5 Morning Habits That Can Steady Your Blood Sugar All Day

If your mornings feel rushed, it is easy for your blood sugars to start off on the wrong foot. The good news is that a few small habits can set you up for steadier numbers all day long. You do not need a complicated routine. Just a few intentional choices can make a big difference.

Here are five simple things you can try tomorrow morning.

1. Drink water before coffee - Many of us grab coffee first thing, but your body needs hydration after hours of sleep. Starting with a glass of water can help your digestion, energy, and blood sugar. You can still have your coffee afterward, but give your body that first drink of water.
2. Eat a balanced breakfast - Skip the all-carb breakfast like plain toast or cereal. Instead, aim for a mix of protein, healthy fats, and some carbs. This might look like eggs with avocado and whole grain toast or Greek yogurt with berries and nuts. This balance can help prevent that mid-morning crash.
3. Get ...

Ever feel like health information is a giant puzzle with missing pieces?

When it comes to something as important as diabetes, getting clear, actionable advice is key. You might know someone living with diabetes, or perhaps you've heard the terms diabetes vs prediabetes and wondered what they really mean. The good news is that understanding diabetes and how to live a full, healthy life with it is completely within reach.

Diabetes affects a huge number of people – with 1 in 9 Americans impacted, it's a condition that touches many lives. But here's the crucial takeaway: a diagnosis isn't a limitation. With the right support and knowledge, you can indeed live a vibrant, unrestricted life. This is where a specialized diabetes dietitian and Diabetes Educator become your most valuable allies.

Pre-Diabetes: Understanding the Landscape

First, let's clear up some confusion. Think of prediabetes as a warning sign. It means your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not yet high en...

When managing diabetes, many people focus on what they eat, how much they move, and the medications they take.

But there’s one key area that often gets overlooked — overnight blood sugar levels. A diabetes dietitian or Diabetes Educator will tell you that this one shift can make a huge impact, especially for those with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) or Type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Why Overnight Blood Sugars Matter So Much

Consider how much time you spend sleeping, typically around 7 to 8 hours per night. That’s about a third of your day. If your blood sugar levels stay in a healthy range during that time, you’ve already nailed a huge portion of your 24-hour cycle without much effort.

That’s why many Type 1 diabetes dietitians and Type 2 diabetes dietitians emphasize the importance of overnight control. It helps lower your average blood sugar levels, which leads to better A1C numbers over time.

Some experts say that if your overnight numbers are between 90 and 110 mg/dL, you’re already setting...

For many young people, hearing the word "diabetes" can bring up a lot of questions, especially about the future.

One of the most frequently asked questions is, "Can diabetes be reversed?" It's a hopeful question, and the answer isn't a simple yes or no. It depends on the type of diabetes we're talking about. Understanding the differences between Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes is key to grasping what "reversal" truly means for each. And no matter the type, the support of a diabetes dietitian and a dedicated Diabetes Educator can make all the difference in living a healthy, full life.

Let's break down what science and healthcare professionals say about the possibility of reversing diabetes and how you can take control of your health journey.

Type 1 Diabetes: Understanding the Autoimmune Angle

When people ask if Type 1 diabetes can be reversed, it's important to understand what's happening in the body. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition. This means your body's immune s...

Navigating the vast aisles of Costco when managing diabetes can be an exciting treasure hunt!

For individuals with Type 1 diabetes or Type 2 diabetes, finding bulk-sized, blood-sugar-friendly options is a fantastic way to save time and ensure healthy staples are always on hand. A knowledgeable diabetes dietitian understands that smart shopping means identifying products that offer convenience, great taste, and optimal nutritional benefits.

Here are four more standout items that an experienced Diabetes Educator, who lives with diabetes themselves, often recommends adding to your Costco cart. These picks prove that eating well with diabetes can be both easy and delicious.

1. Vitamin D Supplementation: While not a food item, Vitamin D is a crucial supplement that often gets overlooked, especially for individuals managing diabetes. Research indicates that many individuals living with both Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes often exhibit a deficiency in Vitamin D. This deficiency can...

For anyone living with Type 1 diabetes, or for their families and friends, one of the most common and hopeful questions is often, "Will diabetes ever be cured?"

It's a powerful question, brimming with a desire for relief and a life free from daily management. While scientists are making incredible progress, the straightforward answer today is: not yet. However, understanding cutting-edge research and, crucially, how effective management enables a full, unrestricted life now is incredibly important. That's where the expertise of a diabetes dietitian becomes invaluable.

Let's dive into what Type 1 diabetes truly is, the exciting work happening to find a cure, and how living a vibrant life with the condition is absolutely possible today, thanks to advanced care and dedicated support.

Understanding Type 1 Diabetes: Not "Born With It"

First, let's clear up a common myth: neither Type 1 diabetes nor Type 2 diabetes are conditions individuals are literally present with from birth. Type...

When someone is curious about how Type 1 diabetes is diagnosed, they might first wonder, "Which diabetes are you born with?"

It's essential to recognize that neither Type 1 diabetes nor Type 2 diabetes is a condition that individuals are born with. Instead, Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition that typically develops in children, teenagers, or young adults. Learning how this diagnosis happens is a crucial first step for anyone on this health journey, and a dedicated diabetes dietitian can provide vital support in understanding this process.

Recognizing the Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes

Unlike some conditions that might develop silently, Type 1 diabetes often announces itself with clear symptoms. These signs appear because the body's immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the cells in the pancreas responsible for making insulin. Without insulin, glucose from food cannot enter the cells for energy, and it instead builds up in the bloodstream. This leads to a kind of ener...

Imagine sitting down to a delicious, hearty meal – maybe a big family dinner, a celebratory feast, or even some amazing international cuisine

For many, it's pure enjoyment. But if one is living with diabetes, that same meal can feel like a puzzle, a challenge to keep blood sugars steady. "Will this send numbers soaring?" "How much insulin is needed?" These are common thoughts, and honestly, they can take some of the joy out of eating.

The Deceptive Dance of Protein and Fat

When thinking about managing diabetes and food, carbs usually steal the spotlight, right? Individuals are taught to count them, dose for them, and watch their immediate impact. And yes, carbs are super important because they turn into sugar in the bloodstream quickly. Faced with a Bosnian BBQ on a trip to Montenegro, a plate piled high with grilled meats, fries, spices, and veggies seemed like an easy blood sugar win. But as a Type 1 Diabetic, dietitian, and educator, these complex meals could sneak up on blood...

Let me guess: What’s worse than a high blood sugar?

A stubborn, lingering high blood sugar that makes you feel like absolute garbage. You know those times when you’ve corrected multiple times, you’ve been pounding water, and you’ve been exercising, but to no avail, your blood sugar is still not budging. It’s frustrating, right? That feeling of helplessness when your body just isn't responding can be incredibly draining, making you feel stuck and defeated.

But what if there was a little-known trick, a "break glass in case of emergency" tool you could keep in your diabetes management arsenal? Here’s something you can think about that might just fix those super stubborn highs.

Understanding the Intramuscular Injection "Hack"

This strategy is exactly what it sounds like: instead of taking your insulin dose in subcutaneous tissue (the fatty layer just under your skin, which is the usual spot), you take the injection into an area that is muscular, like your shoulder or your thigh. The ...

Ever wondered if diabetes is something you're just born with?

Maybe you've heard a grandparent or aunt has it, and you're thinking, "Uh oh, am I next?" It's a super common question, and honestly, the answer isn't a simple "yes" or "no." It's a bit more like a puzzle with several pieces, and some of those pieces are genetic, while others are about how we live our lives.

Let's break it down so it's easy to understand!

Type 1 Diabetes: The Immune System's Mix-Up

First up, let's talk about Type 1 diabetes (T1D). This type is pretty different from Type 2. With T1D, your body's immune system, which is supposed to fight off germs, gets a little confused. It mistakenly attacks and destroys the cells in your pancreas that make insulin. Insulin is like a key that unlocks your cells so sugar (glucose) from food can get in and give you energy. Without insulin, sugar builds up in your blood, which isn't good.

So, is T1D genetic? Well, you can inherit a predisposition to it. Think of it like...