Some great resources for diabetics..

...and for people just trying to get healthy and/or lose weight!

Since I found out almost three years ago that I'm a Type 2 diabetic, I've learned a wealth of information about nutrition and weight loss.

For that, I can first thank my diabetes educators at SwedishAmerican Hospital in Rockford, IL. (If you are diabetic and your doctor never referred you to diabetes educators, I urge you to find some--they are an incredible help.)

Besides that, there are some fantastic publications and online resources that are a great help in educating you and supporting you in your quest to control your blood sugar and just get fit.

Even if you're not diabetic....

It makes sense to start living as if you could be. This from a National Institutes of Health website:

In a new analysis of national survey data, researchers found that the prevalence of diabetes in U.S. adults is continuing to rise. And despite efforts to raise awareness of the problem, about a third of adults with diabetes still don't know they have it. Diabetes is a group of diseases marked by high levels of glucose in the blood. Persistent high levels can lead to blindness, kidney failure, amputations, heart disease and stroke.

The article goes on to say:

The researchers found that the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes in U.S. adults rose from about 5.1 percent in the years 1988–1994 to 6.5 percent in 1999–2002. About 2.8 percent of U.S. adults, a third of those who have diabetes, don't even know they have it. The study also found that about a quarter of U.S. adults have impaired fasting glucose, a form of pre-diabetes. People with pre-diabetes have an increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes, the most common form of diabetes, and for heart disease and stroke.

So it makes sense to be proactive. Eating to control blood sugar is beneficial in EVERY area of health--heart health, blood pressure, etc. And it's much easier to lose weight when you control cravings and blood sugar spikes by eating in a low-glycemic way.

Here are some of my favorite resources:

Dlife.com is an amazing website. I subscribe to it on my e-mail, and it never fails to have a great array of tips, advice, recipes, etc. There is even a forum where you can get support from other diabetics and get questions answered.

Another great resource is Diabetic Living magazine. The magazine also has a website and a Facebook page.

The thing I really love about this magazine (other than the wealth of knowledge it contains) is that it's bright, positive and optimistic, as opposed to some diabetes publications that a bit gloomy and filled with medical lingo. This magazine projects the message that life isn't over just because you're diabetic...in fact, it can be better than ever.

Another publication I really like is Outsmart Diabetes, which is put out by Prevention magazine (in fact, Prevention itself is a terrific magazine with an excellent website.)

Outsmart Diabetes isn't put out monthly, but when I find it at the cash register at my grocery store, I always pick up a copy. My old copies are dog-eared from using their recipes repeatedly.

You'll be amazed...

You'll be amazed at the delicious foods and recipes you can enjoy and still not only keep your blood sugar in check, but actually help your blood sugar. And you'll benefit by becoming a much healthier person overall.