Archive for November, 2013
Break smoking habit and aid diabetes control
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Today is the Great American Smokeout. The American Cancer Society marks the yearly event, but there’s a health message for those living with diabetes. The Centers for Disease Control reports that smoking increases your chance of having type 2 diabetes. No matter what type of diabetes you have, smoking makes your diabetes harder to control.
If you have diabetes and you smoke, you are more likely to have diabetes complications including:
- Heart and kidney disease
- Poor blood flow in the legs and feet that can lead to foot infections, ulcers, and possible amputation
- Retinopathy (an eye disease that can cause blindness)
- Peripheral neuropathy (damaged nerves to the arms and legs that causes numbness, pain, weakness, and poor coordination)
The Great American Smokeout is on the third Thursday of November each year. By quitting — even for one day — smokers will be taking an important step towards a healthier life – one that can lead to reducing cancer risk.
For more information visit:
- The CDC: How Is Smoking Related to Diabetes?
- The ADA: Diabetes Basics, Smoking
- The American Cancer Society: Great American Smokeout
World Diabetes Day: A continuous call to action
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Today is World Diabetes Day and we hope this message finds you in good spirits and great health. The staff of Diabetes Management & Supplies, your partner in quality diabetes care and management, stand ready to assistant you and your family with a wide variety of products and services. November is National Diabetes Awareness Month and this month we are reflecting on a year of growth and development and we are delighted that this means we have more to offer you in your efforts to improve your health and quality of life.
The spread of diabetes has been likened to an epidemic and the outlook is bleak to some observers. The International Diabetes Federation reports that worldwide diabetes cases hit a record 382 million cases in 2013. That’s up from 371 million cases in 2012. For more on the projections and the relation to healthcare spending see Worldwide diabetes rates hit new record, expected to grow further from the Reuters news service.
Across the global, positive results are being seen with comprehensive approaches to diabetes management. At DMS, we will continue to expand our offering to people living with type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes.
Diabetes Management & Supplies offers accredited diabetes education services that can make managing diabetes and other conditions an easier task. For more information on care management needs or to enroll in group or individual sessions, call our Education Department at 1-888-738-7929 or email an educator at education@diabetesms.com.
Self-Care Behaviors lay foundation for control
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The American Association of Diabetes Educators is just one organization committed to improving the lives of people living with diabetes. AADE believes that behavior change can be most effectively achieved using the AADE7 Self-Care Behaviors™ framework. The seven self-care behaviors are healthy eating, being active, monitoring, taking medication, problem solving, reducing risks and healthy coping.
Diabetes Management & Supplies conducts the “I’m In Control” program. This diabetes education intervention has received the AADE’s accreditation as well as the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval, the highest ranking possible, making it one of a select few national diabetes companies with this unique distinction.
For more on these Self-Care Behaviors, click on the image to the right to visit the AADE site.
Turkey leftovers give diabetes-friendly options
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As we approach the holidays and observe Diabetes Awareness Month, Chef John Wright offers some suggestions on using turkey leftovers and ways to incorporate turkey into your eating plan.
Meals built around turkey can be more than just holiday favorites. Turkey is low in fat and high in protein. It is cheap source of iron, zinc, phosphorus, potassium and B vitamins. A serving of turkey is a 2 to 3-ounce cooked portion. The Food Guide Pyramid suggests 2 to 3 servings from the meat group each day.
The following portions represent 100 grams, approximately 3 1/2 ounces, of sliced meat from a whole roasted turkey. A 3 1/2-ounce portion of turkey is about the size and thickness of a new deck of cards. The fat and calorie content varies because white meat has less fat and fewer calories than dark meat and skin.
As you ponder menu items for your leftover holiday bird, consider these recipes from Chef Wright:
Roasted Turkey Chicken Salad
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1 cup roasted turkey, chopped
2 tablespoons low fat mayonnaise
5 red seedless grapes cut in half
2 teaspoons chopped pecans
Salt and pepper to taste
Combine all ingredients and mix well. Put mixture into a half of whole wheat pita with lettuce and tomato and serve.
Roasted turkey quesadillas w/ pepper jack
Posted by: | Comments1 whole wheat tortilla (8 inch)
¾ cup chopped roasted turkey
½ cup shredded pepper jack cheese
1 teaspoon olive oil
Place half of pepper jack cheese on bottom half of tortilla. Put chopped turkey on top and then put remainder of pepper jack cheese on top of the turkey. Fold tortilla in half. Heat non-stick skillet to medium and put 1 teaspoon olive oil in skillet and brown each side of the tortilla, about 3 minutes each side. Remove from pan and cut into wedges and serve.
Turkey soup a cozy, but smart meal option
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The fall change in weather and the approaching holidays bring opportunities for soup with meals and ideas that use a fall holiday favorite – turkey. Hearty Wild Rice Turkey Soup is not just a turkey dish, but it also offers a wise choice for those living with diabetes and those trying to eat healthier.
Whether your turkey is cubed from the deli or leftovers from a holiday meal, it offers a lean, high protein ingredient. Turkey breast is low in fat and contains only about 30 calories per ounce. The recipe referenced calls for about 8 ounces of chopped turkey in the entire dish.
The dish is also a low-carb delight because its main source of carbohydrates – long grain wild rice – adds only about 10 grams of carbs per serving. Uncle Ben’s Wild Rice also provides a hearty, nutty flavor and is a source of fiber, protein and whole grains.
This dish contains tasty fresh vegetables (onions and celery) that are sautéed in a margarine-type spread instead of oil. The Diabetes Management & Supplies “I’m in Control” program recommends using plant stanols to get a heart-health benefit. Plant stanols or plant sterol esters lower total cholesterol and LDL.
They are found in fortified items such as margarine-type spreads, orange juice, cheese, and yogurts. These products can be found in your local grocery story.
Recommended intake 2 grams /day = 2 Tbsp of these:
- Smart Balance®
- Promise Activ®
- Benecol®
The rest of the soup contains your choice of canned or frozen vegetables. The examples shown use a frozen blend of corn, green beans, peas and carrots. If you use canned veggies, it is recommended that you rinse them thoroughly to eliminate the excess salt. There’s plenty of salt in the low-sodium chicken broth and no other salt was added in cooking or at the table.
See recipe: Hearty Wild Rice Turkey Soup
Hearty Wild Rice Turkey Soup
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1 TBSP heart-healthy buttery spread containing phytosterols (Benecol, Smart Balance, or Promise Activ)
2 TBSP finely chopped white onion
2 medium (6 inches) celery ribs, chopped
¼ tsp black pepper
8 oz leftover chopped cooked turkey (about 2 cups)
2 cans (14.5 oz) fat-free, reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 cup leftover (or frozen) chopped mixed vegetables
1 cup cooked wild rice blend, any brand
½ tsp onion powder
½ tsp ground thyme
In a medium saucepan (2-3 quarts), melt margarine over medium heat. Add chopped onion and celery and sauté until vegetables are softened. Sprinkle with black pepper. Added chopped turkey, broth, vegetables, rice, onion powder and thyme. Bring to a simmer and cover. Cook 20 minutes. Serve with whole grain crackers.
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 25 minutes
Serving Size: 1 cup
Per serving: Calories: 127 | Carbohydrate: 10g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 3g | Saturated fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 36mg | Sodium: 149mg | Fiber: 2g
Exchanges per serving: ½ starch | 2 lean meat | Carbohydrate choices: ½
