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	Tuesday September 27, 2011
Inside Info: Meter Buying Guide Successfully managing diabetes means relying on one piece of essential equipment: your blood-glucose meter. The meter readings help guide you to better food choices and let you see how everything—from stress to exercise—affects your blood sugar. Knowing your blood-sugar numbers gives you a potent tool to help you reverse diabetes. But meter technology and features change rapidly, and the range of choices can be bewildering. However, that variety also let's you find a unit that matches your particular needs and preferences. To sort through the multitude of meters and find one that's right for you, check first with your doctor, who may have a preference. And be sure to ask if your health insurer requires you to buy a specific model. When evaluating the choices, consider the following factors. Ease of use. Meters come in different sizes and shapes—some as small as credit cards—so choose one that is comfortable for you to use. Some require bigger drops of blood than others, which may be an issue if you have poor circulation. If you have vision problems, choose a meter with larger displays. Newer meters may offer alternate site sampling, meaning you don't need to prick your finger, but can use another part of your body. Storage capacity. If you're type 1 or have type 2 and are taking insulin or medication, you'll probably be taking more readings than if you have type 2 and control your diabetes through diet and exercise. Most meters hold 200 to 450 results. Often the trade-off is size of meter vs. storage capacity, and in general, the larger the meter, the more storage. Connectivity. If you're testing a lot, you may want a meter with a built-in memory to help you keep track of the dozens of results you'll accumulate between doctor visits. Some units also have data ports that allow you to download this information into diabetes-management software on a personal computer. On the other hand, if you're only testing a couple of times a day or less, you will be paying for bells and whistles you may not need. And always check with your doc to be sure the meter's software is compatible with his. Battery type and life. Some units use standard batteries you can find in any pharmacy or discount store, while others take less common (and often pricier) batteries that may be harder to find. Still others don't have replaceable batteries at all, so you have to get a new meter when yours dies. Such units usually last for thousands of readings, but how many thousands will vary from one model to the next. Reading speed. Find out how fast the meter spits out a reading: Most deliver in less than a minute, but the difference between, say, 40 seconds and five can be significant if you're late for an appointment or you're on the job. Cost. Most popular meters run in the $65 to $70 range; prices will vary depending on features. Insurers will usually pick up the cost of a meter, but even so, manufacturers routinely offer deep discounts, rebates, trade-ins—even give them away free—to get a unit into your hands where they get the benefit of the real expense: buying the test strips. The cost of the strips can range from 50 cents to about $1 each. Figure out how much you're testing to calculate the real cost over a month and year. Turkey, Chestnut & Barley Soup One of the best parts of roasting a turkey is making a big pot of soup from the rest of the bird. The wonderful aroma wafting through the house will let your family know they're in for a hearty, satisfying meal—and one that's healthy, too. Serves 8 Ingredients: Stock 1 turkey carcass (from at least a 12-pound bird) or 5 pounds turkey parts, on bone 1 large yellow onion, peeled and quartered 2 large celery stalks, coarsely chopped 10 sprigs each fresh parsley and thyme 1 large bay leaf 12 black peppercorns 1 teaspoon salt Soup 2 pounds cooked turkey breast (boneless) 3 large carrots, peeled and chopped 4 large turnips, peeled and chopped 4 large celery stalks, chopped 6 ounces pearl onions, peeled 1 cup pearl barley 8 ounces Brussels sprouts, halved or chopped 1 cup coarsely chopped chestnuts 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley  Preparation: 1    Begin by making the stock. Break up the turkey carcass, discarding any skin, and place in an 8-quart stockpot. Add enough cold water to cover (about 12 cups), and bring to a boil over high heat; skim off any foam with a slotted spoon. Add the remaining ingredients for the stock and return to a full boil. If you're not roasting a bird, use low-sodium canned chicken broth instead of the homemade stock. 2    Lower the heat and simmer the stock gently, uncovered, for 1 1/2 hours. Strain and discard the bones and vegetables (you need 9 cups stock). Skim off any fat and return the stock to the stockpot. 3    To make the soup, return the stock to a boil. Remove the skin from the turkey breast and cut the turkey into bite-size pieces (you need 6 cups). Add the turkey to the stockpot, along with the carrots, turnips, celery, onions, and barley. Simmer the soup, uncovered, until the barley is tender, about 30 minutes. 4    Add the sprouts and chestnuts and simmer just until the sprouts are crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with the parsley and serve steaming hot. Per serving: 302 cal, 2 g fat (0 g sat), 33 g carbs, 39 g protein, 6 g fiber, 95 mg chol, 347 mg sodium 5 Things You Can to Do with Barley Barley is one of the richest sources of cholesterol-lowering soluble fiber, but people don't often think to include it in their diets—maybe because they aren't sure how. And you may be one of them. Here are some ideas to get you started. • Add barley to soups and stews as a more nutritious alternative to pasta or noodles. • Make a side dish by sautéing vegetables such as onions, garlic, and carrots, adding barley and herbs such as sage and thyme, and then simmering in water according to the package directions. • Try a barley salad topped with a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese. • Add barley to chili as a textured thickener that lets you to use less meat. • Use it in place of rice to stuff bell peppers.   Until next issue, here's to good health! Neil Wertheimer Editor in Chief, Reverse Diabetes	Advertisement 30 Minutes to a Healthy Heart A renowned heart specialist reveals his special treatment that reduces the risk of heart attack. Kitchen Cabinet Cures 1,001 Homemade remedies for your good health. 90% of all heart attacks can be avoided!        -- 30 Minutes to a Healthy Heart
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