Some of our favorite #diabetes instagram posts from around the world to inpire you. In this roundup, our friend, Chirstel Oerum from Diabetes Strong hits a new milestone, a great green pepper sandwich recipe, amazing weight loss story, low calorie hard seltzer endorsement, and a few words and images to brighten your day!
If you have walked down the baking aisle at your local grocery store lately, you may be tempted to start experimenting with unending varieties of baking flour.
Recently I discovered chickpea flour and felt bored and fearless enough to try it!
Chickpeas
Chickpea flour or chana atta is a soluble fiber that not only reduces blood cholesterol levels but also aids in the slow absorption of sugar into the bloodstream, causing the blood sugar levels to rise slowly. It’s a great alternative to refined wheat flour, as it’s lower in carbs and calories yet richer in protein and fiber
Expert bakers and bloggers say that chickpea flour provides a sweet, rich flavor that works well in pizza crusts, crackers, and breads as well as desserts with strong flavors such as chocolate cake or pumpkin bread. It can even be used as a thickening agent in soups, sauces, and gravy in replacement of all-purpose flour or cornstarch.
When using it in a recipe, it is recommended that you replace up to one quarter of the flour with chickpea flour. One-quarter cup provides 110 calories, 18 grams of carbohydrate, and 5 grams of fiber.
Here’s a great chickpea flour recipe off of Instagram!
We’re talking about Secrets to Longevity & Diabetes with musical inspiration from Dionne Warwick on this episode of Diabetes Late.
Living longer and increasing your life expectancy with diabetes doesn’t have to be a chore. From flossing your teeth daily to getting a good night’s sleep, there are simple things you can do to help you live long, happy and healthy life.
Guests include The Lager Queen of Minnesota and Kitchens of the Great Midwest Author J. Ryan Stradal, Deborah Greenwood PhD, RN, BC-ADM, CDE, FAADE, Fonzi Thornton, Rachel Stahl MS, RD, CDN, CDE, and Lorraine Brooks.
Type 2 diabetes doesn’t stop ‘The Diabetic Pastry Chef’, Stacey Harris from indulging her sweet tooth. From her tasty treats to her outlook on life, this pastry chef keeps things as sweet as can be as well as … sugar free!
Berry tartlets with blueberries, raspberries, kiwi, strawberries, almond flakes in icing sugar
Sugar-Free Fruit Tartlets Recipe
Cookie Crust Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup Whey Low D Granular, or equivalent dry sugar substitute
2 large eggs
1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
3/4 cup white whole wheat flour
Directions: In the bowl of a mixer, beat the butter on medium speed until smooth. Add the sugar substitute and mix until incorporated. Add the eggs one at a time beating until combined after each. Add the flour all at once and mix on low just until incorporated. Cover and refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours. Roll out and use fluted 3″ cookie cutter to cut and place in 24 mini muffin cups. Bake in 350 degree preheated oven until golden brown approximately 10 minutes.
Custard Ingredients:
1/3 cup Whey Low D Granular, or equivalent dry sugar substitute
3 Tbsp cornstarch
1/8 tsp salt
2 cups milk
2 egg yolks, slightly beaten
1 Tbsp butter
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Directions: In medium saucepan, combine the dry ingredients. Gradually stir in the milk, and cook over medium heat until the mixture boils and thickens while stirring constantly. Boil for 1 minute. In small bowl, blend approximately 1/3 of the hot mixture into the egg yolks. Return the yolk mixture to the hot mixture and blend well. Cook the mixture until it bubbles, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add the butter and vanilla. Cool. Fill each muffin cup about half way with the cooled custard and add topping. Fruits can be brushed with a little heated currant jelly if you would like them to appear glossy. Refrigerate until serving time.
Topping: Various fruits and berries such as: Blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, kiwi, sliced almonds, confectioners sugar or substitute for dusting and/or mint leaves for garnishing.
Stacey Harris aka The Diabetic Pastry Chef shares her recipes in a fabulous book so that people with type 2 diabetes and others looking for sugar-free treats can make their own lower-carb versions of baked goods at home. She also started her own online bakery that ships homemade treats all across the country. The most common thing she hears from customers is, “I don’t even miss the extra sugar!”
We’re talking about nighttime diabetes management with musical inspiration from Gladys Knight & The Pips courtesy of SONY Music. Guests include Stacey Harris aka ‘The Diabetic Pastry Chef’, Mary Ann Hodorowicz, RD, LDN, MBA, CDE, CEC, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach, SleepyHead Central founder Tamara Sellman RPSGT, CCSH, Poet Lorraine Brooks and Mama Rose Marie.
Divabetic Diabetes Late Nite podcast guest, Connie Elderis passionate about helping women put their best foot forward. With a well-earned reputation as one of the most trusted developers of lifestyle products for women, entrepreneur Connie Elder launched her PEAK 10 SKIN skin care line featuring SAVE MY SOLE rescue cream to elevate skin health and hydration to new heights with pure, clean, active ingredients.
Connie Elder (CE): Skin care is not just about the face! Our skin is the largest organ of the body and we need to take care of ‘all of it’, including our feet. Especially this time of year we are wearing more open toed shoes, sandals, flip flops and our feet our more visible. This makes most people more aware of how their feet look. While this is important, it is also important to take care of the health of the skin on your feet. Our feet are really good to us and take us everywhere we go. Therefore, I believe they deserve pampering and a little TLC.
SAVE MY SOLE a spa-inspired foot cream, not only provides nourishment that can help prevent and rescue dry feet, is has a menthol and eucalyptus aroma that provides a cooling and refreshing sensation. I personally find it extends the life of my safe pedicures!
Q: Many people with diabetes are likely to experience cracked heels because damage to nerves in the feet from rollercoaster blood sugars can cause dry skin. How does SAVE MY SOLE rescue cream work to help heal cracked heels?
CE: In my past, I worked with a wound care center where we saw lots of diabetic wounds that would not heal. Many of these were on the feet and caused those who suffered with the wounds ambulatory problems. If we keep the skin on our feet hydrated and moisturized, it is less likely to become dry and crack, causes a wound that is slow to heal.
SAVE MY SOLE foot rescue cream is 25% pure refined Shea Butter. This provides much needed nourishment to the skin on the feet. Shea Butter combined with Vitamin E and coconut oil will lock in moisture for the feet and encourage the repair process for dry, cracked skin.
Skin is like leather, the more nourished it is the stronger it is. With proper conditioning it is less likely to experience cracking and tearing. You can’t break a conditioned piece of leather, but a dried out piece of leather can tear.
Q: Do you have any advice for preventing dry feet?
CE: The best way to keep the skin on your feet from getting dry is to be kind and treat them with foot cream daily. Once a week, use a pumice stone or a fine sand paper block to gently dust off the excessive dry skin. Once you remove the dry skin apply SAVE MY SOLE foot rescue cream to your feet daily. Within a few days you will notice your feet are less dry and they will feel nice to the touch. Visit your podiatrist to keep your feet well-manicured and your nails trimmed. You’ll enjoy sleeping with your feet again!
*If you have an open wound on your feet consult your doctor first.
Q: There’s been a lot of chaos surrounding different Sunscreen SPF levels and their benefits in the news lately. With the Summer months quickly approaching what advice can you give for shopping for sunscreen?
CE: There’s a lot of discussion around sunscreen, for sure. Sunscreen is very important to protect your skin from the harmful rays of the sun. I personally believe using an SPF above 30 provides a false sense of security. We tend to think it last longer and it doesn’t. Reapplication of sunscreen is most important to maintain protection through the day.
There are some chemicals used in many sunscreen that should be avoided, especially for everyday use.
I personally use sunscreen with a combination of Titanium Dioxide or Zinc Oxide (natural mineral) and a small percentage of Octinoxate. Safe levels of the organic compound Octinoxate mixed with the natural minerals are known for absorbing UV-A and UV-B rays of the sun, protecting the skin from damage.
Q: What words of wisdom can you offer to help women love the skin they are in?
CE: First, remember aging is the gift of life. If you are 60, don’t expect to look 30…no one does! Be the best you can be for the age you are. Healthy, hydrated skin looks radiant, at any age.
This can be achieved by using products daily that are pure, clean and effective. Be diligent in caring for your skin. Wash your face in the evening and nourish it with products containing quality ingredients. Products with a shorter ingredients list are usually best! If you are over 40, add a serum to your skincare routine. Make sure you are also hydrating from the inside. Drink lots of water! Limit your skin’s exposure to direct sunlight. Wear sunscreen!
Peak 10 Skin offers a complete spa line of products to exfoliate, hydrate and protect skin, and has a well-deserved reputation for its pure, clean, active ingredients.
The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic discusses Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) on this podcast. Guests include Dr. Andrea Chisholm OBGYN, Peak 10 Skin founder Connie Elder, We Are Diabetes organization founder, Asha Brown, and Laura L. who are both living with type 1 diabetes. Throughout the podcast we will be playing selected songs from P.M. Dawn’s live album courtesy of SONY Music. PODCAST LISTENER SURVEY
Listen to Divabetic’s Diabetes Late Nite podcasts for diabetes information, expert advice, real-life testimonials and music from your favorite artists. This month, we’re talking to The Lager Queen of Minnesota and Kitchens of the Great Midwest Author J. Ryan Stradal, Deborah Greenwood PhD, RN, BC-ADM, CDE, FAADE, Fonzi Thornton, Rachel Stahl MS, RD, CDN, CDE, and Lorraine Brooks and featuring music from Dionne Warwick.
Choosing healthy snacks can be difficult when you have diabetes.
The key is to choose snacks that are high in fiber, protein and healthy fats. These nutrients will help keep your blood sugar levels under control.
It’s also important to snack on nutrient-dense foods that promote overall health.
Chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans have close to 15 grams of protein and 13 grams of fiber in a 1-cup (164-gram) serving of chickpeas, making them an excellent snack for people with diabetes.
Oasis Mediterranean Cuisine’s Hommus Crisps
One of our new favorite snacks, Oasis Mediterranean Cuisine’s Hommus Crisps‘ contain: chickpeas, green lentils, corn, sesame seeds, vegetable oil, sea salt.
When a trip to the local kitchen appliance store manages to spin Mr. Divabetic’s life out of control in this year’s Divabetic Mystery podcast, Kill Me Madam, he relies on a food processor for help.
This handy kitchen gadget is used to finely chop pecans needed for the pie crust in his new dairy and gluten free Key Lime Pie recipe but what can it do for you?
Why do you need a food processor?
Food processors are great for blending, but what many people with diabetes don’t realize is that they’re ideal for coarser jobs, too. You can certainly use your food processor to make smooth, well-mixed hummus or other bean dips, but you can also use them to for simple prep tasks. It’s an extremely powerful knife that quickly chops and grinds different ingredients, from onions to to nuts to hard cheeses, in a matter of seconds.
Here’s one of Divabetic’s favorite food processors:
The Cuisinart Elemental 11 Cup Food Processor lets you quickly and easily prepare large portions of ingredients for meals with minimum effort. The generous 11 cup work bowl, make this food processor the ultimate timesaver for your favorite dishes, making quick work of everything from chopping nuts and puréeing soup to slicing tomatoes and shredding cheese. Another time saver – the rubberized touchpad with Pulse control is wipe-clean and the removable parts are dishwasher safe!
The Cuisinart Elemental 11 cup food processor allows you to quickly and easily prep larger portions of ingredients for bigger meals with minimum effort. With an 11 cup work bowl, 1 stainless steel blade and 2 discs, it’s the ultimate timesaver, making quick work of everything from chopping nuts and pureeing soup to slicing tomatoes and shredding cheese. The rubberized touchpad with pulse control offers the ease of use and versatility that makes this classic the favorite of creative home cooks! The removable parts are dishwasher safe too.
The power of pecans is true! When it comes to stabilizing blood sugar, polyunsaturated fats in tree nuts — such as pecans along with almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, walnuts, and pistachios — are especially beneficial. They’re also loaded with fiber and protein to help with heart health.
Enjoy Divabetic’s 6th Annual Diabetes Mystery Podcast, Gingerbread Men Prefer Blondes. The mystery is set in the fictitiously decadent world-renowned Gingerbread Men Cookie Baking Competition in New York’s Central Park Zoo. Mr. Divabetic’s healthy culinary misadventures continue in this year’s escapade as he enters the competition with headless cookies and pureed kale hot cocoa for the judges to sample. As if this dreadful combination wasn’t bad enough to land him at the bottom of the throwdown, his mother, Mama Rose Marie, is accused of poisoning one of the celebrity judges! Things go from bad to worse when the snake phobic Mr. Divabetic hears about the giant python’s escape. Now, the happy healthcare host must decide to face his fear of snakes and recipe rejection or throw in his apron and risk getting caught up in another murder investigation.
Can Mr. Divabetic and his team of amateur sleuths hunt down the real killer and get Mama Rose Marie out of jail?
Will he be the next murder victim? Can he ever create an edible recipe?
The cast of Gingerbread Men Prefer Blondes features Mama Rose Marie, Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach (Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE and MaryAnn Nicolay BA, DTR), The Happy Diabetic Chef Robert Lewis, Seveda Williams, Coach The Cure’s Trisha Artman, Jillian Walsh, Wendy Radford, Dave Jones, Lorraine Brooks and Max Szadek. Throughout this podcast we will be featuring music from the original Broadway cast recording of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes courtesy of SONY MUSIC.
A lot of us living with diabetes who are cutting back on high-carb foods like starches, desserts and processed snacks still have a sweet tooth.
Keep in mind, SPLENDA® contains maltodextrin and dextrose, two carbs that supply about 3 calories and 1 gram of carbs in each packet ( 6 ) even though it’s calorie-free. SPLENDA® can be substituted for sugar in a 1:1 ratio for most recipes.Happy baking!
Combine flour, SPLENDA® Granulated and rice flour. Beat butter until smooth and creamy. Gradually add flour mixture, beating until smooth. Press evenly into a greased 8’ square baking pan.
Bake at 325°F (160°C) for about 35 minutes or until lightly browned at the edges and firm to touch. Cool on rack. Cut into small squares. Store in the refrigerator.
“A light, cozy mystery read with a cat-loving and cafe-owning amateur female sleuth, in a small English village setting with quirky characters. Written in British English. No cliffhanger, swearing, gore or graphic scenes! Contains mild peril.“
Plot Summary: When Julia’s gran, Dot, wins an all-inclusive spa trip to Scotland, Julia finds it difficult to refuse the offer of a relaxing week away from her café. Along with her sister, Sue, they pack up her tiny vintage car and drive all the way from Peridale to Seirbigh Castle, ready to be pampered. The last thing Julia expected was to be caught up in another murder investigation, but when the cruel owner of the family-run spa, Henry McLaughlin, is shot dead, she can’t resist ditching the facemasks and massages in favour of cracking the case.
Julia quickly befriends the young cook and talented-baker, Blair, and acquires a job in the kitchen so she can observe the strange family in the wake of the murder. Henry’s wife and children are acting suspicious, and with an incompetent young Detective Inspector on the case, Julia makes it her mission to discover the secrets held within the ancient walls before Seirbigh Castle claims another victim.
