Diabetic Digest - Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Readers:

With Halloween only a little over a week away I thought I should share this story with you.

When I was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 9, I was devastated when Halloween came around. Before then it was the only time of year that I ever ate candy (I wasn't a big candy person). That year I still dressed in costume and went from house to house with my brother to get him more candy, but I got to keep the pennies and dimes the old ladies would give us.

As I went to our neighbor's house to trick-or-treat I discovered they had gone out and specifically bought some sugar-free candy just for me. Diabetes was still new to my family and we had no idea that sugar-free candy was even available. It was the greatest feeling to be able to enjoy Halloween and trick-or-treating like in the past.

Today, kids with diabetes can enjoy candy on Halloween just the same. I recently went to pick myself up some sugar-free candy and I just can't believe the variety of candy specifically for diabetics... for Halloween.

Halloween is just as fun as it ever was and I was glad. We all know what a little treat can do for your spirits.

But be warned... too much sugar-free candy can have a laxative effect so go easy on the stuff.

Regards,
Steve

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Visit and Enjoy: EVTV1.com

Questions? Comments? Email Steve


*-- Diabetic News --*
Diet, Exercise May Boost 'Good' Cholesterol, Study Suggests

Benefits of lifestyle changes go beyond weight loss for diabetes patients, researcher says

THURSDAY (HealthDay News) -- For overweight people with diabetes, intensive exercise and dieting not only aids weight loss, it can also help train their fat cells to produce a hormone believed to boost production of "good" cholesterol, according to a new study.

And this so-called "good" cholesterol, or HDL cholesterol, has been linked to positive effects for cardiovascular health.

The new study, from researchers at The Methodist Hospital in Houston, included data on overweight and obese people with type 2 diabetes who were taking part in a multicenter clinical trial examining how increased physical activity and reduced calorie intake affected their risk for cardiovascular disease.

The participants were randomly assigned to either an intensive diet and exercise program (the "lifestyle intervention" group) or a program that offered only diabetes support and education and no lifestyle changes (the "control" group).

After one year, the lifestyle intervention group had achieved significant improvements in a measure of total fat called "adiposity," fitness, blood sugar levels and fat levels, the investigators found.

In addition, while levels of "bad" LDL cholesterol did not change, levels of the fat hormone adiponectin and HDL cholesterol did increase: Total adiponectin produced by fat cells increased about 12 percent and HDL cholesterol increased nearly 10 percent in the people who made lifestyle changes, compared to those in the control group, the research showed.

It's well established that adiponectin plays a role in fat burning and sugar storage. This study suggests that the hormone also encourages the liver to produce HDL cholesterol, the study authors pointed out in a hospital news release.

"What we're learning is that even overweight people who are physically active and eating a healthy diet are getting benefits from the lifestyle change," principal investigator Dr. Christie Ballantyne, director of the Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention, part of the Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center at The Methodist Hospital in Houston, said in the news release.

"When you exercise and diet, you're improving the function of your adipose tissue, your heart and vascular systems, and even muscle performance. You're getting a lot of benefits that you may not see by just looking at the weight on a scale," he added.

The study was released online in advance of publication in an upcoming print issue of the Journal of Lipid Research.

Original Article: Diet, Exercise May Boost 'Good' Cholesterol, Study Suggests


*-- Diabetic Recipe --*
Parmesan Crackers
Servings: 8
Prep time: 30 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Total: 40 minutes

Ingredients
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup cornmeal
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons dehydrated vegetable flakes
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons cold reduced-fat margarine
1/4 cup skim milk
dash of cayenne pepper (optional)

Directions
1. In a bowl, combine flour, cornmeal, Parmesan cheese, dehydrated vegetable flakes, baking powder, and salt (if using).
2. Using a pastry blender or two knives, cut margarine into flour mixture until it resembles fine crumbs.
3. Make a well in the center and stir in the milk to form a stiff dough.
4. Gather the dough into a ball and chill, wrapped in plastic wrap, for 15 minutes.
5. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F while the dough is chilling.
6. When you're ready to bake, roll out dough on a lightly floured work surface to 1/8-inch thickness.
7. Cut out with small cookie cutters into desired shape. (You can make animal crackers like we did, if you want. Or you can just make round Parmesan crackers.)
8. Transfer cut out crackers to a non-stick cookie sheet (you can use parchment paper, if you want).
9. Prick surface of crackers with a fork.
10. Bake 4 to 5 minutes, until crackers are lightly browned on the bottom. Using a wide spatula, turn cracker over and bake for another 3 to 5 minutes, until browned on the bottom.
11. Cool completely on a wire rack.
12. Store in an airtight container.

Nutrition Information
Per 7-cracker serving: 122 calories (40% calories from fat), 6 g total fat (1.4 g saturated fat), 15 g carbohydrate, 2 g dietary fiber, 3 mg cholesterol, 182 g sodium
Exchanges: 1 carbohydrate (1 bread/starch), 1 fat

Original Recipe: Parmesan Crackers

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