Best Glucometer

Those diagnosed with diabetes must take the condition as a signal of your bodys condition wherein the pancreas is no longer competent of producing sufficient insulin. When the pancreas fails to translate glucose into glycogen, the patient loses ability to manage and uphold normal blood sugar levels. Under these situations, it is imperative to keep diabetes under control and body protected from serious and the bad consequences of the disease. Hence, the patient should get timely consultation with a medical doctor who can propose prescription medicines some necessary diabetic products to help the patient.

It is essential to select the Best Glucometer models before truly start using them. This will guarantee precise results. There are a lot of factors to be taken into contemplation in this respect. Right from material characteristics of glucose meters such as display, size, clock, memory etc, you need to take good care of how these glucometers fare in the operations.

Right from fundamental models to more-advanced meters with up-to-the-minute features and options, you can opt from a selection of blood glucose meters and test strips. It is significant to know the basic prior to choosing a blood glucose meter. This can truly help to be aware of the basics of how meters function. In order to use blood glucose meters, one must insert one end of a test strip into the device. Thereafter, you need to prick a clean fingertip with lancet to draw a drop of blood. You need to touch the other end of the test strip to the blood and read the blood glucose level that appears on the screen. The readings offered by blood glucose meters are usually accurate. On the other hand, these meters can vary in features and functions.

Meters differ in price. Hence, you need to shop around before finalizing on the best glucometer. Test strips are the most expensive part of monitoring. Figure out the type of strip that is most cost-effective for you.

Eating more red meat associated with increased risk of Type 2 diabetes

Eating more red meat over time is associated with an increased risk of type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in a follow-up of three studies of about 149,000 U.S. men and women, according to a report published Online First by JAMA Internal Medicine, a JAMA Network publication.

Red meat consumption has been consistently related to an increased risk of T2DM, but previous studies measured red meat consumption at a baseline with limited follow-up information. However, a persons eating behavior changes over time and measurement of consumption at a single point in time does not capture the variability of intake during follow-up, the authors note in the study background.

An Pan, Ph.D., of the National University of Singapore, and colleagues analyzed data from three Harvard group studies and followed up 26,357 men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study; 48,709 women in the Nurses Health Study; and 74,077 women in the Nurses Health Study II. Diets were assessed using food frequency questionnaires.

During more than 1.9 million person-years of follow-up, researchers documented 7,540 incident cases of T2DM.

"Increasing red meat intake during a four-year interval was associated with an elevated risk of T2DM during the subsequent four years in each cohort," according to the study.

The results indicate that compared with a group with no change in red meat intake, increasing red meat intake of more than 0.50 servings per day was associated with a 48 percent elevated risk in the subsequent four-year period. Reducing red meat consumption by more than 0.50 servings per day from baseline to the first four years of follow-up was associated with a 14 percent lower risk during the subsequent entire follow-up.

The authors note the study is observational so causality cannot be inferred.

"Our results confirm the robustness of the association between red meat and T2DM and add further evidence that limiting red meat consumption over time confers benefits for T2DM prevention," the authors conclude.

(JAMA Intern Med. Published online June 17, 2013. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.6633. Available pre-embargo to the media at http://media.jamanetwork.com.)

Editors Note: This work was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health. An author also made a funding disclosure. Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, financial disclosures, funding and support, etc.

Commentary: Oxygen-Carrying Proteins in Meat and Risk of Diabetes Mellitus

In an invited commentary, William J. Evans, Ph.D., of GlaxoSmithKline and Duke University, Durham, N.C., writes: "The article by Pan et al confirms previous observations that the consumption of so-called red meat is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)."

"Perhaps a better description of the characteristics of the meat consumed with the greatest effect on risk is the saturated fatty acid (SFA) content rather than the amount of oxygen-carrying proteins," Evans continues.

"A recommendation to consume less red meat may help to reduce the epidemic of T2DM. However, the overwhelming preponderance of molecular, cellular, clinical and epidemiological evidence suggests that public health messages should be directed toward the consumption of high-quality protein that is low in total and saturated fat. … These public health recommendations should include cuts of red meat that are also low in fat, along with fish, poultry and low-fat dairy products. It is not the type of protein (or meat) that is the problem: it is the type of fat," Evans concludes.

Vitamins and minerals can boost energy and enhance mood

Vitamin and mineral supplements can enhance mental energy and well-being not only for healthy adults but for those prone to anxiety and depression, according to a July 15 panel discussion at the 2013 Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Annual Meeting & Food Expo® held at McCormick Place.

Bonnie Kaplan, Ph.D., professor in the faculty of medicine at the University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, said Monday vitamins and mineral supplements can be the alternative to increasing psychiatric medicines for symptom relief of anxiety and depression. The supplements, she said, also can provide the mental energy necessary to manage stress, enhance mood and reduce fatigue.

In a series of studies she recently conducted in Canada, Kaplan found of the 97 adults with diagnosed mood disorders who kept a three-day food record, a higher intake of vitamins and minerals were significantly correlated with overall enhanced mental functioning.

Other vitamins that have been known to enhance mood, said C.J. Geiger, Ph.D., president of Geiger & Associates, LLC, and research associate professor in the division of nutrition at the University of Utah, include 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5 HTP), Vitamins B and D, as well as ginkgo biloba and Omega 3.

In her research, Geiger has found most adults define energy throughout the day as peaking mid-morning, falling to a valley in the afternoon after lunch and recovering with a pickup in late afternoon, settling back down before bedtime. However, these peaks and valleys did vary with gender, age and climate. She said many adults are known to use coffee, soft drinks, chocolate and candy bars as well as energy drinks, bars and chews with high sugar boosts to maintain energy throughout the day. She found other adults ate more frequent, smaller meals to sustain energy while making time for lots of rest and exercise.

Mediterranean Diet Boosts Ageing Brain

A Mediterranean diet with added extra virgin olive oil or mixed nuts seems to improve the brain power of older people better than advising them to follow a low-fat diet, indicates research published online in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.

The authors from the University of Navarra in Spain base their findings on 522 men and women aged between 55 and 80 without cardiovascular disease but at high vascular risk because of underlying disease/conditions.

These included either type 2 diabetes or three of the following: high blood pressure; an unfavourable blood fat profile; overweight; a family history of early cardiovascular disease; and being a smoker.

Participants, who were all taking part in the PREDIMED trial looking at how best to ward off cardiovascular disease, were randomly allocated to a Mediterranean diet with added olive oil or mixed nuts or a control group receiving advice to follow the low-fat diet typically recommended to prevent heart attack and stroke

A Mediterranean diet is characterised by the use of virgin olive oil as the main culinary fat; high consumption of fruits, nuts, vegetables and pulses; moderate to high consumption of fish and seafood; low consumption of dairy products and red meat; and moderate intake of red wine.

Participants had regular check-ups with their family doctor and quarterly checks on their compliance with their prescribed diet.

After an average of 6.5 years, they were tested for signs of cognitive decline using a Mini Mental State Exam and a clock drawing test, which assess higher brain functions, including orientation, memory, language, visuospatial and visuoconstrution abilities and executive functions such as working memory, attention span, and abstract thinking.

At the end of the study period, 60 participants had developed mild cognitive impairment: 18 on the olive oil supplemented Mediterranean diet; 19 on the diet with added mixed nuts; and 23 on the control group.

A further 35 people developed dementia: 12 on the added olive oil diet; six on the added nut diet; and 17 on the low fat diet.

The average scores on both tests were significantly higher for those following either of the Mediterranean diets compared with those on the low fat option.

These findings held true irrespective of other influential factors, including age, family history of cognitive impairment or dementia, the presence of ApoE protein--associated with Alzheimers disease--educational attainment, exercise levels, vascular risk factors; energy intake and depression.

The authors acknowledge that their sample size was relatively small, and that because the study involved a group at high vascular risk, it doesnt necessarily follow that their findings are applicable to the general population.

But they say, theirs is the first long term trial to look at the impact of the Mediterranean diet on brain power, and that it adds to the increasing body of evidence suggesting that a high quality dietary pattern seems to protect cognitive function in the ageing brain.

Salsa Couscous Chicken OR Moroccan Chicken One Award Winning Recipe Many Names

Today on Serious Eats, White Bean Puree with Poached Eggs, one of the easiest and tastiest comfort foods I’ve made in ages.

While it’s sweet having friends who read, it’s even sweeter having friends who’ll lend you their reading material. Borrowed books are how I discovered Philip Roth and Toni Morrison, Betty Smith and John Irving, Art Spiegelman and uh, Stephenie Meyers. (What? I like vampires that sparkle.)

Recently, my pal Mo lent me a bunch of tomes on multitudinous topics: plastic bottles, Batman, herb gardens, some chick with a dragon tattoo, etc. Her collection is as vast as her little boy is adorable. Which is to say, hugely.

The last one was called The Ungarnished Truth: A Cooking Contest Memoir. Written by Washington native Ellie Matthews, it chronicles her victory at the 1998 Pillsbury’s Bake-Off, along with the ensuing whirlwind of publicity. Thanks to a simple dish called Salsa Couscous Chicken (later renamed), Ellie walked away with a million bucks, an appearance on The Rosie O’Donnell Show, and poultry immortality.

You know how everyone has one great story? One tale that’s a bit of a jaw-dropper? (Mine = worst date ever.) This is Ellie’s. The story itself isn’t a rip-roaring, Indiana Jones-style roller coaster of action, but it’s a neat read, because she’s so dang easygoing. By the end, you wanna sit down and knit a blanket with her. I think that’s a good thing.

At the conclusion, she includes the recipe for Salsa Couscous Chicken. Being inexpensive and relatively healthy-looking (not to mention a contest winner), I had to try it.

The first go-round was a disaster. I used bland (mild) salsa, never got the pan hot enough, and tripled the water. Essentially, I proved myself the fool making a supposedly foolproof recipe.

The second time, though? Sweet n’ spicy triumph. The cinnamon and cumin temper the salsa’s heat. The raisins plump when you cook ‘em. The almonds provide crunch, a valuable textural variation in the midst of so much moistness. Speaking of that moistness - the chicken cooks perfectly, remaining juicy and flavorful, as if it’s been braising for hours.

A word on the calculations: the official recipe/book and Recipe Zaar list different nutritional numbers, probably due to chicken thighs of varying sizes. (It rhymes! Kind of!) So, I did my own math. My thighs averaged out to 5.6 ounces each, raw. For me, that’s a lot of meat. For Husband-Elect, that’s not quite enough. Consequently, my numbers are split into four, six, and eight servings.

Next time you’re looking for inspiration (chicken-related or otherwise), check your friends’ libraries. You never know what you’ll find next to Twilight. (Uh ... look! A shiny thing! *runs away*)

~~~
If you like this recipe, you might also like:

• Bruschetta Chicken Bake
• Chicken and Mushroom Marsala
• Chicken Provencal

~~~

Salsa Couscous Chicken OR Moroccan Chicken (Depending)
Serves 4 to 8
Adapted from Ellie Matthews, via Pillsbury.

1 cup uncooked couscous or rice
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 cup slivered almonds
2 cloves garlic, minced
8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 5 or 6 ounces each)
1 cup bottled salsa, medium heat
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons raisins
1 tablespoon honey
3/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1) Cook the couscous or rice according to package directions. Set aside.

2) In a large pan, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Once hot, add almonds. Cook, stirring occasionally. Once browned, remove from pan with a slotted spoon and set aside.

3) To the same pan, add garlic. Cook 30 to 60 seconds, until fragrant. Add chicken. Cook about 5 minutes, flipping once halfway through. Meat should be slightly browned when finished.

4) While chicken is cooking, combine salsa, water, raisins, honey, cumin, and cinnamon in a small bowl. Stir.

5) Add salsa mixture to pan. Stir to combine. Cover and cook 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. If it’s getting a little dry, add water as you go along. Chicken should be cooked through when finished. If not, give it another few minutes.

6) Serve chicken over rice/couscous. Top with sauce. Sprinkle with almonds.

Approximate Calories, Fat, Fiber, and Price Per Serving
4 servings: 666 calories, 19.9 g fat, 3.4 g fiber, $2.18
6 servings: 444 calories, 13.3 g fat, 2.3 g fiber, $1.46
8 servings: 333 calories, 10 g fat, 1.7 g fiber, $1.09

Calculations
1 cup uncooked couscous: 650 calories, 1 g fat, 8.7 g fiber, $1.30
1 tablespoon olive oil: 119 calories, 13.5 g fat, 0 g fiber, $0.12
1/4 cup slivered almonds: 170 calories, 15 g fat, 3 g fiber, $0.47
2 cloves garlic, minced: 9 calories, 0 g fat, 0.1 g fiber, $0.08
8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs: 1512 calories, 49.6 g fat, 0 fiber, $5.06
1 cup bottled salsa, medium heat: 70 calories, 0.5 g fat, 0.1 g fiber, $1.45
1/4 cup water: 0 calories, 0 g fat, 0 g fiber, $0.00
2 tablespoons raisins: 65 calories, 0 g fat, 1 g fiber, $0.11
1 tablespoon honey: 64 calories, 0 g fat, 0 g fiber, $0.10
3/4 teaspoon ground cumin: negligible calories, fat, and fiber, $0.03
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon: 3 calories, 0 g fat, 0.6 g fiber, $0.01
TOTALS: 2662 calories, 79.6 g fat, 13.5 g fiber, $8.73
PER SERVING (4 servings): 666 calories, 19.9 g fat, 3.4 g fiber, $2.18
PER SERVING (6 servings): 444 calories, 13.3 g fat, 2.3 g fiber, $1.46
PER SERVINGS (8 servings): 333 calories, 10 g fat, 1.7 g fiber, $1.09

Ragda Patties

Today is my final dish of this weeks theme streetfoods/condiments,last but not least yes am posting today our family favourite street food aka chaat food Ragda patties. Actually its been more than 5 years i tasted this ragda patties in India, but after then seriously i wanted to try this chaat food at home as we dont get chaat foods easily here in Paris. Chaat foods in Paris thats definitely a hard task and it like searching for a treasure, obviously if you are craving for chaat foods/streets foods here you need to make yourself at home. When i chosed this weeks theme as street foods/condiments, i know for the letter R ill be making this ragda patties. I prepared this droolworthy ragda patties few days back, needless to say we had a feast at home.

I prepared this delicious ragda patties from the scratch since i had all the ingredients at home. This dish goes for two parts, the one is ragda which is prepared by soaked and cooked white peas with spices and the second part is making patties aka tikkis with potatoes.While serving, two or three patties are covered with this stew called ragda as sauce and garnished with chopped onions,coriander leaves, served with spicy green chutney and sweet dates chutney thats it, now just enjoy this incredible chaat food.This dish may goes for a long cooking process but definitely a worth to try, you can have a filling brunch or a snack if you have this ragda patties.

For Ragda:
1cup White peas
2nos Onions (chopped)
1no Tomato (chopped)
1tsp Chilly powder
1/2tsp Coriander powder
1/2tsp Cumin powder
1/4tsp Garam masala powder
1/4tsp Cumin seeds
2tbsp Oil
Salt

Soak the white peas overnite.

Next day pressure cook it for 3 whistles.

Meanwhile heat the oil in a pan,fry the cumin seeds, add the chopped onions and fry until they turns transculent.

Add the tomatoes and cook until they turns mushy.

Now add the coriander powder, chilly powder, cumin powder and garam masala powder, cook for few minutes.

Add in the cooked white peas with cooked water and bring it to boil.

Cook everything in simmer for few minutes.

Potato Tikkis:
4nos Potatoes (pressure cooked)
1/2tsp Garam masala powder
1/4tsp Cumin powder
2nos Green chillies(chopped)
Salt
1tbsp Corn flour
Oil for shallow frying

Mash the cooked potatoes, add in the garam masala powder, chopped green chillies, cumin powder, corn flour, salt and mix well.

Make small sized tikkis from the mixture.

Heat enough oil in a pan, shallow fry the tikkis until they turns golden brown.

For serving:
Green chutney & Sweet Chutney
Sev (as per need)
1no Red onion (chopped)
Few coriander leaves (chopped)

While serving, arrange two or three patties in a plate.

Pour on the top enough ragda aka white peas stew.

Add in green chutney and sweet chutney as per need.

Now add enough finely chopped onions,chopped coriander leaves and top it with enough sev.

Serve immediately.

Logo courtesy : Preeti
Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 32
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On the Eve of my Diabetes Anniversary

Some days...

I think its all a dream.

A bad dream, 

a long dream;

One of those sweaty kind of dreams.

I call out for you,

and youre not there. 

I dial your number...

But you will never be there.

Never again...

To answer, 

to offer advise;

Or to just tell me you love me,

One more time.

I ponder the roads you traveled,

the judgments I made,

the anger I felt, 

and I am SO SORRY, 

DAD...

Its hard to know,

hard to weigh, 

hard to feel...

Until the burden is yours.

Tomorrow marks

my second year of life

with Diabetes, 

and I truly wish you were here... 

I wish I could say everything is so much better,

and in many ways it is.

New insulin, 

new technologies, 

new hope for all...

But always we must watch now,

 for miracle cure hawkers galore.

Dad, how I wish...

People understood.

How dangerous 

Type 2 Diabetes is, 

and that it has NO CURE.

We must fight, 

every day... 

For tight control,

for proper medical care, 

for enough test strips, 

for medicines and insulin...

But still, every day,

someones pretending

we could easily reverse this...

Like the bad numbers,

are somehow,

not one slice of pizza away.

It takes nerves of steal,

and iron will, 

to keep away... 

from those cupcakes.

Carbohydrates are everywhere,

in everything, 

even in medicine,

even in flu shots...

This is not a race, 

a sprint, 

or a short pass at the gym...

Its a marathon...

A long, 

and never ending...

Marathon.

Dear Dad... 

I know you worked hard,

I know you measured,

Tested,

and took your shots...

I know you had a lot of will...

Determination, 

Strength of character,

and yes,

sometimes depression.

I pray that,

on this new year...

I can climb that ladder...

YOUR ladder, 

and continue the fight,

Your fight, Our fight,

For you... For me,

and for everyone.