Simple Steps For Health

Information

We invite you to teach others how to take simple steps to improve their health – without spending a lot of money or time.

Website: http://simplestepsforhealth.com
Location: TuDiabetes and Diabetes Daily
Members: 164
Latest Activity: Apr 4

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An initiative sponsored by TuDiabetes and Diabetes Daily

What is Simple Steps For Health?
Simple Steps For Health is a partnership between TuDiabetes and DiabetesDaily. It seeks to have members of the diabetic community share small things that others can do to stay healthy or get healthier. We invited you to let others know your secrets, what are the simple steps to improve their health – without spending a lot of money or time.

Announcing the Winners

We are excited to announce the winners of the Simple Steps For Health contest! Sponsored by TuDiabetes and Diabetes Daily, this initiatives goal is to share small things that someone with diabetes can do to live a healthy life - without spending a lot of time and money.

THE PRIZES

Each winning entry will receive:

A one-year subscription to "Diabetic Living magazine"
A coupon valid towards a box of ten (10) "Granola Gourmet Energy Bars"
A digital trophy/badge for your profile page

By random drawing, we selected the Grand Prize winners for the EatSmart Scale ($75 value) and three $50 Amazon.com Gift Certificates. Those winners are noted next to their entry. We will be in touch this week to get you your prizes.

THE WINNING SIMPLE STEPS

79 votes: Go To The Doctor - Winner: $50 Amazon.com Gift Certificate
So many people have the luxury of deciding if they will see the doctor or not. As diabetics we do not have that luxury. No matter how good you are, or how aware you are, nothing can substitute for seeing the doctor. I speak from experience, I went over 20 years without seeing a doctor, and during those years of self medication I was afraid, ashamed, disgusted and angry with myself. Today I see more than 15 doctors because of the damage done. As one wise doctor told me, it is a pay me now or pay me later proposition. Of course we do not have time, our Alc is nto perfect, we have gained weight, or whatever the excuse. I ended up dodging the doctor for 20 years, and now see them constantly. It is an uneven bargain. Save the hassle when your fifty, see the doc when your iffy.

60 votes: When In Doubt, Test
Test when you wake up, test before you eat, test before you drive, test before bed, and whenever you are in doubt, test. Fifteen seconds to test will drive the right decisions on what to eat, how much to inject, and if you need a snack. It could save a life as well, your own!

53 votes: Start Small - Winner: $50 Amazon.com Gift Certificate
Diabetes is an overwhelming disease that can take over your life and health. My suggestion, whether you are newly diagnosed or not is to break goals up into small pieces. Rather than look at all the things your doctor wants you to do like test X times a day, eat better, and exercise, pick one goal and split it into little pieces and build on success. For example, let's say you were just diagnosed with type II and the doctor wants you to test your blood 3 times a day, change your eating, and start exercising. Pick one of these to start working on, like eating better. Start by not going out for fast food for a week. Once you achieve that goal, cut something out of your diet that you know is not good for you, like chips or the Hungry Man frozen dinners. Try that for a week and when you get the hang of it, pick something else to change or adjust. Within a month or two, you have made major progress towards your goal of eating better and you can pat yourself on the back. Then keep going and adding to the success. Read More.

29 votes: Take a walk
Walking is a very powerful exercise that is easy for many to do. You don't have to jog, or lift weights, or play a sport, or pedal a long race to get great exercise. Just take a walk. Start slow if you have to, but anything you can do to get moving will be a great benefit for you.

24 votes: Forgive Yourself - Winner: $50 Amazon.com Gift Certificate
My simple step is to simply FORGIVE yourself when you make a bad decision or mistake or forget to do something or decided not to follow your plan or diet today. FORGIVE yourself, and after you do make a promise to do better and learn from your experience. To err is human; to forgive, divine. - Pope, Alexander

15 votes: Limit Your Carbohydrate Intake
Carbohydrates are what raise your glucose. Counting your carbohydrates, spreading them out over several smaller meals, and setting a budget for yourself on how many carbohydrates you will allow yourself per day, will limit how high your glucose goes after a meal. If you are overweight, setting a smaller number of carbohydrates for your budget will help reduce your intake of calories, which is the way you lose weight, and will at the same time will improve your average glucose readings.

13 votes: Adopt a Really Simple Saying - Winner: EatSmart Scale

For example, a line or catch phrase that is easy to remember. You could put it on a post it on your computer monitor or, even better, bathroom mirror!

5 votes: Whack-a-Meter
Life isn't just about numbers. Type 1 kids have to do what they need to do to stay health. This includes mentally healthy. We all need to understand it is OK to hate diabetes. What is a more prominent symbol of their diabetes than the ever present meter and its numbers? Kill the Beast!

HONORARY MENTION

We got a number of anonymous submissions that couldn't be eligible for any prizes (since we wouldn't know who made the submission). We were particularly impressed with these two:

16 votes: Prepare Snacks Ahead
Prepare five easy snacks the night before and then sleep feeling in charge, then take the next day on in charge.

31 votes: Laugh
Always look on the bright side of life, yes it's Life of Brian.

THANK YOU!

Thank you to all who submitted a Simple Step or voted. We look forward to sharing these great ideas with the wider community of people with diabetes - and generating more in the years to come.

Discussion Forum

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Comment by Marie B on February 23, 2012 at 7:53am: gosh there are a lot of good tips here

Comment by Linda Gauvin-Miller on June 22, 2010 at 6:44pm: I don't like adding artificial sweetener to my baking....I'd rather fiddle around with the recipe, and cut back on the sugar suggested, or simply eliminate sugar if possible. It tastes much better that way.

Comment by mistressbinky on June 22, 2010 at 7:10am: Why do they make pancake mix w/ sweet & low? It's not necessary. Make your pancake mix fr. scratch and skip sugar and artificial sweeteners. Simmer fruit w/ cinnamon, vanilla and a few tsbp. of water and use that as a topping

Comment by mistressbinky on June 22, 2010 at 6:39am: Unless a family member is allergic to a specific food don't prepare separate meals. Preparing separate meals makes one feel like an outcast. Not to mention, it's a waste of time. I had an uncle that had an overweight daughter. He broiled her food, and fried ours. When my sisters and I suggested he broil all food, and serve us all fruit and veggies we were told that we were out of line. As a result, we never returned to his house for summer vacation. Today, his daughter is obese and on oxygen. Family members speculate that she has a metabolism or thyroid problem. With health info at their disposal they still serve high fat, starchy and processed meals. No matter how many times you say, "No thnak you," they try to force you to eat it. If you bring a healthy dish they frown (raw veggies, sauteed veggies w/o meat, whole fruit etc.) Once again, I made that my last visit.

Comment by clarence haynes on June 21, 2010 at 6:41pm: The AMIGO of BLUE ROSE DIABETES FOUNDATION,is using a new phrase, in his ROLE MODEL presentation, ' IF YOU SEE SOMEONE , WITHOUT A SMILE, perform a MIRACLE, give them one of YOURS".We are buliding an exciting website geared towards those diabetics, disabled , etc, who fall through the cracks and are not helped by main stream organizations.They need help TODAY, not banking on a CURE tommorrow. clarence.haynes@sympatico.ca

Comment by Linda Gauvin-Miller on June 21, 2010 at 5:36pm: Welcome to Simple Steps for Health, Mistressbinky!

Comment by foozie on February 26, 2010 at 10:19am: The easiet exercise is walking. Wear a pedometer to count every step you take. I put mine on when I get up and I read it when I go to bed. Try it you'll be surprised how many steps you take in a day. Speceally if you're a nurse.

Comment by Anne on April 11, 2009 at 8:47am: Relax and destress...from business or busyness...walk barefoot on grass, enjoy sunshine, clouds, songbirds, beautiful colours and fragrances...take time to mimic the birds...and relax...and enjoy. If you're surrounded by winter...get warm, enjoy textures of softness, find words that inspire you, listen to music...and enjoy...and relax! Guess what I mean is to do what slows you down enough to breath deeply so you can value each moment, know who you are and what surrounds you. It always brings me back to centre and focus on my health.

Comment by Christina Luis on April 9, 2009 at 1:03pm: Hi Everyone! I have been trying to take time to play with my kids. Everyday. I would love to say that I go for a walk every other night, but yeah, its not happening, I can't seem to find the time. WE did purchase a Wii Fit a week ago. I have already lost two pounds between watching what I eat and really just doing yoga, balance, and aerobic stuff. Now the trick is to keep it up! The kids part is pretty easy, you'd be surprised how many calories it burns up.