GlucoMenu Tip of the Week, September 22-28, 2003

Tip of the Week:

Concerned about blood sugar running high?  High blood sugar in the short term can cause excessive thirst, frequent urination, and blurred vision.  In the long term, high blood sugar can cause complications including kidney, nerve, and eye damage.  Following a healthy meal plan can help control blood sugar and avoid complications.  To control blood sugar: 

• eat meals and snacks at the same time of the day, each day,
• consume about the same amount of carbohydrate at meals and snacks, each day,
• avoid skipping meals or snacks, and
• consider the accuracy of your portion sizes.

GlucoMenu Sample of the Week:

Dinner
  2 T. Basil Pesto* w/
  1 cup cooked pasta
  2 oz. chicken breast
  1/2 cup steamed broccoli
  Nutrition Facts:  calories:  418, carbohydrates:  46 g, fiber: 5 g, fat:  14 g, protein:  30 g, sodium:  96 mg

Featured Article: "Do I have to give up my glass of wine with dinner?"

In a word... no.  Having diabetes does not mean you have to give up alcohol, so long as your alcohol consumption is in moderation.  Moderation in alcohol terms equates to having 1 or less alcoholic beverage each day if you are a woman and 2 or less alcoholic beverages each day if you are a man.  Click below to learn more...

News Flash:

McDonald's has announced they will be partnering with Bob Greene in their Healthy Lifestyles Campaign.  Bob Greene is an exercise physiologist who has gained fame by being Oprah Winfrey's trainer.  Greene will help with creating educational materials.  McDonald's program is based on a variety of food choices, education, and physical activity.  McDonald's and Greene agree that the key to health is moderation of food eaten balanced with staying physically active.

Exercise Tip:

Carry a water bottle with you when you exercise.  Hydration influences effectiveness during exercise.  Drink a cup of water prior to physical activity and an additional cup of water every 15-20 minutes during exercise.  Unsure if you are getting enough water?  A good way to check is to weigh yourself before and after exercise.  If you weigh less after exercise, you have lost water.  Replenish this loss with 2 cups of water for every pound lost during exercise.

Type 2?... Pre-diabetes??... Glucose intolerance???:

• Why eat an even amount of carbohydrate throughout the day?
• Wondering what you can eat?
• Confused by carbohydrate counting & what is the story with fiber?
• Unsure what to buy at the grocery store and how to prepare meals?

Let us save you time and energy with our complete weekly GlucoMenus!  Our professional diabetes educator staff has already created recipes, counted carbohydrates, analyzed nutrition facts, and compiled grocery lists for specific calorie needs.  Contact us toll free 877-990-3926 or use our online form:

Start Complete GlucoMenu Plan Immediately!

Diabetes Education:

Featured diabetes professional:  Pharmacist - When do I take my medication?  How does it work?  How will my other medications affect my blood sugar?  A Pharmacist can help you answer all of these concerns.  Look for the credential RPh or PharmD after a pharmacy specialists name.  Some Pharmacists are Certified Diabetes Educators as well.

Use this link to find a listing of credentialed Diabetes Educators with expertise in areas including nutrition, nursing, pharmacology, occupational therapy, optometry, physical therapy, medicine, and podiatry.

Find Diabetes Education

Diabetes Prevention:

The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) has recently found that those with pre-diabetes can make simple lifestyle changes to reduce risk for diabetes later in life.  The DPP found that subjects with pre-diabetes experienced a 58% reduction of risk for Type 2 diabetes when they:

• lost a modest amount of weight (5-7% of their body weight),
• exercised at moderate intensity for an average of 30 minutes a day, five days per week (most chose to walk for exercise), and
• lowered their intake of fat and calories.

Those following the lifestyle changes were able to reduce their risk even more so than those taking medications to lower blood sugar.  These preventative measures can "turn back the clock" and return elevated blood sugar to normal levels. For those with Type 2 diabetes, following the same lifestyle changes can help to control blood sugar more effectively.

Attention GlucoMenu Members:

Every Monday GlucoMenu displays new menus, recipes, grocery lists, and nutrition facts for the week.   Access all previous Tips of the Week by logging in to www.GlucoMenu.com & selecting the Tips link. 

Diabetes Support Group:

Gain knowledge from other people with diabetes.  Diabetes-Group is a free diabetes discussion forum available in an e-mail list-server format.  Those subscribing to Diabetes-Group automatically receive messages posted by other members of the Diabetes-Group e-mail list.  Membership to Diabetes-Group is free.

Diabetes Support Group

Food Picker:

Wondering if your dinner met your goals to control diabetes? Look up the nutrition facts of foods you normally eat.  There are over 6,000 foods to choose from, complete with analysis for diabetes!

Sign-up today:

Receive complete GlucoMenus with recipes, grocery lists, and Nutrition Facts specifically for Diabetes.  These calorie specific menus are updated weekly helping you stay focused on your meal plan.  Contact us toll free 877-990-3926 or use our online form: