If you have diabetes, you’ll want to know about some new, high-tech gadgets and tools designed to help you keep track of what you eat, your blood sugar levels, how much you exercise, and how you feel each day. Some of these include:
- Phone, tablet, or computer apps where you log your blood sugar or foods you eat
- Devices that test your blood sugar every few minutes
- Smart pumps that give you insulin as your body needs it
- Texts, calls, or emails that remind you to test or take your medicine
Track Blood Sugar Patterns
Keeping track of patterns in your blood sugar levels can help you and your doctor better manage your diabetes.
To find out more, your doctor might use a machine called a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) that can test your blood sugar every 5 minutes all day long. It tests through tiny fibers on a patch stuck on your skin. Results are sent wirelessly to a small monitor that you can hold or clip on your belt. Some CGM devices even send your results to your doctor's office through a wireless signal. This can help you and your doctor spot spikes after you eat certain foods, work out, or while you sleep, says Robert Vigersky, MD. He is medical director of the Diabetes Institute of the Walter Reed Health Care System.
This gadget doesn’t take the place of old-school testing, though. The device’s maker says you need at least one finger-stick every 12 hours to set the device, and suggests regular testing three to four times a day to make sure the numbers match up.
New, smart insulin pumps that can sync with a CGM are great for people with type 1 diabetes, Vigersky says. “If your sugar goes too low, it will stop an insulin infusion for 2 hours.” Smart pumps can help you avoid dangerous dips in your blood sugar.
If you need insulin but not a pump, pre-filled pens may be easier to use than separate vials and needles, Vigersky adds. “Pens are so convenient and easy to use,” he says. And that makes people more likely to take their medication, which helps keep their blood sugar under better control.
Apps and Clips
New phone, tablet, or computer apps can be good if you don’t like writing things down in a journal, says Marisa Moore, a registered dietitian who works with type 2 diabetes patients in Atlanta.
Apps can help you track:
- Calories, carbs, and other nutrition in your diet
- Daily exercise and calories burned
- Stress levels
- Blood sugar test results
“Keeping a food diary can really help you manage your diabetes. With a phone app, you have it with you all the time, which makes it easier to keep up with,” she says. “People get tired of checking their blood sugar, too. So it’s helpful to have some way to track it that is easily uploaded.”
Apps can sync with your doctor’s office so you can talk about your levels at your appointment, she adds.
New fitness gadgets that can be clipped onto your belt or worn around your wrist measure physical activity, and upload your heart rate or steps to social media sites like Facebook. “This can keep you motivated if you have an exercise or weight-loss goal,” Moore says.
Telemedicine is another new tool to help you stay healthy, Vigersky says. Your doctor can send you a text, email, or call that reminds you to test your blood sugar, take your medicine, or check for cuts on your feet, for example.
“These are things we normally tell you, but every few months at your appointment," he says. “This is a new approach to help educate you and keep you on track.”
When you have diabetes, what you choose to eat and drink can raise or lower your blood sugar levels after meals. So which foods are smart choices?
There are four things in food that can affect your blood sugar:
1.Carbohydrates
2.Protein
3.Fat
4.Fiber
Carbohydrates raise blood sugar faster than proteins or fats. They also have the biggest effect on your blood sugar. Fiber, protein, and fat can blunt the rise in blood sugar after a meal.
So aim for variety. Eat a mixture of carbohydrates, protein, and fat to manage your blood sugar better and stay full longer. But make sure to choose quality carbohydrates and smart fats, such as:
Vegetables, beans, whole grains, and fruit for carbs
Fish, nuts and seeds, avocado, olives, extra virgin olive oil, and canola oil for fat
You may not respond to a meal the same way as someone else with diabetes does. So be sure to check your blood sugar after meals. Look for patterns between what you eat and drink and your blood sugar levels after. You also may want to track how many grams or servings of carbohydrates you eat with each meal and try to keep it about the same from meal to meal. This can also help you take charge of your blood sugar.
Eating a healthy, balanced diet when you have diabetes doesn't mean you can't eat foods that taste good. In the sample menu and recipes below, the meals have a good balance of protein and fat and a great source of fiber. You can plug them into your diet -- in the right portion sizes -- along with the other fruit, vegetables, grains, dairy, protein, or fats in your plan.
Don’t forget to watch salt, too. That's part of healthy eating with diabetes. Eating less salt has been shown to help prevent and treat high blood pressure. Read labels and choose foods that are low in sodium.
Sample Daily Menu Options
Breakfast
Here's how you might work in a high-fiber carbohydrate along with some lean protein and "good" fat.
High-fiber carbs:
Whole-grain cereal (hot or cold) with fruit
Whole-grain bread, English muffin, or bagel
Whole-grain waffles or pancakes with fruit
Lean protein (low in saturated fat):
A higher omega-3 egg blended with 2 egg whites for an egg dish. Add vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, or tomatoes.Low-fat milk or soy milk for your cereal or as a beverage
Part skim-milk cheese added to your omelet
Low-fat or nonfat yogurt with fruit or cereal, or in a smoothie
Smart fats:
Avocado added to your omelet
Nuts for cereals or a yogurt parfait
Extra virgin olive oil used in omelet
Canola oil used in whole grain muffins, pancakes, or waffles
Lunch
A sandwich or wrap with whole-grain bread or tortilla and a lean protein such as:
Roasted turkey, skinless chicken, or lean beef or pork
Part skim-milk cheese or soy cheese
Water-packed tuna dressed in vinaigrette, yogurt, or light mayo
A bean-based lunch such as:
Bean burrito with whole-grain tortilla
Hummus with whole grain-bread or vegetable dippers
Vegetarian or lean-meat chili or bean stew
Main-course salad made with:
Dark green lettuce
Lots of vegetables
Lean meat, fish, beans, or cheese plus avocado and nuts, if desired
Dressing made with extra virgin olive oil, canola oil, or yogurt
Dinner
High-fiber carb choices:
Cooked grains like brown rice, quinoa, barley, bulgur, or amaranth
Whole wheat bread, tortilla, pita bread, or buns
Colorful vegetables on the side or in the main course
Dark green lettuce for a side or dinner salad
Fresh fruit on the side or with the entrée
Lean protein (low in saturated fat):
Grilled or baked fish, by itself or in a mixed dish such as tacos
Skinless poultry -- grilled, baked, or stir-fried
Lean beef or pork -- sirloin, tenderloin -- with no visible fat
Part skim-milk cheese in entrees, such as eggplant parmesan, vegetarian pizza on whole wheat crust, vegetable lasagna, or enchiladas
Smart fats:
A sensible amount of extra virgin olive oil or canola oil used for cooking
Nuts added to entrée or side dishes
Avocado or olives with entrée or side dishes
Sumber : WMD
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