Whether you’re focused on losing weight, improving your A1c, or want to add a little extra sparkle into your daily diabetes self-care, we’ve got you covered with this year’s DivabeticHoliday Gift Guide 2021. We believe in thoughtful gifts that bring a little happiness and good health into your life.
When it comes to diabetes, the more you know, the better. You’re probably aware that monitoring your blood sugar levels and A1c levels is important. But keeping track of your heart rate can help you lower your risk of diabetes complications like heart disease. The Apple Watch makes it easy!
Using the Apple Watch, you can check your heart rate at any time. You can view your resting, walking, workout, and recovery rates throughout the day. You can also see if your heart rate remains above or below a chosen heartbeats per minute (BPM), or occasionally check for an irregular heart rhythm. This information, as well as other data it collects, helps Apple Watch estimate how many calories you’ve burned.
“I personally love my Apple Watch SE because it reminds me to move more than I might without it. It measures my steps, other activities (like yoga or a session on my spin bike), and how many hours I’ve stood for at least a minute. If I’m lagging behind in any area, I can add more movement to my day.” – customer testimonial
Did you know that your loved ones can get a sense of their diabetes risk by counting heartbeats?
Healio reports that larger increases in resting heart rate can lead to greater risk for developing type 2 diabetes, whereas reductions can have the opposite effect, according to findings published in Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases.
Divabetic Holiday Playlist: John Legend’s rendition of Marvin Gaye’s psychedelic holiday song, Purple Snowflakes. Co-written with Clarence Paul and David Hamilton, Marvin Gaye originally recorded the song in 1964 and released it as Pretty Little Baby.
It took three decades for the song for the holiday version Purple Snowflakes to be released in 1992. It appears the John Legend included it on his sixth studio album, Legendary Christmas.
Whether you’re focused on losing weight or want to add a little extra sparkle into your daily diabetes self-care, we’ve got you covered with this year’s Divabetic Holiday Gift Guide 2021. We believe in thoughtful gifts that bring a little happiness and good health into your life.
Holiday Mindful Eating Tip of the day from Lisa Young: Ask yourself, am I hungry?, eat slowly, and enjoy your company along with your food!
Herb Scissors Retail: $10.67
Fresh herbs enhance the flavors of all foods, especially vegetables, which will help you to reduce using salt to perk up your meals. These scissors are perfect for basil, thyme, dill, parsley, chives, mint, fennel. You can use directly over a pan or plate to make perfectly sized, restaurant-quality quick, and impressive garnishes for soups, salads, pizza, and side dishes.
Our friend, Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDCES, CHWC, FAND, a registered dietitian nutritionist and author of Prediabetes: A Complete Guide, demonstrated how to use herb scissors in a recent Divabetic Zoom program.
With a motto like,” I make nutrition science understandable, realistic & delicious,” Jill specializes in customizing plans to help people living with, affected by, and at risk of diabetes to maximize their health.
Jill quickly snipped a bunch of fresh herbs to season her soup. She showed us that this kitchen tool is a big help in curbing the need to grab the salt-shaker for your recipes. Available on Amazon.
In this video, Jill Weisenberger shares her favorite healthy salad and salad dressing recipes, suggested new flavor combinations to perk up meals, and answered questions on nutrition. Enjoy this sneak peek of what you missed on a recent Divabetic Zoom program! Join us for Divabetic’s free Holiday-themed Sugar-Free Baking Party with the Diabetic Pastry Chef, Stacey Harris on Thursday, December 9, 2021, 7-8 PM, EST. Register Now
The latest numbers from the CDC suggest that nearly 1 in 3 adults have either prediabetes or diabetes. These are alarming numbers, and finding out that you are the one out of three can be even more alarming. Shock, denial, and confusion are not uncommon reactions. But there is a flip side to learning you have prediabetes. It can be scary, but it’s also an opportunity—an opportunity to “reset,” to improve your health and to get yourself in better shape than ever. Let Prediabetes: A Complete Guide show you how!ho
Divabetic Holiday Playlist: Kelly Clarkson never fails to bring us joy! Her new Christmas album is a total delight. This duet “Under the Mistletoe” with Brett Eldredge gets us up and dancing every time we play it!
Kelly Clarkson‘s fabulous holiday album, Wrapped In Red, is the inspiration behind this year’s annual Divabetic Gift Guide. We asked our contributors to share their favorite ‘red’ gift suggestions for people living with diabetes on the Divabetic blog and Diabetes Late Nite podcast.
Our friend, Storyteller, Cook and Author Jonathan Bardzik surely knows a thing or two about the importance of cooking with fresh ingredients! He’s one of the hottest chefs in the Washington D.C. area, as his ‘farm to table’ cuisine has lit up farmers markets, including Mosaic Central Farm Markets, and even on the shelves at local bookstore.
Jonathan shares his favorite kitchen appliance and cold weather recipe that’s sure to warm the heart of that special someone on your list who is living with diabetes and enjoys cooking!
“My favorite kitchen appliance that makes a great holiday gift is a cast iron Staub Cocotte Dutch oven. I couldn’t get through the winter without it,” says Jonathan. “Whether you’re braising a whole chicken, making a pot roast or stock for a soup it’s versatile and goes easily from stove top, to oven to the table. Grenadine – a dark red – is my favorite color. Diabetic friendly pot roast tip – I use lots of mushrooms and turnips. Turnips are like potatoes with more flavor and the richness of the beef balances any bitterness.”
“Chili powder is a “go to” in my kitchen for flavor.,” says Jonathan. “There are so many to choose from spicy cayenne to raisiny Ancho, sweet Guajillo, the sun dried flavor of Aleppo or the smoky flavor of Urfa pepper. So often when changing our diets we miss flavor and replace rich or sugary ingredients with salt. Before you reach for extra salt, try a chile powder to beef up the flavor of your dish.” (Note: chili powder is a blend of chiles, cumin, garlic powder and often salt. You’re just looking for dried, ground chiles here.)
Panang Curry Coconut Cream Of Tomato Soup Photo credit: Matt Hocking
Panang Curry Coconut Cream Of Tomato Soup
“This soup recipe is a little sweet, a little spicy and ready in 15-20 minutes, and serves 4-6 guests,” says Jonathan. “What more could you want for a quick, delicious, cold weather soup?”
Ingredients:
1 tbs peanut or vegetable oil
2 tbs Panang or red Thai curry paste*
1/2 can coconut milk (about 7oz)
2 28 oz cans of San Marzano tomatoes
4 whole sprigs plus 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Rice wine vinegar
*You can find Panang curry paste at Asian markets or order it online. Red curry paste is usually part of the Asian food section in the international aisle at your grocery store.
Directions:
Warm oil in 3-4 qt saucepan over med heat. Add curry paste and cook about 1 min until fragrant. Add coconut milk and cook 2-3 min. Add tomatoes and cilantro sprigs. Simmer and reduce to desired consistency.
Purée soup in a food mill or with a blender or immersion blender. Season soup to taste with a splash of vinegar, salt and pepper.
Jonathan Bardzik is the author of three incredible cookbooks: ‘Simple Summer’, ‘Seasons to Taste’, and ‘Fresh and Magical Vinaigrettes‘, all of which are chock full of delicious recipes that you can make for your own friends, family or that special someone all year round.
Enjoy December’s Diabetes Late Nitepodcast featuring holiday music from Kelly Clarkson’s iconic ‘Wrapped In Red’ album courtesy of SONY Music. Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Kathy Gold RN, MSN, CDE, FAADE, Glucose Delivery Necklace Co-Creator Kris Maynard, Dr. Sara (Mandy) Reece, PharmD, CDE, BC=ADM, BCACP, FAADE, Maria Sakowitz, MS, RDN, LDN, CLT, and the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach. LISTEN NOW
Kelly Clarkson‘s fabulous holiday album, Wrapped In Red, is the inspiration behind this year’s annual Divabetic Gift Guide. We asked our contributors to share their favorite ‘red’ gift suggestions for people living with diabetes on the Divabetic blog and Diabetes Late Nite podcast.
Our friend, Rachel Zinman, is an internationally renowned yoga teacher and writer, was floored when she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 42, despite her lifelong dedication to a healthy lifestyle which included a decades-long practice of yoga.
Rachel shares her favorite gift ideas for that special someone on your list who is living with diabetes and enjoys an active lifestyle!
“I’m a huge fan of Senita Athletics, “says Rachel Zinman. “Their clothes are comfy, sporty and their ethos is to provide durable, fashionable, and functional products at a fraction of the price of competitors. They also love to collaborate and helped raise awareness for diabetes on World Diabetes Day. Check out this red pocket pants. Great for storing your pump or PDM during exercise!”
“I love this “ everything will be ok” hoodie from Super Love Tees,” says Rachel Zinman. “Everything they make is comfy and long lasting and their slogans are always uplifting and inspiring. Perfect for any time to remind ourselves that no matter what diabetes throws at us. We’ll be okay.”
3 Tips for De-Stressing Through the Holidays from Rachel Zinman
1. Take Some Slow Deep Breaths
Accessing the breath and learning to breathe fully and deeply is a priority as someone who lives with Diabetes but also perfect for the stress of the holiday season. Deep conscious breathing ‘called diaphragmatic breathing’ has a ton of benefits.
• It engages the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for calming the heart rate, lowering blood pressure, regulating digestion, elimination and sexual function.
• The steady exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide feeds the lungs and at the same time clears out toxins
• Massages the internal organs
• Breathing through the nose filters the air so that what comes in is free of dust and debris
• Improves our ability to eliminate waste through the lymphatic system
Join Rachel in a simple breathing exercise here https://youtu.be/76oMCT8bmEs
2. Hum Like a Bee
This breathing technique is effective in instantly calming down the mind. It is one of the best breathing exercises to free the mind of agitation, frustration or anxiety and get rid of anger to a great extent. A simple technique, it can be practiced anywhere and is an instant option to de-stress yourself.
The exhalation in this pranayama resembles the typical humming sound of a bee
• Sit up straight in a quiet, well ventilated corner with your eyes closed. Keep a gentle smile on your face
• Keep your eyes closed for some time. Observe the sensations in the body and the quietness within
• Place your index fingers on your ears. There is a cartilage between your cheek and ear. Place your index fingers on the cartilage
• Take a deep breath in and as you breathe out, gently press the cartilage. You can keep the cartilage pressed or press it in and out with your fingers, while making a loud humming sound like a bee
• You can also make a low-pitched sound but it is a good idea to make a high-pitched one for better results
• Breathe in again and continue the same pattern 3-4 times.
Mudras are gestures designed to calm the mind and emotions. Coined yoga of the hands they can be done anywhere any time. Perfect for those in between moments as you get ready for those holiday events
The mudra of the inner self is represented in the closed lotus bud. This mudra is perfect for inner contemplation.
To practice the mudra:
Cross the wrists and turn the fingers to face each other making sure all the fingers of the left hand touch all the fingers of the right hand forming the shape of a closed lotus bud. As you hold the pose imagine a warm inner glow settling in your heart.
In Yoga for Diabetes, regardless of your current state of health, or type of diabetes, you can look forward to learning how to:
Reduce stress in minutes and thus improve your overall health index
Achieve healthier and more stable blood glucose levels
Find the secrets to adapting a yoga practice to suit your constitution and individual needs
Find deeper meaning in life and thus a holistic healing affecting multiple levels of your well-being
Enjoy December’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast featuring holiday music from Kelly Clarkson. Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Kathy Gold RN, MSN, CDE, FAADE, Glucose Delivery Necklace Co-Creator Kris Maynard, Dr. Sara (Mandy) Reece, PharmD, CDE, BC=ADM, BCACP, FAADE, Maria Sakowitz, MS, RDN, LDN, CLT, and the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach. LISTEN NOW
