Diabetes Archives - Health Clover

Can Diabetics Drink Protein Powder Shakes?

by Ryan McCaffery | Last updated August 7, 2018 | Leave a Comment

Is it safe for diabetics to consume protein powder? Yes, however, it is important for diabetics to choose a powder that is sugar-free and as close to pure protein powder as possible. Many protein powders have artificial flavors and added sugars to make the powder taste more palatable. For this reason, diabetics should check the nutrition label and ingredients list carefully. Also, when making protein shakes, diabetics also need to be mindful of the added ingredients they use to flavor the shake. Fruits, for example, are often added to protein shakes to give them flavor and increase nutritional value. Diabetics should keep in mind, however, that sugar from fruits that have been liquefied in the blender absorb into the bloodstream much faster than whole fruits. Protein powder and diabetes Increasing dietary protein is an excellent way for diabetics to control blood sugar. Why? The human body needs about 50 g of protein […]

Ganoderma for Diabetes: How Effective Is It?

by Ryan McCaffery | Last updated January 3, 2019 | Leave a Comment

A growing body of evidence suggests that ganoderma (reishi mushroom), an herb used in traditional Chinese medicine, may assist the sufferers of type II diabetes. However, much of this less than rock-solid evidence is based on research from non-Western universities, and the countless anecdotes relayed by believers. Much of the research linking ganoderma to lower blood sugar levels in patients with diabetes mellitus was conducted at universities in China, and its territories Taiwan and Hong Kong. Western research on the subject is scant. There, ganoderma is considered a homeopathic treatment, not a true medicine. The dearth of Western research is also likely due to the lack of potential money making opportunities from any links found between diabetes and ganoderma. Ganoderma is a mushroom, after all. It is difficult, if not impossible, to patent a medicine based on an herb. That is primarily why pharmaceutical companies have no interest in researching ganoderma […]

The Best Protein Sources for Diabetics

by Ryan McCaffery | Last updated August 7, 2018 | Leave a Comment

Diets high in healthy proteins and low in simple carbohydrates can help diabetics stabilize their blood sugar. Why is this so? Americans eat, on average, about 100 grams of protein per day. This is 100% more than the recommended amount of 50 grams per day. Our body needs about 50 grams of protein per day to build muscle, repair tissue, grow hair and nails, etc. Excess protein in the diet is converted to glucose (sugar) and used as fuel, just like carbs. But protein metabolizes to sugar more slowly. It takes about 3 hours for protein to be metabolised into glucose and released into the bloodstream. For diabetics, this is key. The slow conversion of protein to sugar (as compared to carbs) means that a diet high in healthy proteins is helpful in maintaining proper blood sugar levels. This is also why it is a good idea for a diabetic’s bedtime […]

The Best Breakfast Cereal Choices for Diabetics

by Ryan McCaffery | Last updated August 7, 2018 | 1 Comment

Cereal is such a beloved breakfast choice, largely because it is an easy way to make a quick and healthy meal. Just fill a bowl and add milk, and voilà. It doesn’t get any easier than that. For diabetics, it can seem like 90% of the available serial options are automatically unavailable to them because they are loaded with sugar. Take a walk down the cereal aisle of your local grocery store and you will find literally hundreds of different brands of cereal, with the bulk of them being packed with sugar. Most breakfast cereals you see on the store shelves are consumed by and marketed towards children, who coincidentally happen to love the taste of sugar and haven’t lived long enough yet to develop the symptoms of diabetes. For those of us who have and must watch our blood sugar levels like a hawk, it can be a bit […]

The Best Coffee Creamers for Diabetics

by Ryan McCaffery | Last updated August 7, 2018 | 37 Comments

There is a lot of debate lately about whether coffee and coffee creamer tends to increase or decrease the blood glucose levels of diabetics. There is evidence to support both sides of the argument at this time, and there is just no clear cut answer. It doesn’t affect every person in the same way, either, which adds to the confusion. Some studies suggest that only black coffee reduces your risk for developing diabetes, and that coffee taken with creamer does not have the same beneficial effects. But that hypothesis is up for debate too. I happen to prefer my coffee with cream, mainly because it blunts the high acidity level of the coffee and makes it taste better. With cream, the taste is softened and much of the bitterness seems to be removed from my taste buds. If you’re diabetic, please be vigilant with blood sugar monitoring when testing out […]

Does Black Coffee Help Prevent Diabetes?

by Ryan McCaffery | Last updated August 7, 2018 | Leave a Comment

A few studies have indicated that drinking black coffee is somehow related to a lesser risk of developing diabetes mellitus. You may have seen one of these articles presented on a recent Good Mourning America show which said that drinking black coffee at lunch correlated with lower levels of developing diabetes. But the study went on to state that drinking coffee in the morning or at night time did not have the same affect. So let me get this right, black coffee can help prevent diabetes, but only if drank at midday? I guess you could label me skeptical about these findings. The problem with most of the studies, especially with coffee, is that the results are all over the map. It seems as if one week there will be news of a story suggesting that coffee is good for you in one way or another, and the next week […]

Uncontrolled Blood Sugar Wreaks Havoc On Your Body

by Ryan McCaffery | Last updated August 7, 2018 | Leave a Comment

Diabetes is called “the silent killer” because it often goes undetected for long periods of time while it is inflicting its damage. High blood sugar in itself does not usually have any noticeable symptoms, but an extended period of uncontrolled blood sugar levels can wreak havoc on your body, damaging internal organs, nerves, and cardiovascular system. Type II diabetes is now an epidemic in American society due to changes in our diet over the last few decades, and the unfortunate reality is that most people who have it do not even know it. It usually takes several years of high blood sugar levels before any noticeable symptoms of diabetes occur, but all the while the disease is slowly but steadily doing its damage to the body. Let’s take a look at some of the ways: Neuropathy Uncontrolled blood sugar levels over a period of several years will cause nerve damage, […]

How Much Sugar Is in Soy Milk?

by Ryan McCaffery | Last updated August 7, 2018 | Leave a Comment

Regular soy milk generally tastes a little sweeter than cows milk. So exactly how much added sugar is there in a typical soy milk, and how concerned should you be about it? Soy milk is formulated to mimic the taste and texture of dairy milk. There is a good reason for this. People already enjoy and are used to the taste of cow’s milk. Mirroring this taste makes it easier and more comfortable for people to make the transition to soy milk. So, yes, sugar is added to regular soy milk to help maintain that taste consistency. Soy milk is marketed as, and truly is, a healthier alternative to cow’s milk. Indeed, as a plant-based milk, it has no cholesterol, lactose, and only .5 g of saturated fat per cup — much less than the 4.6 g in cow’s milk. But how about the sugar content? How much sugar is […]

Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy Symptoms

by Ryan McCaffery | Last updated August 7, 2018 | Leave a Comment

Note: peripheral neuropathy is often referred to as diabetic neuropathy because the disease commonly afflicts those with diabetes, but it can also have many other causes. What are the first symptoms of peripheral neuropathy? Peripheral neuropathy symptoms often begin with a tingling or prickling sensation in the extremities. Most often the feet are the location of the first symptoms, but in a smaller number of cases it develops in the hands initially. Sometimes the pain is strong and is described more of a burning or stabbing sensation, or even a feeling of “electric shock”. The pain may also be coupled with a physical loss of coordination and muscle weakness. The affected area exhibits decreased tactile sensation and a lessened ability to detect hot and cold stimuli. The symptoms are almost always symmetrical in nature, in other words, the symptoms manifest themselves in both feet or both hands equally and symmetrically […]

Is It Possible to Cure Diabetic Neuropathy?

by Ryan McCaffery | Last updated August 7, 2018 | Leave a Comment

Can neuropathy be reversed? In short, sometimes the terrible pain associated with neuropathy can be reversed and in other instances it cannot. The fact is that to date the mechanisms that cause and also heal diabetic neuropathy are not well understood by doctors and scientists. I can personally attest to the fact that diabetic neuropathy can be reversed. I had my own scary bout with this problem and was able to get the symptoms of neuropathy to disappear, which I will elaborate on. How I was able to reverse my diabetic neuropathy One evening both of my hands and forearms simply went numb. It felt similar to when your hand goes to sleep and you have a tingling and prickling feeling – not pleasant. I had never experienced this before and thinking it would go away on its own, I waited a week before seeking medical advice. At the hospital, the doctor diagnosed the […]