Whether you’re hosting a St. Paddy’s party or simply want to green-ify your day, check out our Divabetic St. Patrick’s Day suggestions! From head-to-toe fashions to the tastiest low carb beers, we’ve put together our picks to help you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day without compromising your diabetes wellness.
“Green is the color of hopefulness, and of our connection to nature. It speaks to what we call the ‘re’ words: regenerate, refresh, revitalize, renew. Every spring we enter a new cycle and new shoots come from the ground. It is something life affirming to look forward to,” says Leatrice Eiseman, the executive director of the Pantone Color Institute.
Though many women may recoil when they are told green is the Color of the Year — some think it is hard to wear — Julianne Moore wore leaf green Givenchy to the 2016 Screen Actors Guild awards, and Hillary Clinton wore it on the campaign trail. And let’s not forget that green is Viola Davis‘ color! She wowed on the 2012 Oscars red carpet in a green Vera Wang gown and a year later the star stepped out yet again in the vibrant hue — by way of an emerald green duchess satin creation by Escada.
“Glamour is the feeling of beauty, with an undertone of femininity, while looking like a lady, for all occasions,” Spokesmodel, Diabetes Advocate, Contributing Editor & Published Writer, Doris Hobbs explains. “Glamour is an illusion, a form of mystery revealing a fragile state that changes with time. Glamour, from my perspective, is defined as recreation from all facets of our lives. Perhaps the best way to describe it is with a ravishing red lipstick, a sensual hourglass silhouette, and style inspiration from such mavens as Rita Hayworth, Ava Gardner, and Jayne Mansfield.”
Doris doesn’t let diabetes dim her dazzle! Her glucose monitor of choice is the One Touch. One Touch meters have sufficient memory to store up to 500 tests. This meter results include dates and times, and 7-, 14- and 30-day averages. You can even use your meter to monitors before and after meals.with large display screens, bright backlit displays, and quick screen navigation. When you insert a test strip, the results appear in five seconds; fewer glucose test strips are wasted, as well. Plus, these devices, like the Mini, are small and lightweight.
Speaking of fashion, dozens of women with diabetes say they’d rather risk injury (and potential amputation) than hoof it in traditional diabetes-friendly shoes, which are, by design, wider, more cushioned, and more supportive than your average Manolo.
When you have diabetes, you need to take special care of your feet. That’s why it’s important to check your feet daily and choose your shoes wisely.
Wear well-fitting, comfortable shoes to help keep small foot problems — like a corn, blister, or a callus — from turning into severe ones.
What makes a shoe friendly for people who have lost sensation or have other complications due to diabetes-related nerve damage? It’s all in the construction and fit. People with neuropathy (nerve damage) might not be able to tell when a shoe fits poorly. A podiatrist or a certified shoe fitter can help. Visit the Pedorthic Footcare Association (pedorthics.org) to find a professional nearby.
Once you know your correct size:
Look for shoes that don’t have pointed toes. Instead, choose ones with a spacious “toe box,” so your toes have plenty of wiggle room. That way they won’t be crushed together. You’ll have less chance of corns, calluses, and blisters that can turn into ulcers.
Avoid high-heeled shoes, because they put pressure on the ball of your foot. If you have nerve damage, you might not realize that area is sore or getting calluses. High heels can also cause balance issues, especially if you have nerve damage.
LISTEN NOW: Diabetes Spotlight on Dr. Maasi J. Smith, from Philadelphia (PA). Dr. Maasi J. Smith, founder and director of Rittenhouse Foot and Ankle Associates and manufacturer of Dr. Smith’s Foot Care, a complete line of natural foot care products. Dr. Smith trained in podiatric medicine and surgery with further emphasis on diabetic wound care. His products reflect an interest in providing natural remedies instead of prescriptions which usually include harsh chemical ingredients. This diabetes community trailblazer has also made a mark in the literary world with his self-published work of fiction, Mischiefmakers, which is available on Amazon.com.
From the three main meals of the day to every snack and treat in between, there are endless ways to get your green fix this St. Patrick’s day.
Why not treat yourself to broccoli? It is very high in fiber and delivers a potent package of Vitamin C — 135 percent of what you need in a day — plus potassium and iron, Postman says. White adds Vitamin K and folate to that list. Like other green cruciferous vegetables (such as Brussels sprouts, kale, cabbage and bok choy), it contains nitrogen compounds known as indoles, which, Postman says, have been shown to prevent stomach tumors. In fact, eating broccoli may help reduce the risk of other cancers, too, by virtue of its being rich in carotenoids, antioxidants that are thought to “sponge up free radicals that promote cancer,” Postman explains. Broccoli is also“very high in calcium for a vegetable,” she adds, “though some will quibble” that not all the calcium it contains is easily absorbed by the body.
Tip: For broccoli and other green vegetables, steaming is the best way to retain nutrients; boiling, microwaving or stir-frying may leach some away.
Each year, more than 33 million Irish-Americans and fellow partiers worldwide raise pints of Guinness and forkfuls of cabbage in the name of the Ireland’s primary patron saint. But the good times are too often ruined
Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that there’s an increase in binge drinking around holidays such as St.Patrick’s Day, and with binge drinking comes drinking violations, accidents, and even death
Find out how alcohol can effect your diabetes this St. Patrick’s Day. While moderate amounts of alcohol can cause blood sugar to rise, excess alcohol can actually decrease your blood sugar level — sometimes causing it to drop into dangerous levels. If you are in doubt about whether drinking alcohol is safe for you, check with your doctor.
LISTEN NOW: Diabetes Roundtable inspired by Hoda & Kathie Lee. The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic takes on the hot topic of ‘Drinking Divas & Diabetes’ with inspiration from Kathie Lee and Hoda. Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb always seem to have a drink in hand for the fourth hour of The Today Show. If you’re around a TV at 10 AM with nothing to do, you should be watching the fourth hour of Today filled with Hoda and Kathie Lee’s theater reviews, occasional dancing, wine reviews and women issues.
“There’s a Japanese concept called ‘forest bathing,’ which says that when you are feeling stressed, one of the best things to do is go walk in the forest,” Ms. Eiseman said. “But if you can’t do that, what can you do? Bring green into your environment. Put in on your body, or in your house or near your desk. That symbolic message is very important.”
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!