In theory, eating healthy food every day at the work or home office should be simple. Pack a healthy lunch and away you go. However, in reality it may not be that easy. Work stress and/or access to unhealthy foods, can easily sabotage our healthy eating habits and impact blood glucose levels. The good news is that there are ways to get around it. Here are 7 ways to make your workday healthy, when the fridge is in full view.   1. Pack a healthy lunchbox Preparing lunches for the week is one of the first ways to keep on track with health eating and saving money. There will also be less ..read more

If you have diabetes or know someone with diabetes, it may feel like you are packing for an Arctic expedition every time you leave the house! Unfortunately, when living with diabetes, you cannot simply leave the house with your keys, mobile and wallet/purse, there is so much more planning involved. Blood glucose meter, test strips, alcohol wipes, insulin, lancets, test strips, hypo kit.... the list goes on! When it comes to travelling, there is even more to consider including the correct storage and temperature of insulin.   So how can someone with diabetes remain organised and leave ..read more

If you have Type 2 Diabetes, have you ever considered what type of exercise is best for your blood glucose levels? The good news is that there is now evidence to suggest that both aerobic exercise training e.g. walking and resistance exercise training i.e. strength training, lead to improvements in blood glucose control. The study published in Medicine & Science In Sports & Exercise also found that a combination of aerobic and resistance training is even better and resulted in greater improvements!  How Does Exercise Help Us? Including regular physical activity is one of the found ..read more

If you live with diabetes you are at a higher risk of experiencing problems with your feet. This is because diabetes can damage the nerves and blood supply in your extremities, specifically your legs and feet. Nerve damage makes it hard to feel sensation in your feet which means you might not notice a pressure injury, blister, corn or callous. Pain is one way your body warns you that something is wrong, but a lack of sensation in your feet means the red flag of pain is not recognised. When blood supply to your feet is also affected it means any injuries or cracks in the skin that you experienc ..read more

Forget strict diets, healthy eating for diabetes is all about making healthy choices that are sustainable. One of the best places to start is by making simple food swaps to your meals and in your favourite diabetes recipes.  Here are 15 ideas below that will be sure to suit the whole family.   Swap: High sugar, rich fruit yoghurts for plain, natural low-fat Greek yoghurt with added fruit  Fruit yoghurts can have a lot of added sugar so tend to be high in calories and really no different to ice-cream! The yoghurt section can be a minefield so look for plain, natural, low-f ..read more

Despite nearly two million Australians living with diabetes, it is one of the most misunderstood and stigmatised health conditions in the country. Up to 80% of people with diabetes report feeling blamed or shamed for living with the condition, and more than 25% say other people’s attitudes and stereotypes about diabetes negatively impact their mental health. Experts believe community misunderstandings of diabetes are driving a common misconception that diabetes is simply a lifestyle condition caused by being overweight. In reality, there are several different types of diabetes and it is a ..read more

Are you a snacker? Could your treat choices be better? Following on from making healthy changes to your breakfasts and main meals, in the final part of our healthier food choices we look at snacks.  Snacks can help you maintain your blood glucose levels and keep you fuller for longer between meals. Eating the right snacks can also help you meet your nutritional needs e.g. minerals, fibre, healthy fats and vitamins.   What are healthy snacks? Ask any dietician and they'll tell you the best snacks are fruit, unsalted nuts, no added sugar yoghurt and vegetables. Of course that ..read more

As the temperature drops and the days become shorter it can be hard keep up with some of the healthier habits we have developed over the warmer months. Getting outside to exercise becomes a lot less desirable when all we really want to do is curl up on the sofa with a mug of tea. We might also find we are craving comfort foods that are rich, hearty and heavy in carbohydrates, to keep our body warm and fight the winter blues. But it doesn’t have to be this way! Follow our top tips to keep your health on track this winter. 1. Focus on warm home cooked food Anything you cook at home is likel ..read more

An important part of looking after your diabetes is understanding what blood glucose monitoring is, and what your readings mean for you. In this post we take a deep dive about the how and what of blood glucose monitoring, and what you may need to consider if you have additional physical ailments. What is Blood Glucose Monitoring? Blood glucose monitoring is a way of checking the concentration of glucose in your blood. A part of diabetes management is keeping your blood glucose levels (BGLs) within the range recommended for you by your doctor or diabetes educator. Your target and the number of ..read more

Getting older is inevitable and as you age living with diabetes can be further complicated by additional health problems. Ageing involves changes that may affect your sight, hearing, memory, balance, mobility, hormones and other functions. The good news is that there are lots of ways to maintain optimal health. We've listed 5 tips on aging with diabetes below, including getting enough sleep, proactively managing your health care, engaging in physical activity and eating well.  1. Improve Your Sleep Sleep has a significant influence over your physical health. It is essential for ..read more