Diabetes Diet and Nutrition

Sugar free items or no sugar added items remove the processed sugar (sugar, corn syrup, brown rice syrup, molasses, etc.) and replace it will a slower digesting carbohydrate known as "sugar alcohol”. Some familiar names of sugar alcohols are sorbitol, xylitol, mannitol and lactitol. Most of them end in "ol” just like alcohol. These sugar alcohols will still have an impact on your blood sugar, however, because they digest more slowly you may see less of a spike.

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It can be very challenging to keep portions in control. At times it seems nearly impossible not to eat everything on our plate. Didn’t our parents encourage us to “clean our plates”? We now know how important portion control is for blood sugar control as well as weight/calorie control. Yet, we still need a little help!

Here are some examples of portion controlled items that we carry to help you stay within your calorie and glucose “budget”:

The fact is that for many of us, the tradition of overindulging at Thanksgiving is as traditional as the meal itself! A typical Thanksgiving dinner is estimated to contain anywhere from 2,000 to 4,000 calories, depending on what (and how much), fills your plate.

In cakes, cookies and quick breads however, reducing sugar without reducing quality takes a bit more thought. The great news is that while each recipe and sugar substitute is different, over the years I have found that with some modifications - a little bit of kitchen chemistry, if you will - low sugar baked goods look and taste just as delicious as their full sugar counterparts.

The increased number of lower sugar and sugar-free foods can help you reduce the "sugar-cravings" and their lower calories help you meet your calorie budget. Diabetes-friendly products such as Sans Sucre baking mixes allow you to consume delicious and decadent treats.

The bottom line is that we need to be most concerned with how much fat, sugar, processed/refined carbohydrates, and salt we consume daily... ... Many processed and prepared foods can be hiding very high amounts of one or all of these.

So it seems a bit ironic that bread is often listed as one of the first foods to go when one is looking to limit carbohydrates. The reality is that one ounce of plain bread averages just 80 calories and 15 grams of carbohydrate, and is a valuable source of energy for any diet. The problem is that variations in size, density and ingredients can vastly alter the nutrient content of the bread we choose, converting a simple healthy whole grain piece of bread into a budget busting nightmare...

I typically recommend fresh foods and snacks to help you maintain good health and healthy blood sugar levels. However, there are convenient options such as bars and shakes that are specifically designed not to raise blood sugar levels. So here is how they work:

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I have a mission with my new cookbook. I want you to “eat what you love” and still help you live healthy.

What if I told you that one of the best long-term strategies for a healthy body and managing your blood sugar is to indulge in all the foods you love. Hard to believe? Well, it’s […]