Since Valentine's Day is coming up next week 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 and desserts that are blood sugar friendly.
Last year, I went to the doctor for my annual blood tests and I was really shocked to find out that my blood sugar was quite a bit higher than it should be and I was considered 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. The
good news is that I was able to reverse it by cutting out all refined carbs, and my blood sugar returned to normal levels within 8 months.
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. 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 more 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.
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
I've always had a sweet tooth though, especially for chocolate. I've found some sugar free items that I think are as good as regular sweetened ones. They're great if you're trying to eat less sugar or can't eat sugar because of health reasons. If eaten in moderation, they can also help you lose weight. These are my
current favorites.