Browsing Tag

diet

Diabetes Testing

A Better A1C Test

Even in these difficult times when almost all of us are learning how to become frugal again, money isn’t everything. Especially when it comes to our health.

For those of us who have diabetes the A1C test is the best measure that we have of the state of our health. The A1C is the only commonly available check that we have of our average blood glucose level for the past two or three months.

Those of us who are fortunate enough to have health insurance usually go to the lab at our doctor’s office or local hospital for their A1C. I know that’s what I was doing several times a year ever since my diabetes diagnosis in 1994. My health insurance provides up to two A1C tests annually for a modest $15 co-pay each time for my visit to my primary care physician.

But until now I didn’t take into account how much time getting an A1C test at the lab took out of my busy schedule. And most importantly, I didn’t realize that the lab’s results may not be right.
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Diabetes Diet

Chia Seeds

You might think that everyone who has diabetes would know about a seed that is superior to other plant and marine sources of essential omega-3 oils. It is also high in antioxidants and fiber. Besides that, it is high in protein and lipids, is low in sodium, and has fewer net carbs than most other grains. Continue Reading

Diabetes Diet

Eat Fat, Grow Thin

The conventional wisdom of our health professionals is that a calorie is a calorie. “From a purely thermodynamic point of view, this is clear because the human body or, indeed, any living organism cannot create or destroy energy but can only convert energy from one form to another.” Continue Reading

Diabetes Diet

The Trouble with Diet Soda

Most of us probably assume that if your only beverage choices were diet or regular soda, the diet variety would be better. After all, drinks made with non-nutritive sweeteners do give us fewer calories.

But recent studies indicate that drinking diet soda can lead to our gaining weight. They can raise the A1C levels of those of us who have diabetes. And drinking them is also associated with a greater risk of heart disease. Continue Reading