Recently I got my hands on one of those “diabetes videos”. (It’s a long story about how I got it, but basically someone gave it to me for watching.) Needless to say I wasn’t all that “pumped up” (no pun intended) about viewing it. Although I have to admit, I was a little anxious to get home with it and “inject it” into the DVD player. (Ok sorry, no more puns.)

I was curious about what it might say … as any of us would have been, right??

I guess I was thinking at some point in the video it would tell me the KEY to “unlocking” the mystery of diabetes or that somehow by watching diabetes would magically and mysteriously disappear forever!

FAT CHANCE, RIGHT!?

So anyway, today I popped it in, sat back, and I tried to watch it as it painfully discussed diabetes 101! I was doing SO good until some guy came on the screen and started blabbing his mouth about what diabetes is, and what a low means… etc, etc ... blah, blah, blah! After I had been fast forwarding through it for a while, I finally came across what looked to be the most promising segment of the video. (Ok, I have to be honest - there was a pretty dietitian lady that got my attention).

She, the pretty dietitian lady, talked in great length about the different carb types and differentiating between them; she also she talked a lot about portion sizes. This was the best thing about the video, at least for me.

She reminded me of what a good plate should look like if you’re diabetic (or for anyone for that matter). Basically your plate should consist of about half veggies, 1/4 protein, and 1/4 carbohydrates.

She also talked in great length about the different types of carbs and how a person can eat too many of them at one sitting (my problem). For example, instead of having a sandwich (your bread serving) with additional carbs (say like ice cream or pasta or something), you should eat some veggies with it or something that isn’t considered another bread.

I guess in the end, even though it was just another one of those, “diabetes videos” I still picked up something that was very helpful for me today. Watch your ratios when eating meals and also, I was reminded that even practicing the most basic of diabetes principles helps in the fight against diabetes.

Like Bruce Lee said: “The mastery of proper fundamentals and their progressive application is the secret of being a great fighter.”

Like Andy Bell says: “Watching a video on diabetes 101 can be a useful tool to even the most seasoned of diabetes fighters”.