Type 2 Diabetes - Diabetes Friendly Lunch Ideas

Lunch time can be a particularly challenging time of day for someone who has been diagnosed with diabetes... Type 1 or Type 2. Usually people are at work or on the go, and only have a limited amount of time to eat healthy foods. Many people see a fast food lunch as their only viable option, but with only a minimal amount of time and effort, you can easily prepare a healthy lunch and avoid that drive through altogether.

One delicious diabetes friendly lunch idea is a simple turkey wrap.

you'll need to start with a whole wheat tortilla as your foundation. Many brands make tortillas specifically made for wraps which can be found in the bread aisle.next, you'll want to add a low-fat turkey lunch meat. There are some options available that are made without the preservatives commonly found in most preserved meats which would be a good choice to make.to finish off the wrap, you'll need tomatoes, lettuce, or any other vegetable you like such as cucumber slices or even thinly sliced carrots.to add even more flavor, choose a low-fat mayonnaise.

If your preference is more along the lines of a sandwich filling, you might want to try:

a whole wheat pita pocket filled with a delicious tuna salad.the tuna salad is simple enough to make and only requires drained canned tuna that has been packed in water, andlight mayonnaise.

To add some additional flavor and texture, try adding small whole wheat pasta shells to the mixture.

On those days when you're in too much of a hurry to prepare anything, a healthy frozen meal is another option. There are many choices available in your local supermarket, so you'll want to take the time to look for:

those low in sodium, andhave no more than 30 grams of carbohydrate... this is the maximum.

Adding a piece of fresh fruit will add some freshness to your lunch as well. But you need to take a close look at the glycemic index to make the right choice.

The last important factor in the right lunch is your beverage. Stay away from:

sugary drinks,sweetened tea,fruit juices, andwhole milk.

Low-fat milk is a good choice or you can always go with the safe bet... water.

The bottom line with safe lunch meals is to stay away from anything that is topped or stuffed with sauce, cheese or creams.

To discover answers to questions you may be asking yourself about Type 2 Diabetes, click on this link... Natural Diabetes Treatments

Diabetic Friendly Energy Drinks - Don't Make This Common Mistake

Truly diabetic friendly energy drinks are quite rare when your standard is scientific fact.

It is a big challenge for diabetics to find an energy drink that is 1) Delicious; 2) Able to work with the body to produce a natural, sustained energy; and 3) Made with ingredients that are scientifically proven to be safe and non-toxic. This is a big order and most manufacturers fail to get all three elements right.

It is a tall order to formulate a tasty diabetic friendly drink without using either a large amount of sugar or artificial sweeteners, but it can be done.

The average diabetic knows that too much sugar can make their condition worse, so the natural assumption is that a sugar-free beverage is safe for them. Unfortunately, scientific research into artificial sweeteners has over the past few years shown this is not true.

Artificial sweeteners, strangely enough, have been shown to increase appetite for hours -- even though they don't contain any calories.

How it works is this: The taste buds alert the stomach that we are drinking something sweet, so the stomach is alerted that there will be calories on the way to it soon. When the sweet calories don't arrive, the stomach sends a message to the subconscious mind saying, "Find me some calories!"

In addition to that flaw, artificial sweeteners also cause increased insulin production, which is the last thing a diabetic needs.

It is unfortunate that the American Diabetes Association has taken money from the makers of artificial sweeteners, so they aren't willing to tell you the unpleasant truth about Aspartame and Sucralose. I just checked their Web site and they are still telling diabetics that it's okay to use a wide assortment of artificial sweeteners.

They must not have read this news article: "Just Desserts: Artificial Sweeteners Linked to Weight Gain", 2-11-08, Scientific American Magazine.

Few companies are willing to spend more on non-caloric sweeteners in order to "get it right" and deliver both satisfying taste as well as not causing further insult to the diabetic's compromised immune system.

Another way that manufacturer take advantage of diabetic consumers is by using caffeine to give "energy", when there are more pleasant, non-jittery, long-lasting sources of stimulation. Guarana is a much more pleasing source of energy, but it costs more and thus is seldom used.

Finally, there is a fourth area where diabetics get taken advantage of: The Price!

Prices of these specialty beverages for diabetics are often quite high because manufacturers have limited competition and thus, no incentive to keep prices down. Since they are selling to a market segment that desperately craves more energy, it is common to charge a premium price (and get it!).

So, even though the makers of energy drinks they claim are diabetic friendly use less expensive artificial sweeteners and cheaper caffeine for their energy booster, they still charge a premium price for a less-satisfying product.

The makers of so-called "diabetic friendly energy drinks" are -- in most cases -- not delivering truth in advertising.

Since I have diabetes on both sides of my family, it is very important to me to find Diabetic Friendly Energy Drinks that could safely help me control my weight and boost energy levels. Click the link to see the two brands I found that worked.