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After Eliminating a daily protein drink, my A1C went up a lot
Heart & Blood Health | Last Active: 4 days ago | Replies (6)Comment receiving replies
@tinamaria1
Hello - Congratulations on managing your blood sugar so well.
Most people don't understand that adequate protein helps moderate blood sugar as you have learned.
You might try copying your favorite drink in homemade smoothies using a powdered protein supplement. You can make a pitcher to store in the fridge that lasts for several days to make the task easier.
You can also add protein to your diet via lean poultry cubes (cook your own, seasoning to taste) cheese cubes, a tablespoon of peanut butter or nuts.
It is especially effective to moderate blood sugar by eating the protein with a carb snack like fruit. For example, a small apple with 1 oz nuts (4-7 g protein).
If you tolerate dairy, here is a great protein shake replacement. Top 3/4 plain Greek yogurt with a cup of unsweetened berries and 2T pumpkin seeds. This provides 20 grams of protein, lots of fiber and about 280 calories. If you need to sweeten, try just a drizzle of honey or maple syrup.
When we travel, I fill the cooler with several covered bowls with this or whip up smoothies and bottle - no temptation to stop for fast food or grab junk food at the gas station.
I also must work to keep my A1C in check, and my husband has been diabetic for over 30 years, so this is a lifestyle for us. We do sometimes supplement with protein drinks, but like yo we find many to be unplatable.
We do eat our 1 piece of dark chocolate most evenings.
Does this give you some ideas?
Replies to "@tinamaria1 Hello - Congratulations on managing your blood sugar so well. Most people don't understand that..."
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Wow, thank you, this is great advice and positive to hear as well. I would never had known that a lack of sufficient protein would impact my A1C, until my Hopkins dietician explained it to me.
I will start sampling other brands of protein powders again, AND, I will try your recipe for a protein shake. I will use unsweetened almond milk. BTW, I did not think of pumpkin seeds, so I will try that too.
What a gift you gave to tell me you DO eat 1 piece of dark chocolate most evenings. It is the only joy I have left with food now that I cut out cakes, cookies, pastries, breads, etc.. I was on the verge of throwing my little bag of dark chocolate pieces Ghirardelli, UNTIL I read your response.
So, Thank you dear for sharing (smile).