A new study says that people who eat 1.5 tablespoons of walnuts per day have about half the diabetes risk of people who don’t eat walnuts. Eating about 3 tablespoons a day (about the recommended serving size for walnuts) reduced the risk to 47%. The researchers argue that this and the other health benefits documented […]
Dr. Scott Kahan, an expert in obesity and diabetes, discusses why our culture of blame surrounding obesity is harmful both physically and mentally, and how health care professionals can use compassionate dialogue to better help patients with diabetes manage their weight. Read more
Intermittent fasting – eating only within an eight-hour window every day, and fasting for the remaining sixteen hours — showed to improve insulin sensitivity and pancreatic response to blood glucose and to enhance weight loss in a recent study. Read more
New research suggests that sleep deprivation can trigger unhealthy eating via late night snacking, and that this behavior can lead to increased risk of obesity and diabetes. Read more
With low carbs very much in the news, diabetes educator and exercise expert Sheri Colberg looks at low carb diets for athletes with type 1 diabetes. How low should an athlete with diabetes go? Read more
Many diabetes experts have been fans of low carb diets for a while now. New research adds support to the idea, showing that patients with type 1 who followed a very low carb diet achieved better glucose control. Read more
A new health study conducted in Canada found that people who cannot afford to eat regularly or to eat a healthy diet have a two-times greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Household food insecurity, which is defined as having uncertain or inadequate food access due to financial limitations. A possible factor in the link […]
Weight loss is usually a beneficial thing for people with diabetes. However, it’s important not to lose sight of the fact that weight loss is sometimes a sign of a problem — and one problem that can cause unexpected weight loss is high glucose levels. A diabetes educator shares why it’s so important to look […]
Being physically active is good for everyone, but it’s even better for people with diabetes. Exercise may “cancel out” some of your blood glucose mistakes; it acts like an extra dose of insulin by getting the glucose out of your blood and into your muscles. Regular activity can also make your muscles more sensitive to any […]
Many people with diabetes are encouraged to undergo self-care education. These courses can teach patients about blood sugar control and how to manage their diet and exercise, and can be extremely helpful. But they are also a revenue source for hospitals, and many patients are shocked to find out how expensive the courses are. Read […]
Exercising has benefits for all of us, but it’s particularly important for people with diabetes. But getting started with fitness, and finding the motivation to stay with the fitness program, is tough for everyone – and for people with diabetes it can be even tougher due to the various health issues that come along with […]
Treating periodontitis (gum disease) is beneficial not only to prevent tooth loss – it’s helpful for blood sugar control in diabetes. A new study found that following non-surgical procedures for treating chronic peritonitis helped patients improve their fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c levels. The researchers note that proper periodontal evaluation is essential for patients with […]
Previous research has shown that eating a diet high in fiber can benefit patients with type 2 diabetes. Now, a new study may have determined why. A certain type of gut bacteria has been identified as the reason for the benefits of high-fiber diets. Eating the right dietary fibers can help rebalance the gut microbiome, […]
Keeping a food log can be a challenge, but can be extremely helpful both for losing weight and for weight maintenance. A diabetes educator shares her approach to successful food logging for her patients: keep it simple, make sure it’s a type of logging the patient can stick with, and take the patient’s individual needs […]
Much recent research has shown that environmental pollutants can play a role in the development of diabetes. Researchers are now looking at one of these pollutants, arsenic, to see exactly what its effects are. Arsenic contaminates the drinking water sources used by more than 100 million people around the world, and more water sources are […]
Complications from diabetes like peripheral neuropathy, vision issues, and heart problems don’t have to prevent you from doing safe and healthy exercise. You can still have a beneficial workout without the risks by exercising your core . You may not be able to get outside for a brisk walk or run, but that doesn’t mean […]
A new analysis shows that a diet rich in fruit and vegetables and low in fats can help improve glycemic control and slow the progression of diabetes. The study followed participants for eight years and found that these dietary and lifestyle changes, along with adherence to oral medications, could enable patients to avoid needing to […]
Spontaneous physical activity — “SPA time” — refers to incorporating small amounts of physical activity wherever possible throughout your day. Taking a dozen extra steps here and there can add up to a lot of calories burned over the course of the day, week, and year. SPA can happen when you get a few more […]
A recent study concluded that artificially sweetened soft drink consumption was associated with a higher risk of stroke and dementia. The preliminary research did find a link between daily intake and increased risk, but the chain of evidence is not as strong as has been widely reported. When all health and lifestyle factors that could […]
Some diabetes educators find that the holiday and new year seasons are a time when patients want a fresh start — perhaps with a change of medication. A certified diabetes educator (CDE) talks about her experience working with patients around this time of year, and why it’s so important not to make changes to your […]