Mission Statement

This is from our November 2009 Article

Should I Have a Blood Sugar Monitor?

Have you ever sat in the doctor’s office listening to him tell you that your diabetes is not in control? “But doctor,” you say, “How could that be? I test my blood sugar and my readings are never over 159.”

Well, controlling your blood glucose is like juggling several balls in the air. Everything has to be in perfect harmony: the food you eat, the amount of activity you get, the medications you take, the stress you are experiencing and don’t forget any illness or infection you may pick up along the way. If any one of these factors changes, your diabetes suffers.

A blood sugar monitor is a great tool to help you keep your diabetes under control. But, how often should you test? That depends on several things including what you hope to gain from testing, how much time and effort you want to put into monitoring, what you are going to do with the information you obtain from the blood glucose readings, and if there are insurance and/or financial factors to consider.

A glucose monitor helps you know what your blood sugar reading is at a given time. The result you get lets you know how much sugar is floating around in your blood at that moment only. But did you know that blood sugar levels fluctuate just like your blood pressure does? Think of that lone glucose number as one piece of a puzzle. To put the puzzle together and see the big picture, you need multiple pieces

Does this mean you have to test more? No, it doesn’t – unless you want to. You can still test one time a day, but vary the times that you test. The best times to test are either before you eat, two hours after you eat and at bedtime. See examples below.

Autumn Appetites-

Satisfy With Fruits & Vegetables

By Kathy Wool, RD, LDN

As the seasons begin to change and we turn on the heat to keep us warm, we think back to that fresh produce which was so plentiful and enjoyed all summer long. When the winter rolls in, those juicy vine ripe tomatoes and crisp fresh melons are just a memory. But you don’t have to give up your commitment to eating five or more fruit and vegetable servings a day. Try to include them in every meal and before you know it the five is accomplished.
With that chill in the air, the temptation is to serve our favorite comfort foods. But it is important to watch out for the high fat content in many traditional winter casseroles. Those all important nutrients in fruits and vegetables become surrounded by less healthy ingredients.
Since your choices are a little more limited in the winter, be more creative and try new vegetable and new recipes. Winter gives us many root vegetables like turnips, parsnips, rutabagas, sweet potatoes and pumpkin. And don’t forget those Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, greens like kale and collards, beets, etc. And winter fruits can be juicy and delicious- clementines, cranberries, kiwi, pomegranates, tangerines, persimmons, etc. The assortment is considerable, and now is the time to include some of these healthy options in your meal and snack planning.
To buy the best produce pick fruits and vegetables with good color, proper firmness and no bruising, soft spots or shriveled areas. Store properly either in your refrigerator or a cool dry spot. Ask your local grocery store if you are not sure how best to keep these fruits and vegetables. If you need additional help to selecting fruits and vegetables, even items you haven’t tried before, go to www.aboutproduce.com. This Web site has an “A to Z” guide to produce that includes useful information on selecting, purchasing, and nutrition information. This site also provides many recipes to help you put an interesting item on your table at each meal.

Here are a couple of recipes that are sure to warm you up this winter!

Pesto Minestrone Soup
(serves 8)

This full-flavored soup is also full of healthy vegetables.
• 2 cups cauliflower (2 small heads), coarsely chopped
• 1 ½ cups zucchini (1-2 medium), chopped
• 3 cans (14.5 ounces) chicken broth, reduced sodium
• 1 16-ounce can tomatoes, diced, drained
• 1 cup elbow macaroni or small pasta shells
• 3 cups kidney beans or black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed (1 cup dry makes 3 cups cooked) or 2 cans (15 ounces each)
• 1 cup carrot (1 medium), sliced
• 1 cup onion (1 medium), chopped
• 2 tablespoons olive oil)
• 2 garlic cloves)
• 1 cup basil leaves, fresh, loosely packed OR 1 cup Italian parsley plus 1 teaspoon dried basil leaves
• 1 tablespoon water
Directions:
In a 5 to 6 quart saucepan bring to boil ½ cup water, tomatoes, cauliflower, onion and carrots; reduce heat and simmer covered 10 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Add zucchini, beans, broth and pasta. Return to a boil, reduce heat and simmer uncovered 10 minutes. Meanwhile put all pesto ingredients in food processor or blender and process until very finely chopped. Just before serving, remove soup from heat and stir in pesto. Makes 8 servings.

Nutrition Information
Calories: 218 Calories from fat: 36
Fat: 4 gms. Cholesterol: 0
Fiber: 7 grams Sodium: 270 mg.

Winter Beef Stew

6 Servings

Ingredients
• 1 tablespoon oil, canola
• 1 cup onions
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 carrots, cut into 1” slices
• 1 ½ pounds beef stew meat, fat trimmed, cut into 1” cubes
• 3 cups low fat, low sodium beef broth
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• ¾ cup apples, unpeeled chopped into 1: pieces
• ¾ cup pears, unpeeled chopped into 1” pieces
Preparation
1. Heat the oil in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic and sauté for 5 minutes. Add the carrots and sauté for another 5 minutes. Add the meat and brown. Drain off any accumulated fat. Add the broth, paprika, pepper, and salt.
2. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 1 ¼ hours. Add the apples and pears and cover. Cook over low heat for 15 to 20 minutes until the apples and pears are soft, but not mushy.

Nutrition Information
Calories: 223
Total Fat: 8 grams
Saturated Fat: 2g,
Calories from Fat: 72
Sodium: 156mg,
Dietary Fiber: 3g,
Carbs: 14g,

 

November 14th

Step Out For Diabetes November 7th Ocean City Boardwalk 10am