I am taking this class - living well with diabetes. I like having a class format and being with other people. I don't think people can go it alone. Even doctors call all the providers around me my "treatment team." They always say treatment team. I think that's so they aren't alone either.

@ihatediabetes That's great to go to a class to help you with diabetes. I wish my husband would or go to a reliable website to learn more about diabetes and eat properly and l have been telling him for years. And now l can truly say l thank God for pray. Th his week he went to his doctor sometimes people don't want to listen to someone that might know but has to listen to others in his case his doctor. But she told him everything he needed to do for a hour visit. He has to cut out all the bad foods he use to eat and so yesterday when he told me he knew l would laugh and l did and l said l guess it's time for avacodes and he hates trying new things he don't know. And yesterday was avocado day. You just learn on because we learn something new every day. Great Job!!!!

Hi I signed up at Juniper for diabetes class. That's for Twin Cities area. I might sign up for tai chi class eventually. These are free classes for the community. There is an organization for South East Minnesota that has same classes. I took living with chronic conditions in Red Wing. I think the only thing that you buy is the book. Its like a support class too. Everybody is dealing with something. My chronic condition was diabetes. But I met at least one person with copd. That looked like its an awful thing to deal with. They learned things like how to plan activities so they aren't around smoking or that avoids to much walking. I think its helpful to talk through strategy with people that have similar issues.

@techi I love avocados and try to put them in my salads very frequently. Unfortunately their life is so short, from not ripe enough to too ripe, and around here they are not cheap. I know they are really good for you but is there a particular benefit for people with diabetes?
Oh, and last night I cut one open and it was perfect!
JK

@contentandwell , I am certainly no expert on diabetes. But I love what my Mexican son-in-law can do with avocados. They can be served for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They are a healthy fat that can be used with all kinds of ingredients. A small serving will go a long way to making you full, if you are trying to lose weight. Diabetic Straight Talk is an online group on Facebook. They believe in using healthy fats and restricting carbohydrates. You might want to see what they have to offer. There is also a site called Lazy Keto, and they are less strict with the number of carbs one is allowed. Both have links to research on the use of healthy fats for diabetics. As always, trust your doctor, and remember to include him or her in all decisions about food intake, medicine, supplements, or exercise
Better to be safe than sorry!

@contentandwell There are no particular benefits for diabetics from using avocados unless you are exchanging them for less healthy fats in your diet. If you are just adding avocados to your diet, you are likely taking in too many fats in total. Be sure to watch the amounts you are eating in each food group.
You can use avocados instead of butter, margarine or mayonnaise on sandwiches or in salad dressings.

Avocados have a great healthy fat, but are high in potassium which is a good thing for lots of people but can be dangerous if you have advanced kidney disease. Here is an article about this, http://www.kidney-cares.org/illness-analysis/1518.html
I've copied a portion of the article here:

"Avocado is high-potassium fruit. Kidney disease patients need to limit the intake of certain electrolytes such as potassium and phosphorus especially when illness conditions progress into stage 4 when more than 70% of their kidney functions have been lost. Avocado is quite high in potassium. Severely impaired kidneys can not remove excess potassium out of the body and the buildup of potassium in the blood can cause serious consequence or even threaten the patient’s life, therefore it is very necessary to have close monitoring of the patient’s serum potassium levels. That does not to say that patients should have no avocado at all, but the amount should be strictly controlled for patients of stage 4 kidney disease.

Other beneficial fruits and veggies for kidney disease patients

Besides avocado, there are many other good choices of fruits and veggies that are very good for kidney disease patients such as carrot, celery, onion, apple, pear, etc."

Teresa

Thank you so much. I have a single kidney (stage 3 CKD). You helped my understand why avocados may not be the best food for single kidney folks. Dr Ron Rubenzer. Your well-being is my commitment.