Snacky Snax

One of the hardest things for me to face with diabetes is snacking. Isn't that something we should all stop doing?

Easy things to snack on for me have been crackers, turkey, cheese sticks, an apple, or a clementine. However, recently with my new gluten-intolerance and the summer heat, I have been looking for gluten free snacks that are low-carb and will not perish in the summer heat.

Trader Joe's has been a life saver for me. It is hard for me to find snacks that fit my requirements and are not overly expensive. Here are some of my favorites that can all be found at your local Trader Joe's:

Un-Sweetened Dried Fruit: 

Dried fruit is a great way to get in your nutrients without worrying about eating them in a timely matter. My favorite dried fruits are apricots, prunes, and cranberries. Dates apricots and prunes are great choices for a diabetic in particluar because they are high in fiber. Unfortunately, they can also be high in carbs but the fiber helps maintain and stabalize your blood sugar. These are great for road trips or to throw in a backpack if you are going to be out for a day. My other favorites are cranberries and cherries. These have more of a sweet and tart taste. They taste much more like a desert than a healthy snack.

LARABAR: 

I have had a lot of trouble finding granola bars that are gluten-free, low-carb, low-sugar, and high in fiber. I think LARABAR takes the win. The bars have no sugar added, are high in fiber, and only use minimal ingredients of nuts, fruits, and spices. One of my favorites is Cashew Cookie. This bar only contains cashews and dates. It has 23g of carbs, 6g of protein, and 3g of fiber.

Skinny Pop: 

Skinny Pop or any air-popped popcorn is a perfect snack that does not go stale and will stay fresh even in hot weather. I like Skinny Pop because it does not have any added salts or butter. It is simply air popped. If you buy other sir-popped popcorn, make sure that you check the ingredients listed, and also the amount of sodium listed on the package.

That's It Bar: 

This bar is one of my favorites. There are a variety of different flavors, but essentially this bar is an apple and another fruit in a bar. The listed ingredients on the package of this bar is: Apple, Cherries. That's it! This is another great solution to taking fruit on-the-go with you. The bars do not perish easily and are nicer than dried fruit because you do not have to worry about resealing.

Nut Based Trail Mix:

Trail mix is a hard one to find. Unfortunately, any trail mixes are high in carbohydrates and in gluten. However, at Trader Joe's I have been able to find many assorted nut and fruit based trail mixes. Stay away from mixes that include pretzels, chocolate, or mini-breadsticks.



Do any of you have other favorite snacks that easy to take on-the-go??
I could use some other recommendations!

Stay cool, we are definitely still chillin' out here in Chicago...don't worry!!

xoxo
The DiaBlogger

Gluttony for Gluten

My favorite part of being diagnosed with T1 was sitting with my nutritionist and listening to the long list of fabulous diseases and disorders that I now have a 26% higher, 13% higher, 67% higher or 42% higher chance of getting. 

"Congratulations. You just got T1 Diabetes. Regardless if you take care of your health or not, here is a long list of problems you will probably come in contact with in your far, or not so very far, future."

Am I the only one who feels this way???

The only disorder that struck my attention the most from this looong list was Celiac Disease.  I think it caught my eye simply because gluten-free diseases have been so trendy recently. I am sure you are all aware...but just in case....Celiac Disease is a condition in which you must go on a strict gluten-free diet. 

FUN FACT: 3-8 % of people with type 1 diabetes will have biopsy-confirmed celiac disease. 

So...recently (over the past month or so) I have been experiencing some severe stomach pain after eating. I tried to track exactly what food I was eating that was causing the pain. Unfortunately, many of the meals I had pain after had a combination of dairy and gluten. When I ate dairy or gluten separately, I would have absolutely no stomach pain at all. This led my doctor to believe that my stomach pain was IBS related because it was also occurring during more stressful times for me. 

To make a long story shorter than I am making it....This past week, my stomach pain has evolved into some digestion issues. I will elaborate this way: when I eat gluten, I have about 5 minutes to get to the nearest bathroom. 

According to the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness:

Celiac disease associated with diabetes is usually silent, showing no symptoms, and may only be found upon screening. Signs and symptoms, such as abdominal pain, gas, bloating, malabsorption, weight loss, and abnormal liver function tests may also be seen and easily confused with poor glucose control of type 1 diabetes or gastroparesis - when the muscles in the wall of the stomach do not function normally.

So tonight, when I was low blood sugar I opted for eating a piece of toast with crunchy peanut butter. YUM. I was getting ready to leave my apartment to get on a 10 hour long Megabus ride home for the weekend. So I figured the toast would raise my blood sugar and the protein in the peanut butter would keep my blood sugar stable. 

CARBS  + PROTEIN= GOOD DECISION

TOAST= BAD DECISION

 I am not diagnosed with Celiac or gluten intolerance, but my body is speaking LOUDLY, clearly and very brownly [sorry if that was too much information]. 

Well, I am leaving you all there. Please, PLEASE let me know of your experiences with T1 & Celiac. I am new to the business. And wish me luck on my bus ride with my digestive issues..... only 8 more hors to go, right?

xoxoxo

The DiaBlogger