Since it's Valentine's Day on Wednesday and most of us will be indulging in some sweet treats, most likely chocolate, I'd like to discuss blood sugar and how to find chocolate treats that are blood sugar friendly.
A few months ago, I went to the doctor for my annual blood tests and I was really shocked to find out that my blood sugar was a bit higher than it should be and I was on the border of being prediabetic. I thought, "How can that be?" I'm a person who isn't overweight and I exercise 5 days a week. Unfortunately, it turns out I have several risk factors, including that I'm now over 65, and I have a family history of
diabetes.
98 million people in this country are prediabetic and many don't even know it. Prediabetes is when your blood sugar is higher than normal, but not high enough to be diabetic. The good news is that prediabetes can be reversed through diet changes and exercise.
The risk factors are:
- Being overweight
- Being 45 years or older
- Having a parent, brother, or sister with type 2 diabetes
- Being physically active less than 3 times a week
- Ever having gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy) or giving birth to a baby who weighed more than 9 pounds
- Having polycystic ovary syndrome
Prediabetes can be diagnosed through a simple blood sugar test. It's important to treat prediabetes because it can lead to heart disease, stroke, and the serious diabetes-type 2.
Race and ethnicity are also a factor: African Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, American Indians, Pacific Islanders, and some Asian Americans are at higher risk.
Below are some sugar free (sweetened with Stevia) candy alternatives that I have discovered.
