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Health Line
6 days ago
- Health
- Health Line
How Much Fat Can People with Diabetes Have Each Day?
If you have diabetes, healthy fats are still an important part of your diet. However, eating too much saturated fat can lead to serious cardiovascular issues. For people with diabetes, monitoring carbohydrates often takes center stage when managing their diets. But that doesn't mean that other macronutrients should be ignored, especially when it comes to how much and what kind of fat someone with diabetes eats. Diets containing a lot of saturated fat are associated with a higher risk of heart disease and stroke, which are common comorbidities for diabetes. Understanding the different kinds of fats in foods and their effects on blood sugars is an important part of diabetes management. Let's take a closer look at dietary fats and their role in managing diabetes. Does fat raise blood sugar levels? Fat doesn't break down into glucose when it's digested. That means it doesn't directly cause blood glucose levels to rise. In fact, eating a balanced meal or snack that includes some fat can lead to more stable glucose levels. Fat, along with protein and fiber, slows digestion which also slows down the absorption of carbohydrates and smooths out the glucose spikes they can cause. But again, it's important to pay attention to the amount and type of fat to keep the meal or snack heart-healthy. How much fat should a person with diabetes have per day? Current dietary guidelines in the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans have moved away from recommending strict limits and amounts on the macronutrients and food groups people should eat. New guidelines embrace a more inclusive approach that recognizes and supports the need for personalized and culturally inclusive recommendations. Daily guidelines for dietary fat In the new guidelines with varying daily calorie limits, no specific number of daily grams of fat is recommended. The current guideline for adults is to limit overall daily fat intake to 20% to 35% of total daily calories and limit saturated fat to fewer than 10% of daily calorie intake. Translating that into the number of grams takes a little bit of math: Each gram of fat translates into 9 calories. Take the total number of calories for the day and divide that by 10 to get the number of calories from saturated fat. Then take that amount and divide that by 9 to get the top limit of daily grams of saturated fat. For example, for someone who eats 2,000 calories per day, that would mean eating 45 to 78 total grams of fat per day. Of this total, only 22 grams should be saturated fat. You can read more about the different kinds of fats, as detailed by the American Diabetes Association. While the new guidelines call for 'meeting food group needs with nutrient-dense foods and beverages, and staying within calorie limits,' calorie and nutritional limits are defined by a combination of age, sex, daily activity level (sedentary, moderately active, and active), and whether the person is pregnant or lactating. For example: for males who are 40 years or older, the daily calorie limit is about 2,200 calories depending on level of activity for females 40 years or older, the daily calorie limit could be roughly 1,800 calories per day for people who are pregnant, the daily limit could be as much as 452 additional calories than what's listed above, depending on the trimester Why include fats in our diets? Even though too much fat can lead to health issues, it cannot be eliminated from our diets completely. Fat makes it possible for the body to absorb fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K. They also support cell function, give the body energy, and provide the body with fatty acids that it cannot make itself. That being said, it's important to limit the amount and kinds of fat eaten to support good health. Why is fat content on nutritional facts labels important for people with diabetes? Nutrition Facts labels are found on packaged foods and beverages and restaurant menus. These are helpful tools for understanding the kind and amount of fat we eat. These labels provide information about the calories, fat, carbohydrates, and key nutrients in each standard serving. On the label, the total number of grams of fat in a single serving of the food or beverage is listed. Underneath that, the amount of saturated fat and trans fat are listed separately as grams. This detail tells us not only how much fat is present, but also how much of that fat comes from less healthy sources. What are the different types of fat in foods? Fats are categorized into four groups: polyunsaturated monounsaturated saturated trans You may have heard of 'good' fats and 'bad' fats. Unsaturated fats are often labeled as 'good' fats. Saturated and trans fats are often labeled as 'bad' fats. To eat a balanced diet, it's best to lean into eating and cooking with unsaturated fats more often than other fats. Unsaturated fats (poly- and mono-) These fats offer some heart protection by maintaining blood levels of HDL (good) cholesterol and lowering levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol. Unsaturated fats are found in plant and fish oil and some nuts, including: olive oil corn oil canola oil sunflower oil oily fish including salmon, sardines, and trout avocados almonds, peanuts, and Brazil nuts pumpkin, flax, and sesame seeds Saturated fats Saturated fats are considered less healthy. Too much saturated fat can raise LDL and increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. Saturated fats are found in animal foods and some plant-based foods, including: coconut coconut oil palm oil palm kernel oil sausage, bacon, ground beef beef and pork milk, butter, dairy products (full fat and reduced fat) In the United States, the biggest dietary source of saturated fat comes from sandwiches, including burgers, tacos, and burritos — generally foods and dishes containing high fat meats and full fat dairy. Saturated fats are also found in desserts and sweet snacks. There is debate about whether saturated fat should be avoided. The ADA recommends limiting this type of fat, while the accredited Joslin Diabetes Center does not. All sources do agree that processed meats and highly processed foods and trans fats should be limited. Trans fats These fats can negatively affect heart health and circulation. They raise LDL and lower HDL cholesterol and contribute to inflammation and insulin resistance. Trans fats are most commonly manufactured by adding hydrogen to vegetable oil. This changes the liquid oil into solid fat at room temperature. Vegetable shortening and margarine used to be commonly made using trans fats. Trans fats can also be naturally present in some animal products from ruminant animals. These include dairy milk, butter, cheese, and some meats. In response to the negative effects trans fats have on heart health, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) took action to ban trans fats known as partially hydrogenated oils. Naturally occurring trans fats do not promote inflammation like manufactured trans fats, which the FDA has banned since 2020.
CBC
17-07-2025
- Health
- CBC
Newfoundland teen with diabetes is a 'rock star' with fundraising effort
Brett Samson's life is like that of many other 13-year-olds. He loves to play sports, spends as much time on his bike as he does on his pillow, and regularly takes the dog for a walk. His work on his hobby farm with his parents accounts for a lot of spare time too, as he raises chickens and turkeys and grows an abundance of vegetables. However unlike many other teens his age, Brett was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in October of 2020 when he was eight, and has to work every day to manage the disease. "As soon as I came out of the hospital, we didn't know what to do. We were still new to it. But we all had to buckle down and figure it out. We got through it," Brett told CBC News. Soon after his diagnoses, his family realized their insurance coverage meant they wouldn't have to go far out of pocket to address Brett's new medical needs. However, it also made them realize others were not as fortunate. "It's a lot easier to manage your diabetes if you have these different medical supplies," Brett said. "If you don't, you have to prick your finger and take needles all the time." As a result, he launched Brett's Stand for Diabetes to support people in Newfoundland and Labrador with diabetes access digital continuous glucose monitoring devices and other diabetic medical supplies. He organizes an annual run and bike ride for charity, and gives the proceeds of his vegetables sales to the cause. Since his diagnosis almost five years ago, Brett has raised about $40,000. WATCH | Brett Samson is showing no signs of slowing down: Brett Samson of Peterview was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at just eight-years-old, and has been raising money to support people in similar situations ever since. As the CBC's Troy Turner reports, Samson has done everything from farming to biking, with no signs of slowing down. Brett's Stand for Diabetes has partnered with the Glenn's Helping Hand, a Mount Pearl-based foundation that provides financial assistance for the treatment of diabetes to low-income individuals. His parents Corey and Stephanie also volunteer on Glenn's Helping Hand's board. "We wanted to do something that we enjoyed, which was farming and mountain biking and all that," Corey Samson said. Stephanie Samson recalls how the initial shocks of her son's diabetes diagnosis quickly turned to figuring out ways their family could help others. She says every year Brett's fundraising continues to get busier. "It's a little more rewarding for us when we know that what we're doing, every penny of this is being spent on some type of supplies to help somebody who doesn't have the money to buy it themselves," she said. A partnership with Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services and Glenn's Helping Hand last year put about 100 diabetes kits into schools. "Brett wears a backpack with all of his supplies in it, but there could be a day that he could forget it on the step, or he might forget it on the bus. Same thing with all these students," said Stephanie Samson. "So these kits are kept in the office of the school in case the child needs any supplies out of it." The advocacy Brett is doing for other people with diabetes is something his parents are proud of. "I feel like if it was me that was diagnosed, I'd be a crooked old man and I'd be laid on the couch and crooked and mad at the world," Corey Samson said. "But he's embraced it… He's a rock star." Brett is just happy to do his part to help others. "It helps us to be together and helps us become better as a family," he said.
Medical News Today
01-07-2025
- Health
- Medical News Today
Why might blood sugars rise after physical activity with type 2 diabetes?
In some cases, a person living with type 2 diabetes may experience hyperglycemia during physical activity. This can occur when the body releases certain hormones that increase glucose production and stop activity can play an important part in managing type 2 diabetes. It can help a person to better control their blood sugars and aid in weight management. When performing exercise, it is more common for people living with diabetes to experience low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia. However, it is possible for people living with type 2 diabetes to have high blood sugars, or hyperglycemia, during physical activity. This may occur if the body experiences stress during intense periods of physical activity. The body may respond by releasing stress hormones that can cause blood glucose levels to rise. Why might blood sugar levels rise after physical activity?Typically, physical activity causes blood sugar levels to drop. However, in some cases, exercise can instead raise blood glucose levels. Usually, physical activity improves insulin sensitivity. This term describes how responsive a person's cells are to insulin. However, certain activities, such as weightlifting or sprinting, may cause the body to release stress hormones, which can affect the way the body uses example, intense activity may cause the body to release adrenaline. This hormone can not only stop the release of insulin, but can also stimulate the liver to release glucose. As such, this can cause blood sugar levels to rise. Health experts may refer to this as transient post-exercise hyperglycemia. Additionally, the food a person consumes before or during physical activity can also contribute towards high blood sugar levels if their body is not responding correctly to insulin. If a person is using insulin therapy to manage their blood sugars, injecting too little can also result in hyperglycemia. This is because as the muscles cannot use the glucose in the blood for fuel, causing it to build up in the blood sugar levels while exercisingTips to help a person manage their blood sugars while exercising may include:choosing moderate-intensity aerobic workouts, or circuit weight training with light weight and high repetitionspracticing relaxations techniques to help minimize the effect of adrenalineif working out in the mornings, consider working out later due to the dawn phenomenontalking to the diabetes healthcare team about adjusting or changing diabetes medicationsavoiding excessive amounts of carbohydrates before and during workoutsOther strategies can include:checking blood glucose levels prior to and during exercisetry exercising at the same time of day to better understand blood glucose trends consider taking a smaller dose of insulin pre-exercise if a person notices their blood sugars tend to rise with exercisemaintain hydration before and during exerciseExercise-induced hypoglycemiaWhile it is possible for blood sugar levels to rise during physical activity, it is more common for a person to experience low glucose levels. Health experts may refer to this as exercise-induced can occur due to physical activity increasing the muscles demand for glucose, and making cells more sensitive to help prevent exercise-induced hypoglycemia, it is advisable for a person living with diabetes to regularly check their blood sugar levels. If a person notices their blood sugars are low, they can apply the rule of 15. This strategy involves taking 15 grams of fast acting carbohydrates, such as glucose tablets. A person should then recheck their blood glucose after 15 minutes. If blood sugar remains low they should have another 15 g serving of carbohydrates. They can repeat these steps every 15 minutes until their blood glucose is at a suitable sugar levels can rise in a person living with type 2 diabetes during periods of intense physical activity. This can occur when the body releases stress hormones, such as adrenaline. This can stimulate the liver to release glucose and stop the pancreas producing insulin. As a result, a person may experience high blood sugars. Health experts may refer to this as transient post-exercise is also possible for a person with diabetes to experience hypoglycemia during a workout. This is because physical activity can increase the demand for glucose, which can make cells more sensitive to such, it is advisable for a person living with type 2 diabetes to regularly check their blood sugar levels while exercising. This can allow them to make the necessary adjustments to correct their blood glucose levels.
Phone Arena
30-06-2025
- Health
- Phone Arena
RFK Jr. would be very happy if every American wears an Apple Watch
RFK Jr. told a congressional hearing last week that he has a plan to improve the health of all Americans. The Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary shared his vision during a congressional hearing during which he said something that made Apple, Google, and Samsung executives take notice. "My vision is that every American is wearing a wearable within four years," said Kennedy Jr. By wearables, the controversial Trump appointee is most likely talking about devices like smartwatches. For example, the Apple Watch has become a tool that many Americans use to monitor their health. Next week Kennedy's department will kick off one of the biggest campaigns in HHS history. This campaign will focus on encouraging Americans to use wearable technology to "take control of their own health." Even though there are limitations to how much a wearable device can improve one's health, Kennedy said during the hearing that he has had friends who "lost their diabetes" after wearing glucose monitors. These monitors allowed them to see the impact their dietary choices had on their blood sugar. Continuous glucose monitoring is said to be effective in giving type 2 diabetics the incentive to change their diets and exercise which could reportedly reverse type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition that leads the body's immune system to destroy the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. As a result, the body produces very little or no insulin. In Type 2, the human body doesn't produce enough blood sugar or doesn't respond to the body's own insulin. Apple and Samsung have both reportedly been working on a way for Apple Watch and Galaxy Watch users respectively, to monitor their blood sugar using wearable devices. Both tech firms are trying to develop a non-invasive method for diabetics to obtain their blood sugar readings without having to draw a small sample of blood. No regulatory agency has yet to approve a non-invasive continuous blood glucose monitoring system for a smartwatch. The latest rumor has Apple offering such a feature in the Apple Watch Series 13 in 2027. Another goal of the Apple Watch is to show the user his blood pressure. While there are watches that do show this reading on demand using inflatable wristbands (Huawei's D2 comes to mind), the first iteration for this feature for the Apple Watch, whichever model it debuts on, will only warn the user if his blood pressure is at a level consistent with hypertension. It will not give out a blood pressure reading on demand. Kennedy points out that purchasing a wearable device like a smartwatch could cost individuals as little as $80 per month compared to the price of weight loss drugs like Ozempic which have a ton of side effects and can cost over $1,000 per month. Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Tandem's t:slim X2 pump now works with Abbott's FreeStyle CGM sensor
Tandem Diabetes Care has announced its Tandem t:slim X2 insulin pump is now compatible with Abbott's FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) sensor. The early access programme for this integration has already started in the US, with plans to scale the availability in the second half of this year. With its extended 15-day wear duration, the FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus sensor provides minute-by-minute glucose readings that are directly transmitted to the pump. This allows the data to be viewed on the t:slim mobile app, offering users access to their present glucose trends. Powered by the Control-IQ+ technology, the t:slim X2 insulin pump claims to be the newest generation of hybrid closed-loop algorithm of Tandem, which will adjust insulin delivery every five minutes based on predicted glucose levels. The system's AutoBolus feature is designed to calculate and deliver correction boluses, which help manage missed meal boluses. This technology has ease of use and personalisation, and with this new integration, it extends its benefits to a broader range of individuals with diabetes. Notably, the insulin pump allows users to update features remotely using a personal computer, ensuring that the pump remains equipped with the latest technology throughout its warranty time. Tandem Diabetes Care chief medical officer Dr Jordan Pinsker said: 'Diabetes management is not one-size-fits-all, and it is critical for people living with diabetes to be able to personalise their AID systems to fit their unique healthcare and lifestyle needs. 'The American Diabetes Association recommends AID systems as the preferred insulin delivery method in people with type 1 and other types of insulin-deficient diabetes, and this integration with Abbott's latest generation sensor allows even more CGM users to access the life-changing benefits of our Control-IQ+ technology.' In February 2025, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared Tandem Diabetes Care's Control-IQ+ technology, making it available for use by individuals aged 18 and above with type 2 diabetes. "Tandem's t:slim X2 pump now works with Abbott's FreeStyle CGM sensor" was originally created and published by Medical Device Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
