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	Tuesday September 06, 2011
Can You Get Off Your Meds? Successfully managing diabetes means living a life of goals, some small, some large. But when you attain them, you feel an invigorating, healthy sense of accomplishment. One such goal might be eating right for a week. Another could be walking more. Some of the more immediate rewards of these achievements are dropping a few pounds and feeling more energetic. But one of the larger goals that you might tuck in the back of your mind is reducing or eliminating the need for medication. Sure, it takes hard work, willpower and dedication, but many folks have managed to reverse diabetes and get off their meds. Of course, any change in medication needs to be closely monitored by your doctor. You can't just wake up one day and say that you're done taking medication. That's sort of like The Office's Michael Scott declaring bankruptcy by yelling "bankruptcy!" A decision to go off meds needs to be made slowly and with full consultation and approval of your doctor. To manage your expectations possibly getting off medication, you must remember that diabetes is a progressive disease. That means the longer you have it, the more likely you'll need pharmaceutical help to manage it. But changing your life so you don't need medications can be achieved. Here's what you might expect if you succeed in bringing your blood sugar down to the following levels: 126 to 140–150 mg/dL: While still above normal, these levels are low enough that you may be able to stop taking medication. Just be sure and talk with your doc. 150 to 200 mg/dL: The chances are good that continuing to eat right and exercise, you may get off medication. For now, however, you may still need medication and perhaps occasional doses of insulin. Above 200 mg/dl: You may still need medication or full-time insulin coverage, and possibly both, but you may be able to reduce your doses or make other adjustments. Keep in mind that if eliminating the need for medication is not an option, your efforts to lower your blood-sugar numbers will have many additional benefits, such as lowering your blood pressure and improving your cholesterol numbers. And, of course, you'll enjoy a greater sense of control over your health. Grilled Salmon in Ciabatta At a game day tailgate or in your own backyard, fresh salmon fillets may be the healthiest thing you ever throw on your grill. Served in warm ciabatta rolls with mixed salad leaves and a basil mayonnaise, this low-fat dish also racks up the points on the heart-healthy, omega-3 scoreboard. Serves 4 Ingredients: Juice of 1 lime 3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil 4 (4 ounce) skinless salmon fillets 2 1/2 tablespoons plain low-fat yogurt 2 1/2 tablespoons low-fat mayonnaise 1/2 teaspoon finely grated lime zest 4 ciabatta or whole-wheat rolls, about 2 ounces each Salt and pepper Mixed salad leaves, such as arugula, baby spinach, and red chard   Preparation: 1    Mix together the lime juice, 2 tablespoons of the basil, and salt and pepper to taste in a shallow, nonmetallic dish. Add the salmon fillets and turn them in the mixture to coat well all over. Cover and leave to marinate in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. 2    Meanwhile, mix together the yogurt, mayonnaise, lime zest, and remaining tablespoon basil in a small bowl. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate until needed. 3    Preheat the grill to medium-high. Remove the salmon fillets from the marinade and place them on a clean, well-oiled rack. Brush the salmon with a little of the marinade, then grill until the fish it's just cooked and the flesh is beginning to flake, about 4 to 5 minutes on each side. Brush the marinade again after you have turned the fillets. While the fish is cooking, wrap the ciabatta rolls in foil and warm them for 5 minutes. 4    Split the ciabatta rolls in half and spread the cut sides with the basil mayonnaise. Put a cooked salmon fillet on the bottom half of each roll and top with a few mixed salad leaves. Put the top half of each roll in place and serve immediately. Per serving: 356 cal, 13 g fat (2 g sat), 30 g carbs, 28 g protein, 2 g fiber, 78 g chol, 429 mg sodium Your Game Plan: Healthy Tailgating It's about that time of year for football. Getting out to the game to root for your favorite team with family and friends. And that includes the fun—and potentially unhealthy—tradition of tailgating. While tailgating is chock-full of unhealthy eats, such as meat slathered in sugar-laden sauces, hot dogs loaded with nitrates, and the temptation of an ice cold beer (or two), there's no reason to skip the pre-game festivities. Instead, go paint your face and pack along these three tips for healthier eating along with your grill and charcoal. Look to the ocean. Don't limit your tailgating choices to burgers and dogs. Salmon steaks make a nutritious main dish. Brushed with a little olive oil to keep them from sticking, you have an easy to prepare and delicious blood-sugar friendly meal. An on-the-go way to cook salmon is to wrap it tightly in foil with lemon slices, dill, thyme, salt, and pepper, then drop the packet on the grill and bake to perfection. Add color. If "meat" is the only color for your game-day grub, it's time to add a rainbow to your grill. Either in a grilling basket or on skewers, throw on peppers, zucchini, asparagus, onions, eggplant, and tomatoes. Coat them with olive oil and you're ready for the coals. Turn every few minutes and remove them as soon as they start to soften. Fire up a fruity dessert. At tailgate parties, it's easy to mindlessly snack on whatever's in a bag or box. For a healthy finale to your pre-game festivities, choose fruit. Brush thick slices of pineapples or peach halves with a little oil, then grill for a few minutes. Grilling brings out the natural sweetness of the fruit's sugars for a satisfying finish to the meal. Touchdown!   Until next issue, here's to good health! Neil Wertheimer Editor in Chief, Reverse Diabetes	Advertisement Reverse Diabetes Eliminate the root cause of your disease with this simple step-by-step plan. Healthy Heart Miracle Diet Lose weight, look fabulous and live longer– with delicious, filling food! Small eating changes that really work!        -- Healthy Heart Miracle Diet
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