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Diabetes Self-Management

HomeAmy Campbell, MS, RD, LDN, CDCES

Amy Campbell, MS, RD, LDN, CDCES

A Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator at Good Measures, LLC, where she is a CDE manager for a virtual diabetes program. Campbell is the author of Staying Healthy with Diabetes: Nutrition & Meal Planning, a co-author of 16 Myths of a Diabetic Diet, and has written for  publications including Diabetes Self-Management, Diabetes Spectrum, Clinical Diabetes, the Diabetes Research & Wellness Foundation’s newsletter, DiabeticConnect.com, and CDiabetes.com

Amy Campbell, MS, RD, LDN, CDCES on social media

Is Yogurt Good for Diabetics?

Is Yogurt Good for Diabetics?

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Yogurt is one popular food – just head to the dairy case in your local grocery store and you may be amazed at the multitude of brands and varieties that line the shelves. But is it a food that people with diabetes can or even should eat?

Bee Stings, Burns, Bug Bites and Diabetes

Bee Stings, Burns, Bug Bites and Diabetes

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This year, summer will likely be very different for most of us, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. But what probably won’t change are the long, lazy, hot days — and the accompanying nuisances that can make this time of year uncomfortable and sometimes even dangerous for people who have diabetes…

Plate of bananas -- Is Banana Good for Diabetes?

Is Banana Good for Diabetes?

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Fruit is pretty much all carbohydrate, and carbohydrate raises blood sugar levels. So, the logical reasoning is that fruit raises blood sugar, therefore, fruit is “bad.” But is that really true? And what about bananas — should you avoid those if you have diabetes?

Diabetes 101

Diabetes 101

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Diabetes is a condition in which blood glucose (sugar) is too high. Curious about symptoms, medicines, meal planning, blood glucose management and more? You’ll find it all in this guide.

Product Review: Dex4 Glucose Gel

Product Review: Dex4 Glucose Gel

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The best way to handle hypoglycemia is to prevent it from happening in the first place. But because life happens, it’s important to be prepared. Dex4 Glucose Gel is a fast-acting source of carbohydrate that’s an excellent option for treating low blood glucose…

Product Review: Yomandamor Bamboo Diabetic Socks

Product Review: Yomandamor Bamboo Diabetic Socks

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If you currently have any foot problems, or if you’ve had them in the past, it’s a smart idea to wear socks geared for diabetes. Yomandamor bamboo diabetic socks are made from a combination of bamboo and elastane — materials that wick away moisture, are wrinkle-resistant, and are free from seams…

Product Review: Capzasin-HP

Product Review: Capzasin-HP

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Capzasin-HP is a “high potency” topical analgesic cream that contains 0.1% capsaicin, a substance found in chili peppers that gives them their “heat” and does double-duty as a pain reliever…

Plant Sources of Protein

Plant Sources of Protein

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There’s plenty of evidence that eating a plant-based diet is beneficial to health. Concerned about getting enough protein? Learn about plant sources of protein from Certified Diabetes Educator and Registered Dietitian Amy Campbell…

Yoga for Diabetes

Yoga for Diabetes

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What if there was a way to reap the benefits of physical activity while a) enjoying what you’re doing and b) not having to huff and puff or fight someone for the treadmill at the gym? If you’ve been asking yourself this very question, then yoga might be right for you.

Chromium and Diabetes

Chromium and Diabetes

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The role of chromium in diabetes control remains controversial. Is there any new research on this supplement? Is it really helpful in managing blood sugars? Or are the chromium claims mostly hype?

Ten Tips to Improve Health in Five Minutes a Day

Take Five for Better Health

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You’d be surprised at the small but meaningful things you can do in a matter of minutes to improve your health and maybe even help your diabetes. Here are 10 tips to improve health in five minutes a day…

Making Your Diabetes Pills Work for You

Making Your Diabetes Pills Work for You

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If you have diabetes, it’s highly likely that you take at least one type of medicine to help you manage it. To make sure you’re getting the most from your diabetes pills, consider the following 25 tips for taking some of the more common ones…

Pasta for Diabetics

Pasta for Diabetics

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One of my favorite foods is pasta. I think I could eat pasta every day and never tire of it. And when I’ve had a rough day, nothing comforts me as much as a plate of pasta with butter (or trans-fat-free margarine), Parmesan cheese, and freshly ground black pepper…

Vitamin Quiz

Vitamin Quiz

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The body needs vitamins and minerals to grow, develop, and stay healthy. What can vitamin supplements do for you? Take our vitamin quiz to find out…

Types of Insulin

Types of Insulin

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In 1921, researchers Banting and Best discovered insulin. With help from other scientists, insulin was developed into a form suitable for human treatment…

Building a Better Sandwich

Building a Better Sandwich

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Back to work or school often brings up the issue of what to take for lunch, and inevitably, sandwiches come to mind. By avoiding or limiting fast-food sandwiches and making your own, you’ll have more control over portion sizes and ingredients…

Sprouted Grains

Sprouted Grains

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Sprouted grains and foods that contain sprouted grains have been “sprouting up” in grocery and health-food stores. Curious about what sprouted grains are?

Insulin: Types

Insulin: Types

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If you have diabetes, there is a good chance you are taking this medicine. Learn about the different options that are available from certified diabetes educator Amy Campbell…

Navigating the Grocery Store

Navigating the Grocery Store

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We’ve all been there: We go to the store to get some milk or a loaf of bread, and we come out with two bags of groceries that we had no intention of buying. Use these tips to make the most of your food dollars and your time…

Soup Really Is Good Food

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Being a native New Englander, I’m beginning to brace myself for the cold weather ahead. I admit — I’m not a big fan of frigid temperatures, sleet, or snow, but one thing I really can appreciate about the big chill is soup. Soup has a lot of good things going for it, but not all soups are created equally nutrition-wise…

Color Me Healthy

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When was the last time you gave some thought to color? Maybe you were trying to decide if that pink blouse goes with that orange skirt. There’s more to color than just decorating or assembling an outfit, however. The choice of color can affect your health and your mood…

Brain Training: How You Can Learn to Like Healthy Foods

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In my years as a dietitian, I’ve talked with plenty of people who have told me that they just don’t have a taste for fruits or vegetables or whole grains or skim milk, for example. But might it be possible for people to learn to like foods that are good for them and turn off their taste buds for the less healthy foods? Scientists seems to think so…

Nutrition for Neuropathy

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Roughly 60% to 70% of people with diabetes have some form of neuropathy (nerve damage); the risk for the condition increases the longer you’ve had diabetes. Not surprisingly, good nutrition can go a long way in helping both to prevent and manage neuropathy…

Techie Tools to Help With Weight Loss

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There’s still no magic bullet for weight loss. I know, we all keep hoping for something quick, easy, and painless that will melt the pounds away with little or no effort. While we wait for that to come along, you might be interested in some new gadgets that are on or soon will be on the market that might at least make it easier to drop some pounds…

Which Butter (or Spread) Is Better?

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It’s not so easy these days to choose a spread for your morning toast or your baked potato. Years ago, folks had pretty much two choices: butter and margarine. Today, we have butter, light butter, whipped butter, stick margarine…

What Color Is Your Fat?

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Fat seems like a problem, and for a huge segment of the population, it truly is. But fat isn’t all that bad. We do need this stuff. Many people simply have too of it. The issue, then, is how to get rid of that excess…

Nutrition—In a Jar!

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Salads are a mainstay for many people, and summertime is the perfect time to savor them. There are many reasons to enjoy a salad, and if you happen to frequent a farmer’s market or have a vegetable garden, it’s very tempting to throw one together…

The Time’s Ripe for Vegetables

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With July Fourth coming up in a few days, we’re finally into the swing of summer. And summertime often means cookouts, barbecues, and picnics. As you enjoy the warm weather festivities, don’t forget about those vegetables!

When Blood Pressure Is Too Low

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Talk around blood pressure typically centers on what to do if blood pressure is too high. We know that high blood pressure is more common in people with diabetes than people without diabetes. But what if your blood pressure is too low? Is it cause for concern? And what do you do about it?

Frozen meals in a supermarket -- Choosing Frozen Meals for Diabetics

Choosing Frozen Meals for Diabetics

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Frozen dinners may not be what comes to mind if you’re trying to eat healthfully. Yet many people (guiltily) admit to eating them, whether for a quick and easy lunch or for those nights when they just don’t have the time or energy to turn on the stove or oven…

Where Sugar Lurks

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Years ago, nutrition recommendations for people with diabetes were essentially to avoid sugar as much as possible, based on the thinking that sugar would send blood glucose levels through the roof. Well, that notion was pretty much disproven…

Cats and Dogs Get Diabetes, Too!

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We may not think about it much, but our pets can get diabetes. In fact, diabetes is pretty common in cats and dogs, and it’s on the rise in both of these species. Luckily, if you have a beloved cat or dog who has diabetes, you can help him lead a healthy life with this condition…

Unconventional Ways to Lose Weight… Maybe

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America’s quest to lose weight continues. As a nation, we’re heavier than ever and just as eager to shed those pounds quickly and painlessly. More than 30% of US adults are obese; this statistic is the same as it was 10 years ago, so things aren’t getting much better. Losing weight is hard and keeping the weight off is harder…

Six Fish Facts to Know Now

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We’ve been hearing for a long time now that fish and other types of seafood are good for us. Current recommendations tell us to aim to eat “two fish meals a week.” But fish has some fishy aspects to it, like mercury. And what about all that cholesterol in shellfish? Do fish sticks count towards your two weekly fish meals? Let’s find out the facts about fish…

Heart Health Fact or Fiction

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It’s still February (unfortunately for those of us who have been dealing with inclement winter weather), and until spring rears its lovely head, what better way to spend time than focusing on your health?

Giving Your Heart a Helping Hand

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We’re in the midst of February, and Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. February happens to be American Heart Month (appropriately so), which means that it’s a good time to take stock of what you’re doing to ensure your heart stays as healthy as possible…

Clean Eating: Fad or Future?

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Last week my sister told me about a coworker of hers who recently lost weight by “clean eating.” I admit, I’m not an expert in this area, but I’ve heard of this movement and it got me wondering. Is eating “clean” is just another fad or trend, or is it something that’s not only here to stay, but that can help people with diabetes?

Linking Weight With Relationships

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The winter holidays are slowly dwindling. Besides being left with too many presents and a lot of food, you might also be left with some unwanted weight. Now’s the traditional time for people to be thinking about New Year’s resolutions and shedding some pounds for the incoming new year…

Sugar Surprises!

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‘Tis the season for visions of sugarplums dancing in your head…and lurking in your food, too. It’s virtually impossible to completely avoid sugar. However, too much of a good thing isn’t all that good…

Calories: Do They Count?

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I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. No doubt, you enjoyed some familiar favorites: turkey, stuffing, gravy, potatoes…perhaps a slice of pie. And you probably thought, at least a little bit, about how much you were eating…

Facing the Fats

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Fat is a necessary nutrient, and we need it to sustain health. But it’s also had its share of hard knocks in the past, and many people (including some dietitians) are still leery about promoting its goodness…

Take 10… and Carry On!

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I’m taking a liberty this week with the ever-popular quote from a World War II British safety poster: Keep Calm and Carry On. If you’re wondering what the context is here, it’s exercise…

Shared Medical Appointments: Are They for You?

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A few years ago, I needed to make an appointment with one of my doctors. I was told that I could see her sooner if I attended a group appointment, otherwise known as shared medical appointment (SMA). At first, I was very hesitant. A group visit? With my doctor and other patients? How strange…

Low-FODMAP Diet: A New Fad?

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People who have IBS will tell you that sometimes the above approaches work for them, and sometimes they don’t. But thanks to researchers from Australia, a newer approach is available that may help the millions of IBS sufferers get a little more relief…

Juicing: Is It for You?

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Ask people who have diabetes if they drink juice, and chances are they’ll tell you that they don’t. They may say that juice is “too high in sugar” or “too high in carbohydrate.” But “juicing” is a whole different ballgame for some people…

Omega-7: The New Fat in Town

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Just when you thought you had the whole fat thing down, along comes another type of fat to think about. This fat (actually, fatty acid) is known as omega-7, and you might consider it to be a cousin of the omega-3 fatty acids (sometimes referred to as fish oils, although they’re found in plants, too)…