Tag: cholesterol

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Product Review: Metamucil Sugar Free

“A day without Metamucil is like a day without sunshine,” writes one customer on Amazon.

Can a spoonful of an orange powder really provide relief for one of the most common yet often overlooked complications related to diabetes — CONSTIPATION?

I’ve Got Diabetes, But Why Am I Constipated?

Healthline reports a whopping 60% of people with long-standing diabetes deal with constipation.

High blood sugar levels can lead to nerve damage in the digestive tract which can cause constipation, diarrhea, and incontinence.

While constipation can be a sign of poor long-term diabetes management, it could also be due to something as simple as not getting enough fiber. And consuming ample amounts of fiber each day can also lower your blood sugar levels and reduce your risk of heart disease.

Constipation can be defined as having fewer than three regular bowel movements each week. It can also be defined as infrequent, unpleasant, and painful bowel movements. The kind that makes people make agonizing low guttural noises in the bathroom similar to those of a moose caught in a bear trap.

If eating more fiber, drinking more water, and increasing your physical activity doesn’t help then talk with your doctor about moving on to fiber supplements, stool softeners, or laxatives.

One supplement that’s pretty much everywhere is Metamucil Sugar-Free.

Metamucil Psyllium Fiber Supplement Sugar-Free Powder – Orange Smooth

How Does It Work? Metamucil works by increasing the bulk in your stool, an effect that helps to cause movement of the intestines. It also works by increasing the amount of water in the stool, making the stool softer and easier to pass. Psyllium is a bulk-forming laxative that can also help treat lower cholesterol.

Metamucil can play a role in helping certain people with diabetes get enough fiber, especially if they are constipated. But read the label carefully. This product replaces sugar with Aspartame.

Some people with diabetes have found that the aspartame-sweetened (Nutrasweet) Metamucil spikes blood sugar, in spite of the lack of sugar in it, which could be from the maltodextrin (an additive that makes the product nice and smooth).

Dosage is based on your age, medical condition, and response to treatment. Do not increase your dose or take this drug more often than directed.

WebMD warns that this product may decrease the absorption of other medications you may be taking. Take this product at least 2 hours from your other medications. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

It may take 1 to 3 days before this medication starts working. Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same time(s) each day. Do not take this medication for more than 7 days unless directed by your doctor.

Others humorously warn of potential side effects, “You should be aware that there may be an odorous side-effect, that for me, usually presents itself during church, so when those around you look in your direction, just discretely, point, with your thumb, to sweet old Sister Thompson sitting near you!,” writes Mike on Amazon.

“Metamucil is made from [a fiber called] psyllium husk, which slows down the absorption of glucose and can cause less of a spike in blood sugar,” says Audrey Koltun, RDN, a registered dietitian in the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology at Cohen Children’s Medical Center in Lake Success, New York for Livestrong. But “this does not mean someone with diabetes who eats a high-carbohydrate/high-sugar diet can expect normal blood sugars after taking Metamucil.”

Dana Greene, RD, a dietitian in Brookline, Massachusetts, says she suggests fiber supplements like Metamucil to patients with diabetes when they can’t get what they need through diet, describing supplements as “a good backup plan.”

“ The taste of this product is great. I take it as a quick drink 2x a day and in conjunction with adding more fiber to my diet got me to go a little more frequently. It’s no miracle, but I definitely needed more fiber for my cholesterol and I take many medications which stop me up incredibly,” writes Angela in a product review.

Keep in mind when you increase your fiber intake too quickly with supplements you may experience bouts of painful gas, bloating, diarrhea, and/or constipation.

Don’t forget to talk to your Doctor, Registered Dietitian (RD), and/or Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) before adding supplements to your diabetes self-care plan.

 

Looking for a fun way to socialize without putting your diabetes wellness at risk? Do you need a little help staying on track with your diabetes self-care?

Join the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic for this free, virtual diabetes support program with style. Divabetic’s dynamic diabetes program features ‘What To Wear When Nothing Fits for Summer’ presented by Divabetic Image & Style Advisor, Catherine Schuller and ‘How To Master The Menu at The Cookout’ presented by MaryAnn Nicolay MEd, NDTR on Tuesday, June 29, 2021, 7-8 PM, EST.

REGISTER NOW- FREE REGISTRATION 

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Undetected Diabetes May Double Risk of Heart Attack

New research finds an intriguing link between undetected blood sugar disorders and the development of heart attacks and severe gum disease.

For decades, researchers have probed the link between gum disease and cardiovascular health. Gum disease begins when plaque builds up around teeth. A completely different type of plaque — made of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances found in blood — can build up inside arteries. Known as atherosclerosis, this fatty plaque is the hallmark of coronary artery disease.

Photo by Hush Naidoo on Unsplash

The risk of mortality from ischemic heart disease combined with diabetes-related kidney complications is three times higher in people who have both diabetes and severe periodontitis, compared with people who only have diabetes.

“Periodontal disease increases the body’s burden of inflammation,” says periodontist Dr. Hatice Hasturk of the Harvard-affiliated Forsyth Institute, a not-for-profit research organization focused on oral health. Acute inflammation — which involves an outpouring of immune cells that attack irritants and microbial invaders — fosters healing over the short term.

Gingivitis can turn into periodontal disease if left untreated. The gums become loose around the root of the tooth, creating a gum pocket that gradually deepens. Eventually, the infection and inflammation can cause the tooth to loosen and possibly fall out.

Daily toothbrushing and flossing can prevent and even reverse an early stage of gum disease, known as gingivitis.

Divabetic’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast

We’re talking about ‘Diabetes & Pride’ on June’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast with musical inspiration from Ricky Martin.

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‘Should You Put An Egg On It?’ with Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDE, FAND

People aren’t just eating eggs. They’re obsessing over them. Every menu item from burgers and pizza to oatmeal are topped with eggs as though they are a condiment or sauce! 

We reached out to our friend, Registered Dietitian Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDE, FAND to share some advice on the nutrition pro’s and con’s to putting an egg on it. 

Q. Are there any health benefits to putting an egg on it?

Jill Weisenberger‘s Answer: Eggs are nutrient-dense, inexpensive and easy to prepare. They give us protein; lutein which is important for eye and brain health; choline, which is important for cognition, especially during fetal development; and a host of other vitamins and minerals. I like the idea of adding an egg to some lower-protein meals like oatmeal. We need a steady supply of protein – as in breakfast, lunch, and dinner – for optimal muscle synthesis. From a nutrition standpoint, I don’t see the benefit to adding an egg to hamburgers. There’s already adequate protein there. I’d rather see folks eat eggs at meals that have lower amounts of protein, such as this Savory Oats and Lentils recipe (https://jillweisenberger.com/healthy-savory-oats-and-lentils-recipe/), which I often have for dinner.

Q. Are there any drawbacks to putting an egg on it?

Jill Weisenberger‘s Answer: It’s really important to have variety in the diet, so I can imagine that if someone is eating eggs or an egg at most meals, there’s either too little variety or too many calories. But in general, no, there are no major health consequences to adding eggs to any number of foods. A fraction of the population is sensitive to cholesterol in foods. Since eggs have a lot of cholesterol, some people will need to put some limits on intake. For most of us, however, the amount of saturated fat we eat affects our blood cholesterol levels more than the amount of cholesterol we eat.

Q. Let’s talk calories. How many calories are we talking about when we add an egg to it? 

Jill Weisenberger‘s Answer: Depending on the size, eggs have roughly 60 to 80-ish calories. More importantly, let’s look at what we’re eating eggs with. A breakfast of eggs and biscuits with sausage gravy and side of bacon isn’t in the same ballpark as a couple eggs, with whole grain toast and a bowl of strawberries. Eggs have a lot going for them, so let’s enjoy them in good company – whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes.

Q. Can we eat the yolk? 

Jill Weisenberger‘s Answer: The yolk is where the cholesterol is, so anyone needing to limit dietary cholesterol should eat more egg whites than yolks. But like I said, that’s not most of us. The yolk also contains a lot of nutrients, including lutein.

Q. Not all eggs are created equal. Is it worth buying organic eggs?  What types of eggs do you recommend we buy at the store?

Jill Weisenberger‘s Answer: Usually, there’s not much difference nutritionally when you’re comparing eggs of the same size. Buy the ones you like. However, there are some eggs out there with a few differences. You can buy pasteurized eggs, which are good if you like to eat your eggs runny. And some brands feed their chickens an enhanced diet, so the eggs might contain more omega-3 fatty acids or lutein.

Jill Weisenberger’s comprehensive guide, ‘Prediabetes: A Complete Guide: Your Lifestyle Reset to Stop Prediabetes and Other Chronic Illnesses’ will lead you through dozens of concrete steps you can take to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and other lifestyle-related chronic diseases. Taking an individualized approach to your lifestyle “reset,” this book will allow you to choose your own path to wellness, help you gain a greater sense of wellbeing, boost your confidence in your abilities to maintain a healthful lifestyle, and potentially even help you reverse prediabetes and avoid type 2 diabetes and other chronic illnesses. You’ll be feeling better than you have in years! Inside, you will learn to:

Identify your risks for developing type 2 diabetes

Set personalized and meaningful behavioral goals

Identify and build on your motivation for a lifestyle reset

Create positive new habits

Change eating habits for weight loss and greater insulin sensitivity

Choose wholesome foods in the supermarket and when away from home

Tweak your favorite recipes

Reduce sedentary time

Start or improve upon an exercise plan

Reduce emotional eating

Organize and track your progress with tools included in the book

Much more

Jill Weisenberger, MS, RDN, CDE, CHWC, FAND is a great resource for all things nutrition, food and diabetes. Whether she’s speaking, writing, chatting on social media, appearing on TV or working with individuals, her candid and energetic approach appeals to busy people, and her sound nutrition and fitness advice gets results. In fact, her appreciation for science and ability to translate science into actionable information earned her a place in US News & World Report’s 10 Dietitian’s You Need to Follow on Social Media.

We’re talking about ‘HEART HEALTH & DIABETES’ with musical inspiration from the rock band “Heart”. Adults with diabetes are two to four times more likely to die from heart disease than adults without diabetes. People with insulin resistance or diabetes in combination with one or more of these risk factors are at even greater risk of heart disease or stroke. However, by managing their risk factors, people with diabetes may avoid or delay the development of heart and blood vessel disease.

Guests include Author of ‘Nutrition & You’ Dr. Joan Salge Blake, EdD, RDN, LDN, FAND, Jill Weisenberger, MS, RDN, CDE, CHWC, FAND, Glucose SOS founder Pamela Heyward and the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach. Throughout the podcast we will be playing music from Heart’s “The Essential Heart” album courtesy of SONY Music

LISTEN NOW

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Parsley Deviled Eggs by Verna ‘Lady V’ Henry 

Deviled eggs are one of the trendiest appetizers at  Backyard Cookouts this Summer. The good news is that Deviled eggs are packed with protein and can be a healthier choice than some other party foods. But, the traditional recipe is pretty high in fat and calories. By reducing the amount of egg yolks used and swapping the mayonnaise for Greek yogurt, you can make skinny deviled eggs. They’re the perfect low calorie, high protein snack.
This recipe was inspired by a recent trip to the Hamptons with my friend, Lady V. She loves to shop for fresh produce at the area’s Farmers’ Markets. From Montauk to Westhampton Beach, Farmers’ Markets located throughout the Hamptons are an easy way to shop local and enjoy fresh produce and other delectable finds.
We bought fresh tomatoes and parsley at Babinski’s Farm Stand located at 160 Newlight Ln, Water Mill, NY 11976. They also carry local fish, fruit and vegetables, Debragga Beef, as well as a variety of homemade pies and grocery items such as raspberry jam.
“What makes this Deviled Egg so delicious is the fresh parsley!” says Lady V. “It is also rich in a variety of different vitamins, minerals and other nutrients.”

Parsely Deviled Eggs by Verna Henry 

Ingredients:
8 eggs
1/4 cup of Best Foods/Hellmann’s Mayonnaise Dressing With Extra Virgin Olive Oil (tastes more like regular mayonnaise to me than some of the other light mayos)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1/2  teaspoon of ground mustard
1/4 teaspoon of salt
1/4 teaspoon of pepper 
4 cherry tomatoes (for garnish) 
 
Directions:
Boil eggs in water (about 10 minutes).
After eggs cool,  slice the hard-boiled eggs in half.
Scoop out the yolks and place them in a medium bowl. 
Combine yolks with mayonnaise or yorgurt, parsley, ground mustard.
Continue stirring until the mixture is creamy with no lumps. Season it to taste with salt and pepper.
Fill a pastry bag with the mixture. 
Lay the egg white halves on a platter with the yolk hole facing up. Hold the twisted part of the bag containing the mixture with one hand, and use the other hand to hold the bag near the bottom.
Apply even pressure on the top of the bag to force the mixture out through the tip or hole into the yolk hole in the egg. Continue until you fill all of the egg halves.
Garnish the eggs with parsley and cherry tomatoes 
 
Easy to Make Pastry Bag:
 
If you do not have a pastry bag, fill a medium-size plastic bag (Ziploc Freezer Quart-size) with the yolk mixture and twist the top of the bag to force the mixture toward one of the corners. Use scissors to cut a small hole in the corner of the bag.
Lady V’s Cooking Tip: Overcooked hard-boiled eggs develop a deep green ring on the outside of the yolk that can darken the color of your yolk mixture. To keep your yolks yellow, place the eggs in a pot filled with cold water. Set it over the stove on high heat. When the water begins to boil, immediately remove the pot from heat, cover and let it sit for 15 minutes for large eggs.

The American Diabetes Association considers eggs an excellent choice for people with diabetes. That’s primarily because one large egg contains about half a gram of carbohydrates, so it’s thought that they aren’t going to raise your blood sugar.

Be mindful that eggs are high in cholesterol. One large egg contains nearly 200 mg of cholesterol, but whether or not this negatively affects the body is debatable.

Monitoring your cholesterol is important if you have diabetes because diabetes is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. High levels of cholesterol in the bloodstream also raise the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. But dietary intake of cholesterol doesn’t have as profound an effect on blood levels as was once thought. So, it’s important for anyone with diabetes to be aware of and minimize other heart disease risks.

Tune in to Divabetic’s June Diabetes Late Nite featuring music by Edith Piaf on Tuesday, June 12, 2018, 6 PM, EST.  We’re talking about living well with diabetes by having ‘NO REGRETS’. Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Dr. Lori Shemek PhD, Dr. Andrea Chisholm OBGYN, Cindy Lou from the ‘Diabetes What To Know’ community, and Mama Rose Marie. Throughout this podcast we will be featuring music from ‘EDITH PIAF TOP 40’ album courtesy of SONY Music.