Month: April 2013

“Believe” in your power to manage diabetes

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If you missed my last post, I’ve decided to post pages from my first book,“The ABCs Of Loving Yourself With Diabetes.” I wrote the book out of a personal passion and deep belief that we best manage diabetes when we have knowledge, tools, and – emotional strength to make good decisions every day and ride with the ups and downs of diabetes. 

The book is shares lessons to develop your inner strength and wisdom. I consider it a gift to give yourself or a loved one who is living with diabetes. Here’s an excerpt from “Believe in Your Power.”

Excerpt:

Life will test you; in fact, it probably already has. When life tests you, it’s an opportunity to find your inner strength, to renew your resolve, firm your commitment, clarify what’s important to you and create new ways to achieve your goals.

Having diabetes can be your opportunity to reach for something higher. It can reveal to you just how strong and capable you are. 

Open your heart to your own possibilities. Focus your attention inside yourself and hear your own wisdom say, “I am powerful, I am capable, I control my diabetes.”

Your power to be stronger than diabetes is within you.

Reflection: Today, think about or write down 3 strengths you have that can help you manage your diabetes. For example, mine are being responsible, organized and able to ask for help. Reflecting on your strengths makes them more present and can help you manage your diabetes.

“Life is a joyful blessing,” a short excerpt from my book, The ABCs Of Loving Yourself With Diabetes

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As promised in my last post, I’m going to put portions of my first book here. I will try to do it every Thursday.  

Having the emotional strength and stamina to take care of your diabetes is as essential as understanding how diabetes works and knowing how to take care of it. (Both of which happen to be covered in my two other books.)

I write books because it’s a way for me to share my knowledge and help others do better. I hope these posts provide a little inspiration and help you build your “strengths muscle.”  At least you don’t have to go to the gym!

Excerpt:  

“Living with diabetes is something you learn to do each and every day. On some days you hardly know it’s there. On others, you can hardly forget. But appreciation is what fills our lives with love, joy and deep contentment, even when you have diabetes… 

Diabetes can motivate you to make healthier food choices and improve your fitness. You can take pride in how bravely you are managing it. And, when you’ve lost something, it’s an opportunity to appreciate all the more what you do have… 

Diabetes can be a gift in your hands if you use it to see how many blessings you truly have: loving family and friends, a dear pet, a comfortable home, the use of your body and mind, meaningful work, a favorite hobby, all your simple pleasure, exuberant passions and just the marvel of being you.”

Reflection: Think about, or write, three or more things you are appreciative for in your life right now. Remind yourself of these a few times throughout the day today.

An interruption in a blogger’s life

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Riva and Douglas

If you’ve been coming here for a while you may have noticed this blog, or maybe more apt this blogger, has suffered a recent bout of ADD – attention deficit disorder. In truth, writing my last book, Diabetes Do’s & How-To’s and blogging over at The Huffington Post, speaking at conferences, attending conferences like above, coaching, and somehow finding more newsletters, requests and information flying into my inbox than I can process, I have been delinquent here. My apologies. 

So this is my suggestion and my promise. Browse thru the Blog archive on this site. I’ve been writing some great posts amid the ordinary, since 2007, and the classics are as fresh, meaningful and insightful as the day I wrote them. I know because I sometimes reread what I’ve written and find new insights when I do. 

My promise is I will begin running excerpts from my book The ABCs Of Loving Yourself With Diabetes because I want you to have the benefit of building your positive tank: if you can’t find the internal strength and stamina to do what you need to do every day to take care of your diabetes, it doesn’t matter a wit how many bells and whistles are on your meter.

So don’t give up on me. I’m still here. And I hope you’ll continue to return to continue to learn and keep me company.

Chia seed deliciousness, the power of Omega 3s

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I don’t usually post recipes – scratch that,  I never post recipes, but this one is so simple, so few calories, fat and carbs and such a great way to get your chia seeds! 

Huh? Okay, if you don’t know, chia seeds are an incredible source of omega 3 fatty acids. They provide health benefits on par with fish and fish oil and contain fiber, protein, antioxidants and minerals. They’re the new broccoli!

The trouble with these little seeds is they have no taste and a funny texture. When put them in any liquid, they ooze a gelatinous texture. It’s not really pleasant or unpleasant – just weird. But, with this recipe, you’ll love them.

OK, here goes:

Chill a can of coconut milk overnight – I use Trader Joe’s light coconut milk.

Blend in 4 tablespoons of chia seeds. I get my chia seeds in the health food store, any brand. For the blending I use a whisk which seems to work well to mix in all the ingredients.

Add 4 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder and whisk. To be honest, I only use two which I find chocolatey enough.

Add half a teaspoon of vanilla extract and two packets of artificial sweetener or Stevia.

Whisk all the ingredients and put in the fridge. Overnight it will turn into a miraculous kind of pudding. Kind of like the texture of rice pudding. Fruit on top is optional.

You can calculate the carbs and calories, but it’s not a lot, and it’s an absolutely delicious way to get the benefit of these powerhouse anti-oxidants. It seems we benefit from two tablespoons of chia seeds a day so I eat a few spoonfuls of this pudding each day.

Trust me, you won’t be disappointed. I can’t think of a better way to enjoy these little seeds.