I have been compensated by Glucerna for this post; however, I am sharing my own thoughts. All opinions are my own. Talk with your health care provider about a diabetes management plan that’s right for you. #GlucernaHungerSmart #CollectiveBias
Back in January, I went for my annual physical. I wasn’t worried. Yes, I had put on a few pounds, but otherwise, I felt I was in good overall health. My doctor admonished me about the weight gain, and we talked about why it was important for me to get a handle on that. We did my routine lab work, I made my appointment for my next year’s physical, and I was on my way. A few days later, I got a call from the lab. My blood glucose numbers were elevated, putting me in a state of pre-diabetes. I was floored. How could this happen to me? I was terrified. Would I have to take medication for the rest of my life? Or would I be giving myself insulin injections every day? Or worse, I could develop blindness (diabetic retinopathy), end stage kidney diseases (diabetic nephropathy) and lower extremity amputations (diabetic neuropathy.)
Well, knowledge is power, so I did some research to see what I could do to stop this diagnosis in it’s tracks. Did you know there is two types of diabetes? Type I is the form you are born with and Type II is developed. Type II diabetes is the most common form, with almost 95% of the people living with diabetes have Type II. For me, I was facing Type II, which meant if I made some changes in my life, I had an excellent chance of lowering my blood glucose numbers. And if knowledge is power, then being in charge of my health like this was like a super hero kind of power. With a change in my diet and exercise, I planned to go back in 3-4 months and have my blood work come back with much lower numbers.
The first thing I did was join a gym. Being overweight and having Type II diabetes is not a good combination. As a matter of fact, 90% of the people with Type II diabetes are overweight. If I could just drop 5-10% of my current weight, I could dramatically prevent or delay my getting Type II diabetes. So, I began going to the gym 5-6 days a week, for at least an hour each visit. I have a personal trainer who created a workout schedule to include strength training and cardio. I have already lost 12 pounds and my pants are beginning to fit more loosely! The next thing I had to do was change my diet. By eating foods that were higher in protein and lower in carbs and sugar, I could make a dent in those unhealthy blood glucose numbers!
When I go to the gym, I need to have something on my stomach. I don’t want anything too heavy, but I need something that will fit in with my meal plan. I found that the Glucerna® Hunger Smartâ„¢ Shakes (Please use under medical supervision) are a delicious way to help me stick with my weight loss plan. Each satisfying Glucerna® Hunger Smartâ„¢ Shake has 15 grams of protein (50% more than other weight loss shakes), 25 vitamins and minerals, 6 grams of sugars and just 1 carb choice per bottle. To help me manage my hunger, the CARBSTEADY® includes slowly digestible carbohydrates designed to help minimize blood sugar spikes. This is hugely important for me because when you are managing diabetes, Steady is Exciting!
With their convenient individual bottles, I can easily grab a cold Glucerna® Hunger Smart™ Shake as I head to the gym. They come in chocolate or vanilla, but I LOVE the rich, creamy chocolate. It is absolutely delicious and when you are living with diabetes, you want to incorporate foods/drinks that keep that blood sugar nice and steady. I get my 6 packs of Glucerna® Hunger Smart™ Shakes from my local Walmart, where I know the price will fit into my budget. Currently, you can buy any 2 large packs of Glucerna and get $3 off. (while supplies last) If you are living with diabetes, the folks at Glucerna have some great information available. I found it very useful!
In trying to stay within my meal plan, I have been experimenting in the kitchen. I have been searching for snacks I can grab and go, like my bottles of Glucerna® Hunger Smart™ Shakes. I needed to create a recipe that was higher in protein and lower in sugar. My No Bake Peanut Butter Energy Bites fir the bill perfectly! They are packed full of protein and flavor, but not with those pesky sugars! At just about 100 calories each, I can eat a few before or after a workout, and I am good to go. They are really delicious when paired with one of my Glucerna® Hunger Smart™ Shakes!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup natural peanut butter
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 2 tsp. peanut butter protein powder
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla
- 2 tsp. water
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips (I buy organic)
- 1/2 cup cashews, divided
Instructions
- In your food processor, pulse 1/2 of the cashews until medium ground and set aside. Next, add peanut butter, cocoa powder, protein powder, chocolate chips and the remaining 1/2 of the cashews. Pulse together until well blended. In a medium bowl, add oats and mixture from food processor until ready to form into balls. Add water as needed. Roll your balls into the chopped cashews.
Are you (or someone you know), living with diabetes? How do you/they manage it?
