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Our binoculars symbol alerts you to FACTOIDS that are worth a closer look!
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Look for the green checkmark as our way of showing you Tips and Tricks for living with diabetes.
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Just What Is A "Free" Food?
Just what is a free food? In the diabetes world, "free food" refers to any food that has less than 20 calories and 5 grams or less of carbohydrate per serving. Everyone loves foods that don't count whether you are managing diabetes or trying to lose weight. The key here is the serving size. As a guideline, you can eat 3 servings of free foods per day. If you eat more than 3 servings (or eat all 3 servings at one time), then you will need to count the calories and carbohydrate as part of your meal plan to stay on track.
Examples of "free" snacks include 1 piece of hard candy, 5 baby carrots, 1/4 cup of blueberries, 1/2 ounce of fat-free cheese, 10 goldfish-style crackers, 1 cup light popcorn, salad greens are not limited - eat as much as you want without counting them.
Examples of "free" condiments include 2 slices sweet pickles or 1 Tbsp pickle relish, 1 Tbsp freshly grated Parmesan cheese, 2 Tbsp yogurt, 1 Tbsp honey mustard, ketchup or soy sauce, 2 tsp barbecue sauce or sweet and sour sauce, 1 Tbsp fat-free cream cheese, 1 Tbsp fat-free mayonnaise or salad dressing.
All of the seasonings such as garlic, herbs, vinegar, lemon juice, and hot pepper sauce are not limited. They are truly free so use them liberally to spice up your food. Using fresh ingredients to make your own salsa or chutneys is a great way to sneak in extra vegetables while keeping the sodium lower.
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Unrefined grains, low fat dairy, lean protein, nuts, legumes, fruits, vegetables and healthy oils are all part of a good diabetic eating plan.
To prevent long-term complications, practice these healthy self-care behaviors:
Eating healthy foods, controlling portion sizes
Getting daily physical activity
Taking prescribed medications (including aspirin)
Performing foot care
Making routine visits to health care providers
Stopping smoking
Risk Factors for Pre-diabetes and Diabetes
The ABCs of Diabetes
Quickie Self-Quiz on Diabetes
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Stem Cell Treatment Helps Diabetics Cut Insulin Use
Updated Tue. Apr. 14 2009 9:40 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
A new study that tested stem cell transplants in patients with type 1 diabetes found that many patients were able to live for three years or more without needing insulin.
The study involved 23 patients who had recently been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and who were injected with stem cells from their own blood. The results showed that 20 were able to live without needing to take insulin, 12 of them continuously and eight briefly. Of those who remained continuously insulin-free, the time ranged from 14 to 52 months. Of the eight who relapsed, they resumed insulin use at low doses. The study was led by Dr. Richard K. Burt of Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine and included patients that ranged in age from 13 to 31.
The study offers hope of a way of reversing type 1 diabetes. "Currently, there are no therapies for type 1 diabetes that keep patients insulin-free ... on no medications at all . . . except this approach," Burt told CTV News.
In healthy people, beta-cells in the pancreas produce insulin, a hormone that helps the body convert glucose into energy. The beta-cells in a type 1 diabetes patient cannot produce insulin, causing a glucose buildup in the body, which means the patient must take insulin via an injection or a pump for the rest of their lives.
Previous research has found that that a stem-cell transplant, called autologous nonmyeloablative hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) helped 15 patients live insulin-free for an average of 19 months. HSCT involves removing the patient's own blood stem cells, treating them and returning them to the body via intravenous injection.
But there were some serious side-effects noted in the study. The treatment did not work in three patients, triggered pneumonia in other patients and significantly lowered nine patients' sperm counts. In previous research, it wasn't clear if the improvements in the patients' health were the result of the treatment and not due to a healthier post-transplant diet and exercise regimen.
Some doctors say this study is interesting but not ready for practical use. "I would rate it scientifically interesting but not ready for use yet . . . because of the side effects used for this treatment." Dr. Shayne Taback of the Manitoba institute of Child Health told CTV News.
For this study, the researchers measured levels of C-peptide, a byproduct of insulin production, to determine if the beta-cells were indeed functioning better. They found that among subjects who were able to stay off insulin continuously, C-peptide levels were dramatically higher two years post-transplant, and stayed very high at 36 months. Even among those who were able to remain insulin-free only briefly, C-peptide levels were considerably higher 36 months after the treatment.
"In conclusion, (HSCT) was able to induce prolonged and significant increases of C-peptide levels associated with absence of or reduction of daily insulin doses in a small group of patients with type 1 (diabetes)," the researchers wrote. "At the present time, (HSCT) remains the only treatment capable of reversing type 1 (diabetes) in humans."
The findings appear in a special diabetes-themed issue of JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Go Ahead...Eat Out!
Sometimes, the most relaxing thing you can do is to avoid the kitchen and have a nice meal away from home. But worries can creep up about sticking to your meal plan adding stress right back into your life. There are several tried and true ways to stay on track to feel energized and relaxed after enjoying a meal out.
- Check out the menu ahead of time. Many restaurants now have menus posted to their websites so you can plan in advance what will best suit your taste buds for the evening.
- Plan to have a broth-based soup or salad to start your meal. Ask for dressing on the side and use it sparingly.
- If the bread basket is tempting, ask for them to leave it in the kitchen.
- Stick to your normal portion sizes - plan to take any extra home for lunch or dinner the next day.
- If you are saving room for dessert, make sure you save your carbs...skip the rolls and other starchy foods with your meal. And don't forget to split the dessert with your dining companions.
Most of all, enjoy yourself. Use the time away from your own kitchen to socialize with friends and family. Laughter can lighten your mood and help melt stress away.
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Be Active!
What Is Diabetes?
Make Healthy Food Choices
Stay At A Healthy Weight
Dealing With The Ups and Downs of Diabetes
The National Diabetes Education Program offers 5 great booklets for kids and teens with diabetes.
To visit The National Diabetes Education Program CLICK HERE.
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Information for adults with diabetes from
The National Diabetes Education Program.
4 Steps to Control Your Diabetes
Get Real!
Small Steps, Big Rewards - Your Game Plan
Fat and Calorie Counter
My Game Plan Food and Activity Tracker
Know Your Blood Sugar Numbers
Small Steps for a Healthy Family
Take Care of Your Heart, Manage Your Diabetes
Tips to Help you Feel Better
Help Your Loved One With Diabetes
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