For individuals managing Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, blood sugar levels can be tricky to navigate. A surprising factor that plays a big role in blood sugar regulation is the timing of meals—particularly, how certain foods affect blood sugar differently depending on the time of day. Many people may have noticed that cereal, oats, granola, or fruit like bananas can cause a significant blood sugar spike in the morning, but this spike isn’t as severe if consumed later in the day. So, what’s going on?

It turns out the body’s natural rhythm plays a major role. Each morning, around 7 a.m., cortisol, the stress hormone, spikes. This surge in cortisol leads to insulin resistance, meaning your body’s ability to use insulin effectively is temporarily impaired. As a result, the same foods that would normally have a more moderate effect on blood sugar can cause much higher spikes in the morning.

This phenomenon is especially important for people with diabetes, whether it’s Type 1 (T1D) or T...

 Outdoor activities can be a lot of fun, but if you have Type 1 diabetes or Type 2 diabetes, a sudden drop in blood sugar can quickly ruin the experience. Whether you’re hiking, skiing, or just going for a walk, low blood sugar can leave you stranded and feeling unwell. Fortunately, there are simple strategies to prevent this from happening. A diabetes dietitian can help guide you in the right direction, but here are three easy-to-follow tips to keep your blood sugar levels steady and enjoy your next outdoor adventure.

1. Decrease Your Active Insulin

One of the first things a T1D dietitian would advise is to decrease your active insulin before starting physical activity. Active insulin can make a significant impact on blood sugar levels, and during physical activity, your insulin may become even more powerful. This can cause your blood sugar to drop rapidly, especially if you’ve taken your usual dose. By reducing the active insulin on board, you can prevent an unexpected drop in...

For individuals living with diabetes, making smart food choices is key to managing their health.

Whether it’s Type 1 diabetes (T1D) or Type 2 diabetes (T2D), a diabetes educator plays a vital role in helping people understand how food affects their blood sugar levels. A T1D dietitian living with Type 1 diabetes for over 25 years offers helpful insights into navigating fast food, specifically White Castle while making choices that keep blood sugar levels in check.

Navigating White Castle with Type 1 Diabetes

While White Castle isn't necessarily the best choice for managing Type 1 diabetes, it's important to be mindful of what you're selecting if you find yourself there. Maintaining balanced blood sugar is a priority, so choosing meals that balance protein, fat, and carbs in ways that minimize blood sugar spikes is key. A diabetes educator might recommend the following options to help manage blood sugar levels while at White Castle.

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Managing blood sugar levels is a challenge that many people with diabetes, whether Type 1 (T1D) or Type 2 (T2D), face daily.

For those struggling with persistent high blood sugars, it can often feel like you're doing everything right, but nothing seems to work. If this sounds familiar, it may be time to understand the role of the "three S's" in blood sugar management. These are Sleep, Stress, and Sickness—three factors that might be the root cause of stubborn high blood sugars.

1. Sleep: The Silent Blood Sugar Culprit

Sleep plays a crucial role in maintaining balanced blood sugar. For individuals with diabetes, especially those working with a T1D dietitian or T2D dietitian, poor sleep can have a significant impact. When you don’t get enough sleep, your body interprets this as stress. This stress response leads to an increase in cortisol, a hormone that elevates blood sugar levels by increasing insulin resistance. Simply put, lack of sleep can make it harder for your body to use in...

Managing blood sugar levels is an essential part of living with diabetes.

Whether you have Type 1 diabetes (T1D) or Type 2 diabetes (T2D), maintaining a balanced diet can help stabilize your blood sugars and keep you feeling your best. As a diabetes dietitian, helping people find nutritious, delicious, and blood sugar-friendly food options is key. Today, we’ll look at four grocery finds that can make your meals and snacks easier while supporting blood sugar control. These items are easy to prepare and packed with nutrients that can benefit anyone managing diabetes.

1. Zucchini – A Micronutrient Powerhouse

Zucchini is a fantastic vegetable for anyone managing blood sugar levels. It’s low in carbs, rich in fiber, and loaded with vitamins and minerals that your body needs to function properly. As a T1D dietitian or T2D dietitian will tell you, vegetables like zucchini are a great addition to any meal plan because they help keep blood sugar levels stable without spiking them. A bonus? Z...

Living with diabetes doesn't mean you have to spend hours in the kitchen preparing meals.

Having quick, blood sugar-friendly meals on hand is crucial for managing both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. For those who don't want to sacrifice taste or health, a diabetes dietitian can help guide you toward meals that fit both your lifestyle and dietary needs. Here’s a perfect 3-minute lunch recipe that many Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes dietitians recommend to keep blood sugar levels steady and energy high throughout the day.

Low-Carb, High-Protein Tuna Melt Wrap

This low-carb, high-protein tuna melt wrap is ideal for anyone managing diabetes. With just a few ingredients, this simple recipe is both quick and satisfying. Plus, it’s a great option for those with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) or Type 2 diabetes (T2D) looking for a lunch that won’t spike their blood sugar. This recipe is designed to keep you full, and energized, and help maintain a balanced blood sugar level without complicated ingredient...

A certified diabetes educator and registered dietitian with over 25 years of experience living with T1D, highlights the common misconceptions around diabetes care teams and exercise.

He explains how your blood sugar management can be improved by understanding how different exercises affect blood sugar levels and making nutritional tweaks before, during, and after your workouts.

Understanding the Impact of Exercise on Blood Sugar

A crucial mistake is treating all exercises the same. For instance, cardio activities like jogging or hiking are likely to lower blood sugar, while high-intensity exercises such as weightlifting or sprinting may raise or stabilize blood sugar levels. A Type 1 diabetes dietitian or Type 2 diabetes dietitian can help you understand how each exercise affects your body, so you can avoid unexpected highs or lows during your workout.

It’s also common for people to overcompensate by eating extra carbs before a workout to avoid a low blood sugar crash. However, thi...

Managing diabetes isn’t just about taking insulin or medications; diet plays a huge role.

Many people with diabetes struggle with the question of whether a low-carb or high-carb diet is better for their health. This debate can be especially confusing for people with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) and Type 2 diabetes (T2D). A diabetes dietitian can help make sense of this topic, but with so many opinions and options, it’s hard to know where to start.

Type 1 Diabetes and Carbs: The Research

When it comes to Type 1 diabetes, which makes up only 5-10% of the total diabetes population, the answer isn't as straightforward. A Type 1 diabetes dietitian often works closely with clients to navigate these challenges. Some studies show that reducing carbs to fewer than 75 grams per day can lead to improvements in blood sugar control. One study followed people with Type 1 diabetes over four years, and those who stuck to a low-carb diet showed great results. However, sticking to a low-carb regimen is toug...

Managing diabetes can make it challenging to find suitable snacks while on the go.

A certified diabetes educator visited Buc-ee’s and discovered four excellent options that are both convenient and friendly to blood sugar levels. Here are four diabetes-friendly snacks that individuals with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) or Type 2 diabetes (T2D) will appreciate.

1. Low Snacks for Low Blood Sugar

Buc-ee’s offers an entire section dedicated to low snacks, perfect for when you need a quick fix for low blood sugar. Whether it’s fruit snacks, juice, or Swedish Fish, there’s no shortage of options to raise a low blood sugar. As a diabetes dietitian, it's always a relief to have fast-acting carbs available when you need them most. These snacks are ideal for people with Type 1 diabetes who may need quick access to raise their blood sugar levels.

2. Smoked Turkey Tenderloin and Meat & Cheese Plates

Buc-ee’s offers smoked turkey tenderloin and meat and cheese plates for a grab-and-go, blood sugar-frie...

Losing weight can feel like an uphill battle, especially for those living with diabetes.

Whether you have Type 1 diabetes (T1D) or Type 2 diabetes (T2D), shedding unwanted pounds requires a thoughtful, balanced approach to both nutrition and activity. Many people with diabetes can lose weight successfully while also maintaining good blood sugar control. Here’s what a diabetes dietitian would tell you about the key factors to keep in mind when trying to drop pounds.

1. Understand Calorie Balance

One of the most important factors in weight loss, whether you have diabetes or not, is calorie balance. You must be in an energy deficit, meaning you are consuming fewer calories than your body needs to maintain its current weight. This principle applies to everyone, but for those with diabetes, it requires extra care and attention.

A T1D dietitian or T2D dietitian will help you figure out your daily calorie needs and design a plan that fits your personal goals and lifestyle. While it can be...