ADA Catches Up on Low-Carb...Sort Of
The American Diabetes Association has started to acknowledge the evidence that a low-carbohydrate diet is beneficial for people living with diabetes....sort of. In the newly-released "Nutrition Recommendations and Interventions for Diabetes," the ADA says that: "For weight loss, either low-carbohydrate or low-fat calorie-restricted diets may be effective in the short term (up to 1 year)." This marks the first time that the ADA has acknowledged the clinical benefit of low-carbohydrate diets in any capacity, and we applaud them for taking this step in the right direction.
However, for daily diabetes management, the ADA stands firm on its former dietary recommendations, continuing to recommend a minimum of 130 grams of carbohydrates daily. The authors noted that "(a)lthough brain fuel needs can be met on lower-carbohydrate diets, long-term metabolic effects of very-low-carbohydrate diets are unclear, and such diets eliminate many foods that are important sources of energy, fiber, vitamins, and minerals and are important in dietary palatability."
Of course, any dietary strategy needs to provide some level of taste enjoyment if it has any chance of long-term adherence, but the assumption that low-carb can't be a palatable dietary option is a cop out. There is no hesitancy on the ADA's part in officially recommending low saturated fat intake, yet it could be argued that low-saturated-fat diets can eliminate many foods that are important sources of nutrients and “dietary palatability.” And energy, fiber, and vitamin and mineral requirements can certainly be met within a healthy low-carb eating plan.
Yes, you have to work at low-carb, but let's give people with diabetes some credit in wanting to put in that hard work for better blood glucose control. Nutrition principles that promote our best chance at diabetes health should be the goal of all professional healthcare organizations. Let's not settle for less.
Read more about the new ADA nutrition guidelines and how low-carb advocates are reacting.
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Braving the Cold
These cold winter days have us craving comfort foods, but all those carbs are bad for the blood sugar. Fortunately, there are dLife Healthy Swaps — delicious and diabetes-friendly substitutions for comfort standards like mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, and more. Get swapping now!
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Questions for the Cocktail Hour
Is alcohol a carbohydrate? Do you find it tricky to work alcohol into your diabetes control plan? Mixing drinking and diabetes can be somewhat complicated, and it's absolutely essential that you understand it. Test yourself and learn what you don't know by taking this 12-question quiz.
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Celebrating Religious Holidays with Diabetes
Many religious observances are challenging for people with diabetes, particularly those that involve food or fasting. We are in the midst of the Jewish high holy days, culminating in Yom Kippur this Friday. Visit Friends With Diabetes for their comprehensive series of Diabetes Guides focusing on different Jewish holidays.
FWD founder Rabbi Hirsch Meisels is looking for input from Jewish readers with type 1 diabetes who have experience with fasting:
I urgently need some feedback from type 1's who fasted in previous years. How did you (or more precisely, how did your body handle) the breaking of the fast at the end of the day? Did your BG spike? How high? What did you then do? How long did it take you to get back to normal numbers?
Comment here or contact Rabbi Meisels if you would like to contribute.
This is also the Islamic month of Ramadan, which traditionally involves dawn to dusk fasting. Diabetes UK has an excellent primer on dealing with diabetes issues during Ramadan.
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Do You Know the Signs?
Recently, researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health conducted a study to determine if a school-based prevention program could help reduce students' risks of developing unhealthy food management behaviors.
Diabetes management, with its focus on eating and nutrition, has the potential to create a preoccupation with food. Sometimes this preoccupation becomes an obsession, building momentum until food is almost viewed as dangerous. Worrying about eating the wrong foods and using terms such as “cheating” are unhealthy perspectives that can contribute to the development of an eating disorder.
The combination of an eating disorder and diabetes can be deadly. Do you know the signs? Find out more, and empower yourself with information.
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How Many Carbs are in that Casserole?
Carb counting 'mixed' dishes like casseroles can be a big challenge for people with diabetes. Luckily, dLife's Lara Rondinelli, RD, CDE, has some great tips on how to eyeball the carbohydrate content in soups, pasta dishes, and more. Learn how.
RELATED: "Everyday Eating" with Lara Rondinelli
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Watermelon Gets a Low-Sugar Makeover
Sweet, juicy watermelon is a perennial summertime favorite, naturally rich in nutrients such as cancer-fighting lycopene, vitamin A, and potassium. Unfortunately, it also packs a big glycemic punch, making it a less favorable choice for people with diabetes. But good news may be coming to a supermarket near you. The United States Department of Food and Agriculture (USDA) reports that the agency's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) has developed a new breed of watermelon that contains the same nutrients in conventional varieties, but cuts the sugar content by over 50 percent. According to USDA, the ARS has shared the new lower carb melon with growers, and hopes to see the watermelons "showing up in produce aisles by summer's end."
RELATED: Nutritionally-Analyzed Watermelon Recipes
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Food for Thought
Recent research reveals that "Compounds found in pumpkin could potentially replace or at least drastically reduce the daily insulin injections that so many diabetics currently have to endure." Is this a story to follow or are we just waiting for the clock to strike midnight?
Talk about it in the dLife Community Forum.
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Diabetes Nightlife
Meet Walt Raleigh. Although he was voted “most likely to do a keg-stand” in college, he’s slowed down significantly since discovering his diabetes doesn’t necessarily mix well with the party scene. Find out more from “The Type 2 Curmudgeon” himself.
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Test Your Carb IQ
Carb counting, low-carb, carb choices – the lingo of diabetes nutrition is full of references to this notorious nutrient. What do you know about carbohydrates? Take the dLife Carb IQ quiz and find out!
Related: CARBOHYDRATE COUNTING
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Passover Help
Passover starts tonight at sundown. Prepare for "the festival of unleavened bread" with some of our delicious, diabetes-friendly Passover recipes. We also suggest you stop by and visit our friends at Friends With Diabetes for a comprehensive guide to celebrating the holiday with diabetes in mind.
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Love Your Heart
February is American Heart Month. dLife's Lara Rondinelli, RD, CDE, explains how you can eat heart smart all year long.
RELATED: Cardiovascular Complications of Diabetes
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