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FEATURE IMPACT -- Living with Type 2 diabetes often means making adjustments to your daily routine, especially when it comes to food. Whether you're living with the condition or supporting someone who is, it can influence everything from meal planning to dinners out and everyday activities. Although adjusting to life with diabetes may take time, you don't have to give up your favorite foods and flavors. In fact, it can be an opportunity to discover meals that support your health goals while still enjoying the foods you love.
That's what professional chef and TV show host Kardea Brown did, alongside her husband Bryon Smith, who was recently diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes at age 38.
"When my husband was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, it didn't mean the end of the foods we love," Brown said. "It meant I had to get creative. I started reimagining my recipes, so they still carry that same soul, that same comfort, just with ingredients that love him back a little better."
To remove the guesswork about how certain ingredients affect Smith's glucose levels, the couple relies on Abbott's FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus sensor with Libre Assist*, a feature within the accompanying Libre app**. The technology provides real-time glucose insights and can help predict how certain foods may affect his glucose^ levels before a meal.
"I open the Libre Assist feature in the app, snap a photo and instantly see how that food might affect me before I even take the first bite," Smith said. "It even suggests healthier swaps to help lower the impact."
Small lifestyle changes can also make a difference in diabetes management. Brown recommends:
-- Building balanced meals that prioritize non-starchy vegetables, lean proteins and healthy carbs for added fiber.
-- Reading labels carefully to ensure you choose ingredients with little or no added sugars.
-- Boosting fiber intake with ingredients like lentils, oats, beans and whole fruits.
-- Cooking smarter at home by using simple methods like grilling, baking or sauteing with healthy fats, such as olive or canola oil.
--Planning and preparing for success by shopping with a list and planning meals in advance so you always have nutritious ingredients ready to cook.
To learn more about Libre Assist and to see if you qualify for a free sensor, visit freestylelibre.us/LibreAssist.