With Thanksgiving just days away, planning the meal that’s diabetic friendly and delicious is easier than it sounds. Just follow these steps for healthy thanksgiving eating:
Appetizers like nuts, cheese, and veggies with hummus will be nutritious and help prevent overeating at the “big” meal.
Turkey is naturally high in protein and when paired with carbohydrates and sugar, it will help prevent spikes in blood sugar and keep you feeling satiated.
Stuffing is best when prepared with whole grain bread. The high fiber content will help keep blood sugars at bay in spite of the heavy carb content.
Sides like green bean casserole and sweet potatoes can be healthy and tasty and don’t need to be prepared with added sugars.
Desserts are often made from fruit that require no extra sugar – especially when prepared with Greek yogurt, nut butter and dark chocolate.
Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose (sugar) is too high. Insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, helps glucose from food get into your cells to be used for energy. Sometimes your body doesn’t make enough (or any) nsulin or doesn’t use insulin well. The result is that glucose stays in your blood and doesn’t reach your cells. Diabetes!
Diabetes and the Heart
Over time, having too much glucose in your blood can cause health problems such as damage to the blood vessels and nerves that control your heart. People with diabetes are also more likely to have other conditions that raise the risk for heart disease, like high blood pressure, which increases the force of blood through your arteries and can damage artery walls.
Risk Factors of Diabetes
Have prediabetes, or slightly elevated blood sugar levels
Overweight, high belly fat
Physically inactive
Over age 45
Previous gestational diabetes
Black, Hispanic, American Indian, or Alaska Native
Immediate family with type 2 diabetes
Symptoms of Diabetes
Frequently urination
Increased thirst – drinking a lot
Increased hunger
Fatigue
Blurry vision
Unintentional weight loss
Irritability, mood changes
Numbness / tingling in hands or feet
Conditions Caused by Diabetes
Heart disease
Stroke
Kidney disease
Eye problems
Dental disease
Nerve damage
Foot problems
Preventing and Managing Diabetes
People with type 1 diabetes were born without the ability to produce insulin and therefore can’t prevent it. People with type 2 diabetes make up 95% of all diabetes cases and develop the disease as they grow and is particularly common to appear in middle-age as a result of genetic predisposition and lifestyle (excess weight, diet and exercise). The following lifestyle changes
Lifestyle changes are the most important
Maintaining a moderate weight
Working with your doctor to develop a healthy weight-loss plan, if you have overweight
Increasing your activity levels
Eating a balanced diet and reducing your intake of sugary foods or overly processed foods
If you have questions about diabetes and the heart, please contact the offices of Dr. Maniscalco at 281.803.8482 or [email protected] or click to Contact Us.
November is Diabetes Awareness Month – Make the Most of Your Thanksgiving Meal!
Plan a Diabetic Friendly Thanksgiving Meal
With Thanksgiving just days away, planning the meal that’s diabetic friendly and delicious is easier than it sounds. Just follow these steps for healthy thanksgiving eating:
Check out these great recipe suggestions from our friends at Cooking Light at: https://www.cookinglight.com/thanksgiving/how-to-cook-diabetic-thanksgiving
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose (sugar) is too high. Insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, helps glucose from food get into your cells to be used for energy. Sometimes your body doesn’t make enough (or any) nsulin or doesn’t use insulin well. The result is that glucose stays in your blood and doesn’t reach your cells. Diabetes!
Diabetes and the Heart
Over time, having too much glucose in your blood can cause health problems such as damage to the blood vessels and nerves that control your heart. People with diabetes are also more likely to have other conditions that raise the risk for heart disease, like high blood pressure, which increases the force of blood through your arteries and can damage artery walls.
Preventing and Managing Diabetes
People with type 1 diabetes were born without the ability to produce insulin and therefore can’t prevent it. People with type 2 diabetes make up 95% of all diabetes cases and develop the disease as they grow and is particularly common to appear in middle-age as a result of genetic predisposition and lifestyle (excess weight, diet and exercise). The following lifestyle changes
Lifestyle changes are the most important
If you have questions about diabetes and the heart, please contact the offices of Dr. Maniscalco at 281.803.8482 or [email protected] or click to Contact Us.