Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects millions of people worldwide. When it comes to blood sugar control, people living with diabetes often find themselves wondering…

“How many carbs should I eat per day to achieve my goals?”

However, a cursory Google search on the topic can lead to a million different results that contradict each other, leaving patients feeling even more confused.

There are two camps in the diabetes space that offer contrasting views on carb intake.

The first camp advocates for a low-carb diet, eliminating carbs from one's diet almost completely. They believe that carbs act as rocket fuel to the body's blood sugar, causing spikes that insulin must work to bring down. Eliminating carbs from one's diet makes it harder to experience blood sugar spikes, which can lead to better blood sugar control. However, adhering to a low-carb diet can be incredibly difficult, and breaking adherence can lead to an even more challenging lifestyle.

The second...

Dating can be a tricky situation for anyone, but for those with diabetes, there are some additional challenges that come with it. If you're a parent of a teen with diabetes, it's understandable that you might be concerned about how your child will navigate dating with this condition.

The key to helping them?

To focus on building their independence and self-sufficiency.

One of the most important things you can do as a parent is to teach your child the necessary skills to manage their diabetes on their own even prior to dating. If you don't focus on teaching the skills, then that’s where the problem is gonna arise later on. They might become super reliant on you. 

So here are the skills that you should teach your child in managing diabetes…

How to use their technology

 How to Interpret blood sugars

 What to do to treat them

 What they might need to treat lows and highs

By starting this training at a young age, you'll be setting them up for...

Navigating the dating world can be challenging, and having diabetes can add an extra layer of complexity to the mix. So what are questions and considerations that may arise when you have diabetes and are in a relationship?

One common concern for people with diabetes is when to have a BIG conversation with their partner about their condition.

This conversation can cover a range of topics, from the signs and symptoms of low blood sugar to what to do in case of an emergency. 

While there is no one "right" time to have this conversation, it's important to feel comfortable and confident enough to share this information with your partner when you feel the time is right.

It’s up to you to decide when to tell someone that you have diabetes. You might feel you want to keep it quiet on a first or second date, especially if you don’t know if you’ll see that person again. Or, you may decide to be more open about diabetes from the start – especially before something...

Eating out is a joy, but for people with diabetes, it can be tricky. 

As much as we love digging into pancakes, omelets, and biscuits, these meals can wreak havoc on our blood sugar levels if we don't dose them right. 

However, just because you have diabetes doesn’t mean you can’t indulge in brunch. 

In fact, with a little planning and preparation, you can enjoy a big brunch without compromising your blood sugar levels. Let me share with you how to dose for a big brunch (breakfast and lunch).

Let's take a closer look at a typical brunch meal. 

There's an omelet with some bacon, cheese, tomatoes, and peppers which we estimate to be made of three eggs.

Then there's a biscuit, a piece of roasted chicken, a fruit cup, and a banana pancake with actual pieces of banana in it. 

Let’s start by breaking down the meal in terms of carbs, as that will hit blood sugar the fastest!

From a carb perspective, we're looking at 30 grams for...

Living with diabetes can be challenging, especially when it comes to eating restaurant food. 

Many people with diabetes feel like they have to restrict themselves from enjoying their favorite foods, like Jerk Chicken Pasta, which can be frustrating and disheartening.

However, it doesn't have to be this way! 

In this blog post, we will be sharing with you these tips on how to dose for a jerk chicken pasta dish to help maintain good blood sugars. 

Let’s break down the nutritional information of this plate of jerk chicken pasta, starting with carb sources.  

We can estimate that there are about two to two and a half cups of pasta, which translates to about 86 grams of carbs. With a small piece of bread, the total carb count comes out to 120 grams. Carbohydrates can have a significant impact on blood sugar levels, which is why many people with diabetes worry about the carb content of their meals. However, it's important to remember that carbs are not the...

Are you someone with diabetes who loves to try new foods and experiences, but struggles with how to manage your blood sugar levels in unfamiliar situations?

Living with diabetes can sometimes make it difficult to enjoy new and exciting culinary experiences, but it doesn't have to be that way. With a bit of preparation and awareness, you can manage your blood sugar levels while still indulging in delicious foods. In this blog post, we'll be exploring how to approach a popular New Orleans-style dish that is sure to tantalize your taste buds.

Let's take a look at the Jambalaya. For example, we've got fish, sausage, shrimp, and veggies, with rice as the main carbohydrate. 

The good news? 
The veggies are negligible in terms of their impact on blood sugar levels, and the veggies won't contribute any carbs to speak of. 

The bad news?

There will likely be oil or butter used in the preparation of this dish, which can make it high in fat as well as carbs. 

...

Eating out can be a challenge for anyone, but it can be especially tricky for those with diabetes.

A meal with multiple courses, like the ones served at Brazilian steakhouses, can be even more challenging to navigate. Follow this little guide for handling a multiple-course meal while maintaining the normal blood sugars all Type 1 Diabetic deserve and should strive for!

Keep Track of Carbs and Dose for Every Plate

One of the biggest mistakes people make when eating a multi-course meal is only dosing for the first plate. It's important to keep track of the carbs in each course and dose accordingly. Preferably, you should pre-bolus, but at the very least, make sure you're dosing for every plate. Neglecting to do so can lead to high blood sugar levels hours later, which can be frustrating and even dangerous.

Hydrate

If your blood sugar is over 180, your body will try to excrete the extra glucose through your urine, which can lead to dehydration. This is because your body needs...

Eating out is a popular pastime for many of us. It's a great way to socialize with friends and family, trying out new cuisines (like Mexican) and enjoy a night off from cooking.

However, for people with diabetes, eating out can be a challenge, especially, when you eat in a Mexican cuisine restaurant. From tacos and enchiladas to guacamole and salsa, there are plenty of delicious options to choose from. However, many of these dishes are high in carbohydrates and can cause blood sugar levels to spike. But don't worry – it's definitely possible to eat healthy and delicious meals when dining out.

So let’s say, these are the food that is on your plate while at the Mexican restaurant. You have the steak, rice, the enchiladas, plantain, guac, and refried beans. 

That’s a LOT in one plate. 

But let’s break down each of these foods so you can have great blood sugars when eating it, starting with the carbs .

The steak has minimal carbs, but there is a decent...

Fasting has been practiced for thousands of years for religious, cultural, and health reasons.

 However, fasting for weight loss has gained popularity in recent years due to its potential health benefits. There are several different types of fasting programs but Intermittent fasting has become a buzzword in the world of health and fitness. Many people have adopted this eating pattern as a means of losing weight and achieving better health outcomes. However, for individuals living with diabetes, there are concerns about the safety of intermittent fasting.

So, what exactly is intermittent fasting, and why are many people so excited about it?

Intermittent fasting is a process where individuals restrict their eating to a specific time window and consume all their day's nutrition within a short timeframe. The most common pattern is 16 hours of fasting followed by eight hours of eating. Other examples include 20 hours of fasting followed by four hours of eating, or 14 hours of...

Diabetes is a condition that requires constant attention, and one of the most common questions is where to put insulin pump sites, and where to inject to get the best insulin absorption in the body, while also considering where to put a continuous glucose monitor (CGM).

While there isn’t a ‘best’ answer for everyone, here’s a few options for you to consider: 

Abdomen

The abdomen is a common site for insulin injections that many people with diabetes choose. It is easy to access and often less painful than other sites due to protection by fat, greater surface area, and less muscle. However, it is essential to recognize that putting in an insulin pump site or a CGM can be different. While insulin pump sites have a cannula that can create scar tissue, a CGM will not leave scar tissue because there is no liquid going through it. The abdomen has more real estate than most people think. It is possible to alternate sides and work up and down, making six sites...