I have been seeing many posts lately sharing studies that claim this medication or that supplement is the best way to manage diabetes—as if everyone should fit into one singular mold. After many years in nursing, I can tell you with confidence that healthcare simply does not work that way. I have never seen a medication, treatment plan, or dietary approach that is truly “one size fits all.” Yes, research matters. Studies matter. Medical advancements matter. But we also need

If you are living with diabetes—whether Type 1 or Type 2—you have probably heard a lot of advice from family, friends, coworkers, and even strangers. Some of it may come from a place of love. Some of it may come across as criticism. "Get your life together." "You need to change your diet." "Why did you let this happen?" While those words may be painful to hear, I want you to consider something. The people saying these things are often afraid too. They may be worried about you

One of the most common questions people with diabetes ask during a hospital stay is, "If I have diabetes, why am I being served so many carbohydrates?" Many hospitalized patients receive a consultation with a Registered Dietitian. The dietitian's role is to assess nutritional needs and help create a meal plan that supports healing, recovery, and overall health. In many hospitals, this results in a "consistent carbohydrate" meal plan rather than a low-carbohydrate meal plan. A

This sauce goes beautifully with the Enchilada recipe I've posted. INGREDIENTS 3 Cups of unsalted chicken broth (I used better than Boullion) 3 Tablespoons tomato paste 1 Bay leaf 2 Teaspoon ground cumin 1 Teaspoon dried oregano 1/2 Teaspoon salt 1/2 Teaspoon granulated garlic (I used garlic powder) 1/2 Teaspoon onion powder 1/2 Teaspoon Stevia 1/4 Teaspoon Chipotle Chili powder (I used regular chili powder) 1/4 Teaspoon Instant coffee powder 1/16 Teaspoon ground cloves 1/16

When many people are first diagnosed with diabetes, one of the first thoughts that comes to mind is, "Why me?" Whether you are diagnosed as a child, a teenager, a young adult, or later in life, hearing the words "You have diabetes" can be overwhelming. Suddenly there are new medications, blood sugar checks, doctor appointments, meal planning, and concerns about the future. It can feel as though your body has changed overnight. The truth is that diabetes affects everyone a lit

One of the most common questions people with diabetes ask is, "What is neuropathy?" In simple terms, neuropathy is nerve damage. Over time, high blood sugar levels can damage the small nerves throughout the body, especially in the feet and legs. Think of nerves as the body's electrical wiring. When those wires become damaged, messages between your brain and different parts of your body may not travel correctly. The good news is that not everyone with diabetes develops neuropa

As temperatures rise, many people with diabetes notice that their blood sugars seem higher than usual. They may be eating the same foods, taking their medications as prescribed, and following their usual routines. So what changed? One possible culprit is dehydration. When the weather is hot, your body loses more fluid through sweating. If those fluids are not replaced, the amount of glucose in your bloodstream becomes more concentrated, which can lead to higher blood sugar re

When most people think about diabetes, they think about blood sugar numbers, medications, doctor visits, and food choices. While these things are important, there is another side of diabetes that often remains hidden—the emotional and spiritual burden that many people carry every day. For some, diabetes begins with fear. Fear of complications. Fear of insulin. Fear of losing eyesight. Fear of kidney disease. Fear of amputation. Fear of becoming a burden to loved ones. Fear of

One of the most frustrating things about living with diabetes is seeing a high blood sugar reading when you've been trying so hard to do everything correctly. You've watched what you eat. You've taken your medication. You've avoided desserts. Yet the meter still flashes a number that leaves you wondering, "What did I do wrong?" The truth is, blood sugar is affected by much more than food alone. Sometimes the reason for a high reading has nothing to do with a lack of effort or

INGREDIENTS 1 head of cabbage 1 pound of ground beef (I used 80% ground beef) 1 14.5 can diced tomatoes-drained 1 large egg 4 cloves of garlic minced (I doubled this in my recipe) 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1 cup of riced cauliflower (I used frozen riced cauliflower) 1 15 ounce can of tomato sauce DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 350 degrees (I set my oven at 400 degrees). In a large pot, boil water and add cabbage (immerse fully). Boil

If you've spent any time reading about diabetes, healthy eating, or weight loss, you've probably heard the term glycemic index. It has been discussed for years as a way to predict how foods affect blood sugar. The glycemic index (GI) measures how quickly a carbohydrate-containing food raises blood sugar. Foods are ranked on a scale from low to high based on how rapidly they cause blood glucose to rise. At first glance, this sounds like a great tool. If a food has a low glycem

One of the most common concerns I hear from people with diabetes is this: "I have a husband and children to feed. I can't afford to cook separate meals." If you're feeding a family on a limited budget, that concern is very real. Many families rely on affordable foods such as rice, beans, potatoes, pasta, and tortillas because they are filling, familiar, and inexpensive. Unfortunately, these same foods can make blood sugar management more challenging for someone living with d

I love eating out if the opportunity arises. Unfortunately, there are always those menus that are not so "carb controlled" friendly. Here in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, most of the menus come with lots of rice, potatoes, tortillas or chips. While these foods are essential to some, it can make a carb counter take a tailspin. There have been restaurants that absolutely will not change, add or omit any item included with a dish that looks appealing to me. This means that I e

A man walks into the emergency room around 2 in the morning and is in obvious distress. He is pale and in a cold sweat. He tells the triage nurse that he is having abdominal pain and that it started yesterday. His history is high blood pressure and obesity and admits that he started a low carb diet about one week ago. His primary nurse received the same story and on examination she notes that his abdomen is tender to touch. The emergency room doctor enters and the man gasps a

So, you have diabetes. Take a minute and think about whether or not you REALLY know what diabetes is. The true definition, not what someone has told you. Most people would say, “oh, that’s the sugar disease.” or “That’s when you have too much sugar in the blood.” These simple definitions are true but there is so much more to diabetes than that. There is a world of information out there about diabetes. Some of it is so technical that many have trouble understanding it. Much o