The Truth About Dieting

04/02/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
If you have diabetes, trying to figure what you can and cannot eat may seem like a challenge. There are many myths about what people with diabetes should include (or not include) in their diets and it can be stressful to figure out your meal plan. From this point on, stop worrying! You don’t have to deprive yourself of all your favorite foods.

To start off, many people believe that if you have diabetes, you can’t eat certain foods like sweets, starches and chocolates. This is not completely true. The reality is that people with diabetes can eat what they want—but in moderation. It’s all about maintaining a balanced diet, whether or not you have diabetes.

Change a few of your bad habits and soon enough you will be able to relax and enjoy all sorts of delicious meals and snacks.

Starches: Every healthy diet needs small amounts of foods like whole grains, pasta, rice and vegetables. Many of these carbohydrate-containing foods are a great source of fiber. The key is to watch your portions and avoid overeating these foods at every meal.

Sweets: Dietitians recommend that sweets be saved for special occasions and to make sure your portions are not too large. However, this doesn’t mean they are completely off limits. You have to make sure that if you are consuming sweets or other sugary foods, you are still maintaining a balanced diet and exercising on a regular basis. Don’t stress though, it’s not like you can never enjoy your favorite dessert!  

Aside from the certain foods you have to be careful of and control your intake, the American Diabetes Association has put together a list of 10 Superfoods you can incorporate into your daily diet that are low in glucose and provide essential nutrients.
  • Beans 
  • Dark green leafy vegetables 
  • Citrus fruit 
  • Berries 
  • Sweet potatoes 
  • Tomatoes 
  • Fish high in omega-3 fatty acids 
  • Whole grains 
  • Nuts 
  • Skim milk yogurt 

Add Comment
 

Walking Toward a Healthy Lifestyle

11/09/2012

0 Comments

 
Picture

You know that walking to classes or work is good for you, but have you ever wondered exactly how it affects your health? 

This infographic shows that even walking just thirty minutes a day can work wonders. For instance, those who aren’t fans of cardio will be happy to hear that walking to the grocery store burns more fat than jogging. With flu season fast approaching, it is also good to know that walking can cut in half your odds of catching a cold. Students and faculty out there will also be glad to know that walking up Bascom Hill once per day, five days a week, thirty weeks a year, for four years is the equivalent of 17.59 times the height of Mount Everest--every little bit counts! Hopping on the bus may seem tempting as temperatures drop, but toss on an extra layer instead and walk towards a healthier lifestyle.    
Add Comment
 

A Memorable Camp Experience - by Larry Hauser

07/29/2012

1 Comment

 
Picture
Larry Hauser reflects on his camp experience and the mission of the American Diabetes Association in June 29th's "In the Know."

As we each move through our day-to-day responsibilities, we sometimes forget about the many ways that our work is truly benefiting people with diabetes. I was reminded of this first hand when I had the chance to visit one of our oldest and largest Association Diabetes Camps last week—Camp Midicha in Fenton, MI (in the Michigan/NW Ohio chapter).

This was my first camp visit and it came about as part of my participation in the Southeast Michigan Community Leadership Board meeting. Spending time with more than 225 kids was a moving and eye-opening experience. It's clear to me that one of the greatest things about Diabetes Camp is that there is constant education without the campers even realizing it. Kids at our camps are learning a sense of independence and building confidence in their ability to live successfully with diabetes. For some, it means their first insulin shot without the helping hand of their Mom or Dad. For others, this is the first time they are changing their insulin pump site or pricking their own finger.

Another important aspect of Diabetes Camp is the camaraderie that develops among the campers. I was able to sense the joy many of these children were experiencing because they were in an environment with other children who face the same health-related issues they deal with every day. Clearly, facing these challenges becomes a bit easier when we know we are not alone. In fact, several of the young campers provided moving testimonials to me and the Board members about the strong friendships and support that came from their camp experience and continues long after camp has ended.

I got to see what is affectionately referred to as the "Pump Dump Station," where campers place their insulin pumps in a neatly organized shelving system before they go swimming. I was also impressed with the regular safety checks that went off like clockwork once the children took to the water. Despite the concern for health and safety, it was great to see that fun was never sacrificed. I also toured the Camp Health Center where I was wowed by the meticulous organization clearly designed to cover every detail of each camper's health and safety while they are with us. I would have felt completely comfortable having my own two children participate in one of our Diabetes Camps when they were this age.

Camp Midicha is just one of many of our camps that are now underway. This year we are providing 40 camps with 50 sessions in 25 states and serving 5,500 type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes campers. Having seen this group of kids and all that they take away from their time with us, I am even more proud of our camp legacy that dates back to 1940 and the positive impact that we are making on the lives of these children and their families. It's a mission moment that will not be forgotten by me, our campers or volunteers anytime soon. A special thanks to the Volunteer Committee Chair, Dr. Lowell Schmeltz, Debbie O'Leary, Senior Executive Director, Michigan/NW Ohio, and Stephanie Camalo, Director, Mission Delivery, for their hospitality!    
1 Comment
 

Living Well- By Samantha Rappa

09/07/2011

1 Comment

 
Picture
A healthy lifestyle is important and key in everyday life. A healthy lifestyle can help keep us from diseases that can damage our life and even damage the lives of others around us. I didn’t fully understand the importance of a healthy lifestyle until spring of 2009. I was always active. I played sports. I exercised. My diet, I thought, was reasonably healthy. If I put on weight, I would diet and usually it worked. It wasn’t enough and to be frank, I wasn’t taking care of myself in the right way. I found myself at my primary doctor’s office with high blood pressure at the age of 23. I was placed on medication and it was the start of something I never thought would happen to me. By summer I packed on 17 pounds and weighed XX on a 4’10” frame. During that time, I tried working out, but I found myself short of breath and tired, making it difficult for me to exercise. I became stressed, emotional, embarrassed, you name it. I struggled with food, too. I would eat healthy, but I would also find myself dining out and pulling up to drive thru windows a lot. I didn’t think it was affecting me, though. My eating habits had been the same for years.

During that time, I went back to my primary doctor. I told her something was wrong and that I am putting on weight like crazy. Her response, “Keep exercising”. I asked her if there was another high blood pressure medication I could go on as I was convinced it was the medication. I was placed on a water pill. I still put on weight, but for the most part, I was leveling off. I wasn’t satisfied. What was I doing wrong? I was living my life the same way I had been for years and now my body was completely rejecting it. By the fall I was miserable and fed up, ready to figure out what was wrong with me. My mom was ready, too. We met with my doctor. We asked her again for help, another alternative. She told me the blood work that was done months prior was fine and it wasn’t anything else. I was told to try counting my calories and exercise. I asked her to refer me to an endocrinologist. She didn’t want to, but agreed. By November, I was having blood work and glucose tests done. By December, I was informed I was prediabetic and once again placed on medication. I was 24 and on my way to having type 2 diabetes. This was not going to happen to me and I prepared myself to do what it takes to make sure I would have it under control. This time it wasn’t going to be a crash diet.

My amazing endocrinologist referred me to a program through Aurora. It was called the Living Well Program. This program truly saved my life. I had a support system that I met with on a weekly basis for the first three months. I worked with a dietitian and a personal trainer. I learned a lot about food, personal wellness, exercise and most of all how to maintain a healthy lifestyle that worked for me. The weight was coming off like crazy and by the end of the third month I was training for my first triathlon. I continued into phase 2 of the program, which was a commitment of another nine months. Within one year, I lost 32 pounds, completed a triathlon and built and maintained a lifestyle of healthy eating and daily exercise. Most of all, in a way you could say I beat type 2 diabetes.

As of today, I am no longer on any medication and I am the healthiest I have ever been. I didn’t do it by crash diets or by burning myself out with too much exercise. I did it by making changes that I can take with me for the rest of my life. The Living Well Program is what brought me here today. I wanted to tell my story. I wanted to start with an introduction as to what I want for my future. I currently have my Bachelor’s in Science in Education and Human Services from the University of Wisconsin- Oshkosh. However, the career path I have been on is not what I am looking for. Health and wellness have become important aspects in my life and I want to share that with others. Making the decision to go back to school for dietetics feels right this time around. I want to take the knowledge I have now and the knowledge I will gain and put it towards something I believe in my hope is that I can use it and be what could be considered a health and wellness “life coach”. I want to take it and develop goals and plans for those that will be my future patients. I want to help others focus and strive for a healthier life free of disease that can be controlled with the right tools. I want to help others strive for what they may have thought was the unthinkable.

Unfortunately, we have allowed ourselves to create a society that doesn’t revolve around health and wellness, causing an increase in health problems among Americans. With the right people and persistence in prevention, we can create a healthier society. I want to take part in that. I understand the efforts, the time and hard work involved in making lifestyle changes. I want to help coach someone with the knowledge I gain, the efforts I make and the support I can give in helping save another person’s life and keep them free from disease. This is why I am making the decision to continue my education in a field that is very important to me.

Thanks for listening,

Samantha Rappa

1 Comment