Free Baking Party on Zoom With The Diabetic Pastry Chef in September

Special guest, Stacey Harris aka The Diabetic Pastry Chef demonstrates one of her favorite sugar-free recipes, answers your questions, and shares the dos and don’ts of baking with popular sugar substitutes at Divabetic’s upcoming Free Program on Zoom.

After being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, Stacey Harris (The Diabetic Pastry Chef’) taught herself how to make pound cake, pecan rolls, pies, muffins, cupcakes, and other baked goods with about half the carbs you’d get from a traditional bakery item.

“I started experimenting by using almond milk or whole milk mixed with water to cut down on carbs, then tried different flours, incorporating white whole wheat flour, soy flour, oat flour, black bean flour, and other alternatives into my brownies, cakes, and cookies,” she said in a How 2 Type 2 article.

She adds,” To cut back on sugar, I started using all-natural substitutes, like agave nectar, and trying erythritol. I also bake with a store-bought blend of sugars that tastes delicious.”

All of The Diabetic Pastry Chefs recipes are adapted to her preferences and dietary needs; we encourage you to adapt them to yours!

Diabetic Pastry Chef

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!”

Don’t miss Divabetic’s upcoming Free Baking Party Program with The Diabetic Pastry on Zoom on Thursday, September 23, 2021, 7-8 PM, EST.

Register Now

 

There’s a good indication that murder might be part of the recipe when Nantucket’s ten-time reigning Baking Champion’s last name is ‘Coffin’. But resentment, greed, and Britannia’s own bad dealings turn everyone into a suspect when she’s found dead in the parking lot just before the Annual Decadents on Deck! Bake Off competition is about to kick off.

Delusional baker and amateur sleuth Mr. Divabetic is even shocked to find himself being treated as a suspect in the case by the local police, after meeting her just once!

As if his life wasn’t crazy enough before, escaping a murderous mishap in New York and attempting a fresh start in Nantucket has turned into a complete and utter baking disaster, now Max, along with his friends and nosy mother, have to add tracking down a murderer to his To-Do list, as well.

Can our team hunt down the real murderer before they strike again? Will he become the next victim? Can Max ever manage to bake a cake that’s actually edible?

Divabetic’s Mystery podcast cast includes USA Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, MaryAnn Horst-Nicolay MEd, NDRT, Lorraine Brooks, Catherine Schuller, Wendy Radford, Coach The Cure‘s Trisha Artman, Mama Rose Marie, Seveda Williams, and Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek. Produced by Leisa Chester-Weir.

Throughout the podcast we will be featuring music from the Broadway Cast Album of ‘Call Me Madam’ courtesy of SONY Music.

Sugar-Free Pecan Pie Recipe by The Diabetic Pastry Chef 

After being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, Stacey Harris (The Diabetic Pastry Chef’) taught herself how to make pound cake, pecan rolls, pies, muffins, cupcakes, and other baked goods with about half the carbs you’d get from a traditional bakery item.

“I started experimenting by using almond milk or whole milk mixed with water to cut down on carbs, then tried different flours, incorporating white whole wheat flour, soy flour, oat flour, black bean flour, and other alternatives into my brownies, cakes, and cookies,” she said in an How 2 Type 2 article.

She adds,”To cut back on sugar, I started using all-natural substitutes, like agave nectar, and trying erythritol. I also bake with a store-bought blend of sugars that tastes delicious.”

All of the Diabetic Pastry Chefs recipes are adapted to her preferences and dietary needs; we encourage you to adapt them to yours!

Sugar-Free Pecan Pie Recipe by The Diabetic Pastry Chef 

Ingredients

3 eggs, slightly beaten
1 c. agave nectar, light or dark
2 Tbsp. butter, melted
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon (optional) 
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 c. pecans, halved or chopped
1 unbaked single pie shell

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In large bowl, combine eggs, agave nectar, melted butter, cinnamon if using, and vanilla.  Stir in pecans.  Pour into unbaked pie shell and bake for approximately 50-55 minutes, or until knife inserted halfway between center and edge comes out clean. Let cool.

Diabetes Pastry Chef

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!”

Diabetes Late Nite Inspired by Gladys Knight

 

Stacey Harris, The Diabetic Pastry Chef, guests on Divabetic’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast with music from Gladys Knight & The Pips. Our musical inspiration, Gladys Knight doesn’t have diabetes, but the disease is as close to her heart as the memories of her mother, Elizabeth Knight, who died of complications from the disease in 1997. The five time Grammy Award winner never misses an opportunity to use her voice to encourage early detection and treatment of diabetes.

 

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 event with style. Divabetic’s dynamic diabetes empowerment meeting features a Hat & Face Mask Fashion Show presented by  Harlem Heaven’s Hats owner Evetta Petty and a Diabetes Educational Group Activity and Discussion presented by Maryann Nicolay  BA, DTR on Thursday, February 4, 2021, 7 – 8 PM, EST on Zoom.

REGISTER NOW 

 

 

Gingerbread Cake Squares Recipe by The Diabetic Pastry Chef 

After being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, Stacey Harris (The Diabetic Pastry Chef) taught herself how to make pound cake, pecan rolls, pies, muffins, cupcakes, and other baked goods with about half the carbs you’d get from a traditional bakery item.

“I started experimenting by using almond milk or whole milk mixed with water to cut down on carbs, then tried different flours, incorporating white whole wheat flour, soy flour, oat flour, black bean flour, and other alternatives into my brownies, cakes, and cookies,” she said in an How 2 Type 2 article.

She adds,”To cut back on sugar, I started using all-natural substitutes, like agave nectar, and trying erythritol. I also bake with a store-bought blend of sugars that tastes delicious.”

Below is The Diabetic Pastry Chef’s Gingerbread Cake Squares recipe, enjoy!

Gingerbread Cake Squares Recipe by The Diabetic Pastry Chef 

Ingredients

2 eggs

1/2 cup sugar or 1/2 cup Splenda For Baking

1/2 cup molasses

3/4 cup melted butter or melted Smart Balance regular spread

1 1/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour

1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp ground ginger

1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground cloves

1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup boiling water

Directions:

Beat eggs. Blend in sugar or Splenda, molasses, and melted butter or spread. In separate bowl, sift together all dry ingredients. Alternate adding flour mixture with boiling water to batter, and beat until smooth.

Pour batter into a greased 9-inch square baking pan, or into greased square or round muffin tins. Bake 30 to 40 minutes in a preheated 350-degree oven, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cut  gingerbread in pan into 18 slices. Serve warm or at room temperature topped with whipped cream.  Yield: 18 servings.

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, fun Virtual Baking Party with special guest, Stacey Harris aka The Diabetic Pastry Chef in 2021 on Zoom.

During our virtual Baking Party on Zoom, The Diabetic Pastry Chef will prepare a Sugar Free Holiday Dessert recipe and share expert baking tips for using sugar substitutes in your favorite recipes.

REGISTER NOW – FREE REGISTRATION 

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!”

Sugar-Free Zucchini Bread Recipe by The Diabetic Pastry Chef

Type 2 diabetes doesn’t stop ‘The Diabetic Pastry Chef’, Stacey Harris from indulging her sweet tooth. She taught herself how to make pound cake, pecan rolls, pies, muffins, cupcakes, and other baked goods with about half the carbs you’d get from traditional bakery items. From her tasty treats to her outlook on life, this pastry chef keeps things as sweet as can be as well as … sugar free!

The Diabetic Pastry Chef‘s Sugar-Free Zucchini Bread Recipe

Ingredients

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cup white whole wheat flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp ground cardamom

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

1/2 cup vegetable oil

l large egg

1 cup dry sugar substitute of your choice

1 1/2 tsp molasses

2 tsps pure vanilla extract

1 medium zucchini, grated

1 cup walnuts or pecans, chopped; optional

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9×5″ bread loaf pan. It is advisable but not necessary to cut a piece of parchment to line the bottom of the pan for easy unmolding.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients, except for the sugar substitute. Add nuts if using; set aside. In another medium bowl, combine and whisk the vegetable oil, egg, sugar substitute, molasses, and vanilla. Add the grated zucchini.

Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl of the dry ingredients and stir just until combined being careful not to over mix. Pour batter into loaf pan and bake for 45 or 55 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into center of bread comes out fairly clean.

The Diabetes Pastry Chef

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!”

Are you interested in learning how to bake with sugar substitutes? Join the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic for this free, fun Virtual Baking Party with special guest, Stacey Harris aka The Diabetic Pastry Chef on Thursday, December 10, 2020, 7 – 8 PM, EST on Zoom.

FREE REGISTER 

 

Sugar-Free Baking Secrets #2

Are you interested in baking with Stevia?

First off, stevia is a natural, non-nutritive sweetener extracted from the leaf of the stevia plant. More than 200 times sweeter than sugar. Stevia is essentially calorie- and carb-free.

Stevia-based sweeteners shouldn’t be used to replace sugar cup for cup in your favorite recipes. Most bakers agree that for the best results you should leave at least 1/4 cup of sugar in the recipe to help with browning and provide texture. You likely will need to use a lower baking temperature and increase the baking time.

Healthine states, ” Stevia may help manage your weight and blood sugar levels, and animal studies show that it may improve heart disease risk factors. However, it’s an intense sweetener that could negatively affect your health.” (READ MORE)

Thanks to Jasmine Waheed for sharing their work on Unsplash.

The Basic Substitution for baking with Stevia: Substitute 1 cup of sugar for 18 to 24 stevia sweetener packets, 1/3 to 1/2 teaspoon of undiluted stevia powder or 1 teaspoon of a liquid stevia extract. Experts recommend that you choose the amount of stevia based on how sweet you wish your baked goods to be.

Instead of a Mounds Bar, try these Chocolate Covered Katie’s No Bake Coconut Fudge Bars made with a liquid sweetener (maple syrup, agave, etc.) or with stevia. If you choose to use stevia for this recipe, Katie recommends that you add 1/4 cup additional coconut oil to make up the liquid difference.

“With smooth dark chocolate between layers of coconut, it’s like an inside-out Mounds bar!”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBQ35-3AYWN/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Divabetic’s June 2020 podcast is in solidarity with and dedicated to the Black Lives Matter movement for racial justice. We are making time to reflect, share our feelings, listen and identify ways in which to fight for real and meaningful change. Guests include Lorraine Brooks, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Keith Anthony Fluitt, Leisa Chester Weir, and Jeff James.

Sugar-Free Dalgona Coffee Recipe by The Diabetic Pastry Chef

Looking for a refreshing way to beat the heat without compromising your diabetes wellness goals? Take a sip of The Diabetic Pastry Chef‘s Dalgona Coffee Recipe!

What’s Dalgona Coffee?

“Dalgona Coffee or whipped coffee is the latest coffee craze. It originated in South Korea and the recipe was shared on Tic Toc where it went viral,” says Stacey Harris who is professionally known as ‘The Diabetic Pastry Chef’. “It can easily be made at home in less than 10 minutes. I love it because it is simple to make, delicious, and every bit as decadent as a Starbuck’s drink without the cost or travel.”

Sugar-Free Dalgona Coffee Recipe

Sugar-Free Dalgona Coffee Recipe by The Diabetic Pastry Chef

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp. instant coffee granules

2 Tbsp. Whey Low® Type D Granular sugar substitute

2 Tbsp. hot water

2-3 ice cubes

3/4 to 1 cup milk of choice (dairy, unsweetened almond, oat milk, etc.)

Directions:

In small mixing bowl, add coffee granules, Whey Low and hot water. Whip with electric mixer for several minutes until creamy and thick and peaks begin to form. 

Add ice cubes to drinking glass and pour milk no more than 3/4 to top of glass. Spoon and swirl the whipped coffee on top of the milk. Stir the milk and enjoy.

Note: I have read that Splenda® and stevia do not work well in this recipe.

Sugar Free Dalgona Coffee by The Diabetic Pastry Chef

FUN FACT: The actor Jung Il-Woo traveled to Macau, tried the drink, and gave this coffee drink the nickname ‘dalgona‘ for its resemblance to the traditional Korean sponge candy of the same name.

Diabetes Pastry Chef

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!”

SHOP NOW

Divabetic’s Diabetes Late Nite Podcast Inspired by Gladys Knight

Stacey Harris, The Diabetic Pastry Chef, guests on Divabetic’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast with music from Gladys Knight & The Pips. Our musical inspiration, Gladys Knight doesn’t have diabetes, but the disease is as close to her heart as the memories of her mother, Elizabeth Knight, who died of complications from the disease in 1997. The five time Grammy Award winner never misses an opportunity to use her voice to encourage early detection and treatment of diabetes.

Help us choose topics for upcoming Divabetic podcasts. Fill out our easy, quick Survey.

Sugar-Free Pink Champagne Cakelets Recipe by The Diabetic Pastry Chef

After being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, Stacey Harris (‘The Diabetic Pastry Chef’) taught herself how to make pound cake, pecan rolls, pies, muffins, cupcakes, and other baked goods with about half the carbs you’d get from a traditional bakery item.

“I started experimenting by using almond milk or whole milk mixed with water to cut down on carbs, then tried different flours, incorporating white whole wheat flour, soy flour, oat flour, black bean flour, and other alternatives into my brownies, cakes, and cookies,” she said in an How 2 Type 2 article.

She adds,”To cut back on sugar, I started using all-natural substitutes, like agave nectar, and trying erythritol. I also bake with a store-bought blend of sugars that tastes delicious.”

All of The Diabetic Pastry Chef‘s recipes are adapted to her preferences and dietary needs; we encourage you to adapt them to yours!

Sugar-Free Pink Champagne Cakelets Recipe by The Diabetic Pastry Chef 

Ingredients 

3 cups cake flour

1 Tbsp baking powder

1/2 Tsp salt

3 Tbsp cake enhancer, optional

5 large egg whites, room temperature

1 cup pink Champagne, room temperature

2 Tsps pure vanilla extract

2 Tsps vegetable oil

2 cups erythritol sweetener or other preferred sugar-free sweetener equal to 2 cups

2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature

1-4 drops red food coloring depending on how pink you prefer the cake

Directions 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  

In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, and cake enhancer if using. set aside.

In another medium bowl, whisk together by hand the egg whites, Champagne, vanilla and oil until well blended.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, on medium speed beat together the softened butter and erythritol for 3 to 4 minutes until light and creamy. Add the flour mixture and egg mixture alternately, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Add and stir in the red food coloring.

Divide the mixture into 12 greased and floured cakelet cavities (2- 6 cavity cakelet pans). Bake until the cakes are slightly brown around the edges and cakes just pull away from the pans, about 30 mins. Remove from oven and after 10 minutes invert onto wire racks to cool completely. Once cool, prick the tops of the cakelets with a fork and drizzle a bit of champagne over each cakelet to soak in. I would suggest 1/2 to 1 tsp Champagne per each cakelet. Dust with sugar-free confectioners sugar or decorate as desired.

Diabetes Pastry Chef

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!”

Divabetic’s Diabetes Late Nite Podcast Inspired by Gladys Knight

Stacey Harris, The Diabetic Pastry Chef, guests on Divabetic’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast with music from Gladys Knight & The Pips. Our musical inspiration, Gladys Knight doesn’t have diabetes, but the disease is as close to her heart as the memories of her mother, Elizabeth Knight, who died of complications from the disease in 1997. The five time Grammy Award winner never misses an opportunity to use her voice to encourage early detection and treatment of diabetes.

Sugar-Free Carrot Cake Recipe by the Diabetic Pastry Chef

After being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, Stacey Harris (The Diabetic Pastry Chef’) taught herself how to make pound cake, pecan rolls, pies, muffins, cupcakes, and other baked goods with about half the carbs you’d get from a traditional bakery item.

“I started experimenting by using almond milk or whole milk mixed with water to cut down on carbs, then tried different flours, incorporating white whole wheat flour, soy flour, oat flour, black bean flour, and other alternatives into my brownies, cakes, and cookies,” she said in an How 2 Type 2 article.

She adds,”To cut back on sugar, I started using all-natural substitutes, like agave nectar, and trying erythritol. I also bake with a store-bought blend of sugars that tastes delicious.”

All of the Diabetic Pastry Chefs recipes are adapted to her preferences and dietary needs; we encourage you to adapt them to yours!

Diabetic Pastry Chef’s Sugar-Free Carrot Cake Recipe


The Diabetic Pastry Chef‘s Sugar-Free Carrot Cak
e Recipe

Ingredients

1 c. flour, whole wheat or all-purpose
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp. ground cloves
1 c. granulated brown sugar substitute such as Whey Low®, Swerve® or Truvia®
2 large eggs
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/2 c. plus 1 Tbsp. canola oil
1/2 c. chopped nuts (preferably walnuts or pecans)
1 1/2 c. grated carrots
1/4 c. raisins, optional

Directions

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.

Grease and lightly flour a 6-cup Bundt pan.

Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves; set aside.

In a mixing bowl at medium speed, beat together the eggs, sugar substitute and vanilla for 2 minutes. Lower the speed and slowly add in the canola oil until combined. Turn off mixer, and by hand, stir in the grated carrots, nuts and optional raisins, being sure not to overmix.

Add batter to greased and floured Bundt pan and bake until toothpick inserted into center of pan comes out clean, about 40 to 50 minutes. Invert pan onto cooling rack after about 10 minutes and let cool.

Dust with sugar-free confectioners’ sugar and enjoy!

Diabetes Pastry Chef

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!”

Diabetes Late Nite Inspired by Gladys Knight

Stacey Harris, The Diabetic Pastry Chef, guests on Divabetic’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast with music from Gladys Knight & The Pips. Our musical inspiration, Gladys Knight doesn’t have diabetes, but the disease is as close to her heart as the memories of her mother, Elizabeth Knight, who died of complications from the disease in 1997. The five time Grammy Award winner never misses an opportunity to use her voice to encourage early detection and treatment of diabetes.

LISTEN

Mr. Divabetic at the Easter Parade in NYC

What’s Trending This Week At Divabetic

Check out the latest headlines in diabetes, diabetes self-management, healthy lifestyles and diva entertainment that we think you should know about this weekend.

After Chaos of the Earthquake, Clinics Give Stability to Patients with Diabetes

Gabi Allard, president of the Mexican Association of Diabetes, said that staffers spent the better part of Saturday afternoon moving around the city, particularly the south, collecting insulin to administer to diabetics who had either lost their homes in the widespread devastation, or who could not reenter them due to structural damage. READ MORE

Sugar Free Doesn’t Mean Carbohydrate Free!

The FDA states that foods labeled “sugar free” should also have a disclaimer that reads “not “low” or “reduced in” calories. Because some of us may think these foods are “diet foods” and overeat them.  It is important that we know the truth behind sugar free products – that is, just because they are sugar free does not necessarily mean they are healthy or low-calorie. READ MORE

How to Take Care of Your Diabetes at the Football Game

Whether you go to a game and tailgate or watch from home with a table full of snacks, you might want to prepare a strategy for managing your diabetes in the midst of so many delicious and exciting distractions. Here are a few ways to make sure you have a great time and keep your diabetes from going out of bounds. READ MORE

Demi Lovato’s too Embarrassed to tell Snoop Dogg to Stop Smoking Weed at her House Party

The 25-year-old was expecting just a small gathering of friends so she was surprised when rappers including Snoop, French Montana, Ty Dolla $ign and Wiz Khalifa showed up. “I was like, ‘Wait a second. I just wanted to have a couple people over to hang out,'” she said. “And all of the sudden my house is filled with pot smoke everywhere… I was like, ‘No smoking inside, get out, get out!'”  READ MORE

Don’t Let Diabetes Dim Your Dazzle! Make the Most of Your Diabetes Life!

Music Spotlight: Sam Smith’s new song, “Too Good at Goodbyes” A quintessentially piano ballad is the first sample of his upcoming second LP, which follows his multi-platinum 2014 debut, In the Lonely Hour. Enjoy!

Movie Spotlight: “Victoria & Abdul” starring Dame Judi Dench and Ali Fazal. Adapted by Lee Hall (“Billy Elliot,” “War Horse”) from a book by Shrabani Basu, director Stephen Frears’ film dramatizes a heretofore little-known episode from Victoria’s later years, when she formed a platonic but intimate relationship with Abdul Karim, an Indian Muslim clerk whom she had employed as her personal servant.

Star Spangled Sugar-Free Strawberry Tart by the Diabetic Pastry Chef

For the past twelve years at our Divabetic live events, on our podcasts and inner blog we’ve been promoting  a ‘New Attitude’ about living with diabetes to help you ‘Keep Your House A Home’ by learning to prevent a diabetes health-related complication from occurring.  Now we’re sharing our decade’s worth of our ‘diva brand of diabetes outreach’ advice, recipes and games with you so that you won’t have to avoid the holidays like the Fourth of July in order to take charge of our diabetes.

Typical July weather is hot, hot, hot! If you’re living with diabetes make sure you stay hydrated. Dehydration, or the loss of body fluids, can happen on these very hot summer days whether you have diabetes or not. If you have diabetes, dehydration also can occur when blood glucose is not under control. When blood glucose is elevated, this can lead to an increase in the body’s excretion of urine.

“People with chronic diseases like diabetes as well as people taking certain medications, including heart disease medications and diuretics, which are often used to treat complications of diabetes, are at increased risk of experiencing difficulties in the heat, even though they may not be aware of it,” says Catherine Carver, M.S., A.N.P., C.D.E, Director of Educational Services at Joslin Clinic. 

How do you know if you are properly hydrated?
  1. Try this skin test. First, use two fingers to grab a roll of skin on the back of your hand (between where your watch sits and where your fingers start), advises Higgins. …
  2. Check your urine. If you’re well-hydrated your urine will be mostly clear with a tinge of yellow, Higgins explains.

Tart with strawberries and whipped cream decorated with mint leaves

Our good friend, Stacey Harris aka ‘The Diabetic Pastry Chef’ who loves to bake shares this delicious dessert recipe featuring one of our favorite fruit, strawberries!!!

Sugar-Free Strawberry Tart by the Diabetic Pastry Chef 

1- 8 or 9″ baked pie shell

Filling

1-8-oz pkg cream cheese, softened

1 cup Swerve sugar-free confectioner’s sugar or other equivalent

Strawberry Topping

1/2 cup Marzetti sugar-free strawberry glaze

2 cups fresh strawberries, halved

mint leaves for decoration

whipped cream, optional

Beat together the cream cheese and confectioner’s sugar substitute. Spread in bottom of baked pie shell.

Gently combine the strawberry glaze with the fresh strawberries, and arrange on top of the cream cheese mixture. Refrigerate until set approximately one hour. Garnish with mint leaves. Serve with whipped cream if desired.

Stacey Harris aka ‘The Diabetic Pastry Chef’ loves to bake! While she was attending cooking school she began creating  diabetic-friendly recipes for breads, cakes and other desserts by swapping out the sugar, blending the flour and cutting the milk carbohydrates after being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes READ MORE

DIVABETIC TIP: If you have diabetes, the key to maintaining your blood sugar is to use portion control. Thanks to the low-carbohydrate density of strawberries, you can safely enjoy a 1¼-cup serving. The diabetic exchange for blueberries is 3/4 cup.

When it comes to reducing your risk for diabetes, knowledge is key. Take this quiz to find out how much you know about type 2 diabetes! (Answer at bottom of post) 

DIVABETIC TIP:  Watch for Signs of Heat Exhaustion, especially if you are working or exercising outdoors. People with diabetes and other chronic diseases like heart disease are more susceptible to overheating. Symptoms include: feeling dizzy or fainting; sweating excessively; muscle cramps; skin that is cold or clammy; headaches; rapid heartbeat and/or nausea. If you experience any of these symptoms, move to a cooler environment, drink fluids like water, juice or sports drinks (based on your healthcare provider’s instructions) and seek medical attention.

HOT TOPIC: The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is troubled by the proposed changes to Medicaid and the negative impact of these changes on low-income Americans, who are disproportionately affected by diabetes. In states that expanded their Medicaid programs, more individuals are being screened for diabetes than non-expansion states. Cuts to Medicaid would leave the most vulnerable individuals with or at risk for diabetes without the health coverage they need to be diagnosed and treated for the disease as early as possible.

As currently drafted, the Association cannot support this legislation. It falls far short of the minimum standards for replacing the important safeguards and coverage provided by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), which the Association has outlined. We urge all Senators to vote no on this bill and to work toward meaningful legislation that will protect access to affordable and adequate health care coverage for people with diabetes. READ MORE

ANSWER: Men are more likely than women to have undiagnosed diabetes. One of the big reasons is that men are less likely to go to their doctor regularly. One out of every four people with diabetes doesn’t know it, and a simple blood test can determine if you’re at risk for the disease or already have it. READ MORE