Useful Brands to Help Manage your Blood Sugars: Special K

Like I've mentioned in previous blogs, when I find a product or brand of food that I like and allows me to easily manage my blood sugars I will eat those foods constantly.  Today the brand is Special K.

The first product they have is their variety of cereals.  They add a variety of fruits and yogurt chunks into some of their cereals, as well as cinnamon and chocolate.  They really taste great and have much lower sugar content then most cereals out there.  I have eaten cereal for every meal at one time or another, and Special K is a big reason why.

The second product is their crisps.  They are thin crispy snacks that have either strawberry or blue berry inside of them as well as vanilla icing on the top of them.  This product comes in packs of 2 crisps and have 24 carbs in each packet.  They are very tasty and provide a healthy low carb and low sugar snack that can bridge the gap until you get your next meal.  Warning: they can be addicting.

The third product is their protein drinks.  These protein drinks have a variety flavors including: Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry, and Banana.  They have around 25 grams of carbs in them and really have a superior taste to them.  I do not drink them as a protein supplement but more to curb my hunger and use it as a healthy snack.  The drinks are very filling and can be used as a going to bed snack because the protein holds your blood sugar throughout the night.

The final product that I enjoy, and am currently addicted to is their protein bars.  The taste is so good and they are healthy snacks that fill you up and provide proper nutrition to the body.  These bars are offered in a variety of flavors and have around 30 grams of carbs.

I highly recommend sampling these products and start to incorporate them into your diet.  They have lead to stable blood sugars, and an overall easier day when it comes to handling diabetes.

Visit http://www.specialk.com/ to find more information about the products.  They offer many more that act as healthy substitutes to normal foods that taste great.

Product Analysis: Dexcom

When I was using the medtronic pump, they included a continuous glucose monitor that linked directly to the pump.  The thought of closing the loop, and having all your information at one location sounded great to me.  I truly hated the medtronic cgm.  The needle insert was painful if it was not inserted at the exact precise angle, and it could be inserted but sometimes there was a kink and the cgm would not read correctly.  Thus, I had a bad taste in my mouth of cgms after that.

After getting the omnipod and being introduced to the dexcom, I liked it but did not want to have another thing attached to me especially after the medtronic one.  At the start of 2012, I broke down and got one because I new of the potential benefits and my thinking was this company only does cgms so they have to know what they're doing.  I got it 3 weeks ago and my blood sugars have never been better.  Consistent numbers throughout the day, and constant alerts when your blood sugar is rising or dropping to fast leads to a happier me.

http://www.dexcom.com/products


These are just some products that help me out.  What are your opinions of having a CGM?

Product Analysis: Omnipod

This week I wanted to talk about the kind of insulin pump that I use and how I benefit from it.  I used a medtronic pump for 9 years and switched to an omnipod around 2 months ago.  The big thing for me was no tubing.  I can not tell you how many times I had a bubble in the tubing or a kink in the canula and found out when my blood sugar was 350.  The Omnipod is tubeless and waterproof, and has a cell phone looking item that controls the insulin and is also a tester kit.  It is basically your one stop shop for Diabetes management and has helped drop my A1C over a full point.  I think the accessibility of it and how it looks like a cell phone lead to me testing more, and monitoring better.  The medtronic was clipped on my boxer shorts, and I had to unbuckle my pants to get to it.

The pump is also self priming and is very easy to set up every 3 days.  It holds 200 units and I have even stretched it to 4 days and have had no problems.  And when I mean no problems related to the pump, I mean ZERO.  No occlusion, no kinks, no crazy blood sugars related to the pump.

The other great thing about Omnipod are the people who work for them.  Through the business world, I have had the privilege to work with numerous reps around the country and each is nicer than the previous.  They truly care about your well being and will do anything to help you.

https://www.myomnipod.com/DemoPodConditionsAgreement/


Let me know your thoughts and why you like your specific pump.


FYI: I do not work for Omnipod in any way, shape, or form.

Superbowl sunday

OK, so despite my team not being in the game let alone the playoffs (The Jets), and not picking either of the teams who are in it, I am still excited for super bowl Sunday.  The festivities, the game, the friends, and THE FOOOOOD!  Yes the food, and I know that is the first thing Diabetics around the country are thinking about.  How do I eat like my friends, but not have ridiculous blood sugars.

First, a big trick to a successful Superbowl is exercising in the morning, or early afternoon before you watch the game.  It gives your metabolism a kick start and allows your blood sugars to run lower throughout the day, thus allowing you to eat more.  For me, I like to do an Insanity workout in the morning in order to be prepared for the intense amount of food.

Second, save yourself for the main meal.  The chips and dips are great, but can really throw a wrinkle into successfully eating the large meal right before game time.  Minimize your chip intake and wait for the pizza, wings, Italian wedges, or any other phenomenal foods you should eat only once per year.

Third, in my opinion, if you run a little higher with your blood sugar than normal, so what.  Enjoy yourself because for a full year, you eat right and monitor your blood sugar.  You are allowed to live like a normal person and eat freely.

So enjoy the game, be safe, and on Monday its back to the normal life of eating right and keeping stable blood sugars.

Super Foods

Here are my top 5 restaurants or fast food places that have foods that taste great while not making it impossible to manage my blood sugar.

1. Subway:  A great place that has healthy food that fills you up.  Be careful, just because you are at a generally healthy establishment, does not mean everything is good for you.  Stick to turkey, ham or chicken.  Avoid cheeses, bacon, and fatty/creamy sauces.

2. Chipotle: Yes I said Chipotle.  If you stick to the burrito bowl with rice, veggies, meat, and salsa, you can not go wrong.  Around 50 carbs and 8-10 grams of fat, tastes great and really fills you up.

3. Chic-Fil-A: Chargrilled chicken sandwiches and a fruit cup is a great meal.  Low fat and healthy carbs.  Diet Lemonade to top it off and you can not go wrong.

4. Cafe Express: Basically my lunch everyday.  They have a variety of options that are low in fat and not extremely high in carbs.  Everything tastes great and you can modify any ingredients to fit your needs.  I recommend the Rustica chicken or turkey burger with fruit.

5. Corner Bakery: Very similar to cafe express with their healthy options that taste great.  Despite their assortment of baked goods, a large portion of their meals and appetizers are low cal and low fat that allow for ease in blood sugar management.  I recommend the tomato mozzarella with chicken noodle soup and fruit.

Remember portion control and low fat intake are important pieces to having stable blood sugars.  Always consult your Doctor for expert advice, but these are just some options that I have found that work for me.

Unlimited potential

Diabetes is a life changing disease, but it does not have to be a deal breaker.  Despite a few specific lifestyle changes, you can live a normal life and participate in anything and everything.  I can't tell you how many times people have figured out I was Diabetic after an extended period of time and been completely shocked.  I have played sports competitively my entire life and up through college, and never allowed Diabetes to hold me back.  It takes establishing a "routine" and knowing what works in order to manage your blood sugars throughout the physical activity.  Another example is a few years back, the winner of the show "The Amazing Race" was Type One diabetic, and if she could manage her blood sugars through those extreme conditions, my thought process is what can hold me back in the real world.

The area that I felt I was somewhat limited at times is eating specific things with friends and family.  Whether it be pizza or Chinese Food, or any other fatty foods, I knew it was probably not the best idea to eat them because of the difficulty and increased "variability" thrown into the equation.  Another instance is when I would have a high blood sugar and would not be able to eat with the rest of my friends and family.

I learned at a young age that there are worse things than not eating with your friends or not eating pizza.  Learning how to keep things in perspective at an early age allowed things like this not to bother me.  In the long run, eating pizza and Chinese food is not the most nutritional for a normal person let alone a diabetic.

A good tactic I found is to find the healthiest thing on the menu at a restaurant, and order that whenever I attend the establishment.  Most often there is a few options that actually are not bad for you, and won't punch your ticket to the blood sugar roller coaster.

So to wrap things up, Diabetes can only hamper your lifestyle and hold you back if you let it.  By having a positive thought process and have the confidence to handle any challenge presented, you can be a normal member of society and do anything your heart desires.



-CA

Daily Consistency and reducing variability

There are two main areas that there must be a level of consistency: in the foods you are eating and the times during the day you are eating and checking your blood sugar.  Despite Type 2 diabetes being different from Type 1, the eating habits are similar for both.  As a type 1 diabetic, if you eat nutritional foods with low glycemic index, and low in fat, it will allow you to better control your blood sugars.  By reducing the number of variables you are adding into the equation such as: high fat or high carbs, managing your blood sugar becomes much easier.  Personally, when I identify foods that are healthy and I know exactly what they do to my blood sugar, I will eat those foods regularly.  I am not saying you can not treat yourself from time to time, but by establishing habits of eating right, you will be better prepared to handle diabetes for the long run.

The next area of consistency is identifying when you need to eat during the day and how you will obtain those meals.  By establishing a routine of when to test your blood sugar, and when to eat, you will be better prepared to deal with any circumstances that may arise during the day.  Also, by having specific times of when you need to eat, you can mold your school, work, or daily schedule around your medical needs.  

By creating consistency in your life, maintaining blood sugars and eating right becomes second nature.  Here are some foods that I love: Lean Cuisine, Meals to Live frozen entrees, fiber one bars, special K cereal, Campbell's chunky soup, and Chobani Greek Yogurt.

-CA

Super Friends

Pardon the extremely corny name, but I'm trying to keep it in theme with the title of the blog page.

Those Super Mom's and Dad's are not always going to be around you forever to look after you.  It is important to learn how to manage your Diabetes and slowly take more and more responsibility.  For me, its taken 21 years to get a full grasp on how to take care of myself fully (My parents still aren't convinced HA!).  It took for me to go to college and be forced to take care of myself.

As you grow up and become more independent, it is very important to establish a safety net of friends or just one friend that truly cares about you and is willing to help you through any situation.  You are going to see these people more regularly than your parents so it is important that they are educated on Diabetes and are aware of symptoms.  The biggest thing is teaching them how to use a glucagon in case of serious emergency.  By having reliable friends who constantly are looking out for your needs, you feel more comfortable knowing that you have back up, and it also puts your parents' minds at ease.

I have had two instances where a friend has given me glucagon when I had a serious low, and I am eternally grateful to have such wonderful people in my life.   So identify that friend or group of friends that you are very close with and can trust with being your safety net for Diabetes.  Simple education on what to do in certain situations, what to look out for, and even arming them with some fast acting glucose can go a long way in ensuring your safety.  My safety net of friends are almost considered family members and treat me with such respect, and understand that having Diabetes is just something I have to deal with and are very understanding.

So all of you Super Friends out there (you know who you are), from the bottom of my heart I thank you.


-CA

Super Mom's

The following is not to take away from any super dads out there.  This is specifically to honor the moms of the world.  The Dad's will be recognized at a later date.  

In my opinion, mothers of diabetics are the true "Super Heroes" of the Diabetes community.  They are the ones not sleeping for years to make sure their child's blood sugars are stable.  They are the ones hanging out in the school to make sure everything is ok.  There level of commitment, devotion, and overall love is unparalleled and goes unappreciated.

My mom is the reason I am alive and healthy today and I truly appreciate everything she has done for me.  I have been attached to her hip since Day one and in her opinion I still am.  She has been the ultimate protector throughout my life watching me every step of the way.  I have been groomed to understand this disease at a superior level, and am capable of handling it myself now.  She has instilled habits in me that will be beneficial for the rest of my life not only in the diabetes world, but in the regular world as well.

So here's to you Mom's!  Thank you for everything you do for your children with Diabetes, and no matter how much they hate you always being on top of them, they really need it and definitely appreciate the hard work.  From educating an entire school on Diabetes to scolding an adult for improperly handling your child, you will do whatever it takes to ensure your child's safety.

From the diabetic children of the world: "Thank You!"

-CA

Work out your Diabetes

Like any other situation in the diabetes world, being prepared and having a routine are key factors in being able to successfully participate in any exercise.  The first step is to identify how long you plan on doing a particular work out or sporting event.  The longer the activity goes, the more you are going to have to eat before.

The next step would be to identify your insulin regiment for this exercise and figure out how you want to regulate it.  Normally, you burn hundreds of calories in a workout, and if you keep your insulin basal rate the same, your blood sugar will drop lower than it needs to.  If you do not desire adjusting your insulin, than you must eat the necessary foods to where your blood sugar may be a little higher than desired, but with the exercise, you blood sugar will return to normal.

Throughout the workout session or sporting event, do not be afraid or embarrassed to stop and test your blood sugar.  Identifying times to test your blood sugar during a work out or athletic event is a critical factor in successfully participating in the exercising.  The better you monitor your glucose levels, the better opportunity you have to perform at your highest ability.

It is always important to remember, complications occur without warning.  There may be some days where you cannot complete a workout because of low blood sugar, or your erratic blood sugars may lead to decreased performance.  I have had Type 1 diabetes for over 20 years, and I have played sport my entire life.  I cannot tell you how many times I need to stop in order to deal with a bad blood sugar.  The best defense is to be prepared and establish a routine, and if you can do that, I promise you will be successful.

-CA

Roll With the Punches

Diabetes is as much a mental game as it is physical.  The ability to handle any situation that arises with a calm state of mind is key to managing any disease let alone diabetes.  The key theme in this message is "Roll with the punches."  There are numerous challenges that a type one diabetic faces on a daily basis, whether it be: managing your blood sugars when sick, exercising without going low, making sure your blood sugar is stable to eat with your friends, a pump occlusion, and then those just inexplicable blood sugar fluctuations.

The important thing to remember is always staying positive, and not let these things bother you.  These conflicts can be very frustrating and the thoughts of why me can creep into your mind.  By rolling with the punches, and know you can conquer  any challenge Diabetes presents, you can live a normal life.  I also have found that the state of mind of not letting things bother me, has crept into other aspects of my life and has ultimately made me a better person.  I know it sounds corny, but If you can always look at the glass half full and keep things in perspective, you will be a happier person and ultimately live a normal life with diabetes.

Control your Diabetes, don't let it Control you.

Introduction

Hello fellow Diabetes Super Heroes.  My name is Chris Alfano and I am 22 years old and was diagnosed at the age 9 months old.  I have experienced every challenge imaginable associated with Diabetes and feel privileged to share my experiences with the Diabetes Community around the country.  If you ever have any questions don't hesitate to post on this blog or contact me at cjalfano@gmail.com, or call me at 817-676-5547.