 p.m.
Fasting started out decent but cereal quickly remedied that. After that all was smooth sailing. Slow day, piddled on facebook and floated around in the pool for a bit. Other than that, not much going on. Nice, quiet, slow start to the weekend. :)

#Diabetes Day 164

7:45 p.m.
Nothing new to report - just an average kinda day. BG post lunch was real good. I had Wanchai Ferry Spicy Garlic Chicken and my BG was only 102 post test. Not bad. 


House is all quiet now - all the grand-kids are gone their separate ways for a few days. Lets see if hubby dear will be a dear and not act contrary for the next few days and I can pretend I'm on vacation! :P

#Diabetes Day 163

10:30 p.m.
Today was a better day 0- no headache - that alone made it a better day, but my glucoses have ll been better also. Well, I guess "all". Fasting was 103, and while I prefer a lower fasting, my doctor considers 103 a good fasting, so okay.


Fresh salad and cheese stuffed crust pepperoni pizza for supper and post test was 111, so woo hoo - good number for a pizza meal! :D


Time to say Good Night Moon.

#Diabetes Day 162

8:00 p.m.
Been a bad day - and I thought I felt yucky yesterday. Woke with a serious headache and high BG. Glucose has stayed higher than I want all day . . . and the headache has stayed with me all day. Nothing makes it go away. Two Aleve with breakfast - no help. Three Motrin with lunch - minor help, but didn't make it go away. Three more Motrin around 4 and it only kept it from regressing to the level it started at. 


And in the middle of the day I experienced several dizzy spells. Not real bad spells, but enough that I wanted my hubby in the upstairs den when I took a shower - just in case. Don't know what that was all about, but I'm glad those passed and didn't keep recurring.


I'm about to take 2 more Aleve and in a couple of hours I'm going to take a muscle relaxer and hope it helps me sleep well tonight and hopefully wake in the morning without this blasted headache.