Whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, what you eat, when you eat it and how much you eat all affect your blood glucose. Glucose is the main sugar found in the blood and is the body's major source of fuel. If you have diabetes and eat too much or do not take the right dose of diabetes medicine, your blood glucose can spike too high. When this happens, you can get sick. [...]
Having diabetes means you are more likely to get or have heart disease-especially if you have type 2 diabetes. One way to reduce your risk of, or take care of heart disease, is to get and keep your blood lipids (fats) in control. Blood lipids include your LDL (bad cholesterol); HDL (good [...]
Cholesterol is a waxy substance that is vital for all normal body functions. It’s found in every cell in our bodies. When there’s too much, there is a greater risk of hardening of the arteries: the main cause of a heart attack. Normal total cholesterol is less than 200 (mg/dL). A normal [...]
When you have type 2 diabetes, it is likely that you also have heart disease. In fact, your heart problems might have started before you developed diabetes. In addition to a high triglyceride level, factors that lead to heart disease in people with diabetes include being overweight, being inactive, [...]
Joe is the friendly pharmacist at the Costco in Wilmington, NC, a Southern coastal town where the Cape Fear River meets the Atlantic Ocean, and where I did a Costco store tour to learn about products for people with diabetes. Blood Glucose Meters Joe showed me several blood glucose meters, [...]
This past week, my sister-in-law and I ventured into the local Costco that recently opened in our town of Lawrenceville, NJ. Although I was uncertain about what to expect, I was filled with anticipation, imagining the abundance of products in the brand new store. As we carefully perused each [...]
Living with diabetes doesn’t mean giving up the foods you enjoy, or going hungry. In fact, a healthy eating plan can be delicious, satisfying and good for you and your blood sugars!And Costco makes it easy to eat well while eating healthy. [...]
One of the healthiest spices around is turmeric. If this golden spice isn’t in your cupboard yet, make sure to add it to your shopping list. Not only does turmeric lend color and flavor to curries, stews and rice dishes, it provides a number of health benefits that you won’t want to miss! [...]
Our recommended daily intake of salt is one teaspoon, or less than 2300 milligrams (mg) of sodium. This comes from the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. But most people eat much more than 2300 mg. In fact, the average intake is more than 3400 mg per day. Too much sodium raises the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. [...]
Potassium is an important nutrient that most Americans don’t get enough of on a daily basis. In fact, because most people don’t get enough potassium, it is considered a “nutrient of public health concern.” So learn more about this important nutrient and how you can make sure you get enough [...]
People with diabetes learn that carbohydrate, the nutrient that provides energy for the body, has a big impact on blood sugar levels. Eating too much carb can lead to high blood sugars, while not eating enough carb can lead to low blood sugars (if you take insulin or certain types of diabetes [...]
I recently shopped at Costco in Boynton Beach, Florida, and I was amazed by the selection! Costco is a great place to get the most value for your money, shop for your family, and choose healthy foods to manage your diabetes. Caring for your diabetes can be expensive. Diabetes medications and [...]
Late-night eating might be the norm if you’re a night owl, but it’s important to know that nighttime noshing could be affecting your health. At one time or another, most of us have eaten late or, at least, later than usual. However, falling into the habit of sitting down to a heavy meal or even drinking too much coffee or alcohol late at night can lead to a host of problems. Read on to learn about these health consequences and some tips for managing those midnight munchies. [...]
Including fish and seafood in your meal scan lead to a host of health benefits. Fish, especially fatty fish like salmon, tuna and mackerel, contains healthy omega-3 fats, which can lower blood pressure and heart rate, keep the heart beating in a steady rhythm, lower triglycerides (blood fats), and decrease inflammation. Besides containing healthy fat, fish is rich in protein, contains vitamin D, and is low in harmful saturated fat. The American Heart Association recommends eating fish at least twice a week. [...]
