CVS Health Bluetooth Blood Glucose Meter?

 It was not too long ago that I purchased a CVS Bluetooth glucometer. It is compact and has some neat features. I got this new device since the previous device was no longer covered by my insurance and the test strips were getting expensive. 

 CVS Health Bluetooth Blood Glucose Meter

I liked it since it is compact. It is not very big. It is easy to take with you if you travel to different places. 

I like that the test strips were not really expensive. The price for 100 was less than the price for 50 for my previous meter. The price of the meter was not expensive either. While my insurance didn't cover it, I was able to test more often (I like to test three times a day - being a type 2 diabetic) and not worry about whether or not the insurance would cover it. 

The price of the glucometer was quite affordable. It fit into my budget. It was $21.99. There are some glucometers that are quite costly. 

I used my phone to connect to the device and upload the information to it. It helps me track my blood sugar levels. The software for the phone was free and easy to download (at least from Google Play). I turned on the Bluetooth on my phone and was able to - quite easily - connect to my phone. 

Getting it under control; 

I am not a professional. I have been a diabetic - type 2 - since 1989. I have some experience in being a diabetic. I am doing my best to control it. Having a good attitude about it helps. It is not the end of the road. I find it to be a challenge to keep it under control. 

TomLeeM

2023 / 10 / 02

Bush's Zero Sugar Added Baked Beans?

 Bush's Zero Sugar Added Baked Beans? 

I saw a vide about Bush's baked beans. They showed a zero added sugar version of their baked beans. I searched and found it. It was sold at some grocery stores. I only saw it in one size at some but had two sizes in others. One doesn't have to eat it all at once but divide it among different meals. The price was not bad; it was vey reasonable.

While on a cruise, one of their restaurants had an English breakfast as an option. It included baked beans (the rest was two small hash browns, eggs cooked your way, toast and sautéed mushrooms - wish I had take a photo of it to show it here). They served in a small cup (the whole breakfast was small and what I would call 'perfect portion' - ideal for a diabetic) about 1/2 cup in size. I tried to duplicate it at home. Since this was a zero sugar added I did not have to worry as much if it was regular baked beans (which - depending on the flavor - could have a lot of sugar in it). The only thing I was missing was the hash browns but I couldn't find ones that small (more liked flatten tator tots than hash browns but still vey good). 

I thought it was really good. I didn't realize it was zero sugar added. I plan on having it again. I think everyone will enjoy it (assuming everyone likes baked beans - those who don't like baked beans probably won't like it but that is a preference and has - IMO - nothing to do with it being zero sugar added). 

The site shows the nutrition label. 

Total Fat 0.5g

0%

Saturated Fat 0g

Trans Fat 0g

0%

Cholesterol 0mg

26%

Sodium 600mg

10%

Total Carbohydrates 26g

41%

Dietary Fiber 12g

Total Sugars 1g

0%

Includes 0g Added Sugars

8%

Protein 7g

Vitamin D 0mcg

4%

Calcium 50mg

10%

Iron 1.7mg

8%

Potassium 360mg

copied from the nutrition label at the site. 

TomLeeM

2023 / 09 / 23

Pillsbury Sugar Free Brownie Mix Milk Chocolate

 Pillsbury Sugar Free Brownie Mix. 

 I had bought a box of Pillsbury sugar free brownie mix. I had it for awhile but finally got around to making it. I like to try new things. As a diabetic, I like to try sugar free or low sugar items. With both, one has to be careful with since sugar free items, sugar free doesn't mean carb free. 

I was apprehensive on how long it would take to make it and how well it would taste. I had nothing to worry about. I have made sugar free items - usually sugar free cakes - in the past and they did not come out as well as I had hoped. The were usually too thick.

I should have worried about eating too much at one time. I should have checked the carb count. I guess the taste made me want more than just a serving (that is my excuse and I am standing by it). 

Here is the front of the box. I wondered how many times the front of the box was way better than it actually looked when one made it. It was one of the reasons that I bought it. The other reason was because it was sugar free. Another reason was I miss having brownies. 

Here is the back of the box with the instructions and variations on the recipe. It wasn't complicated at all. It was way easier than I thought it would be. 

I might try the variation. It looks and sounds good too. I will check their website to see if there are any other variations. 

Pillsbury

Pillsbury Baking Sugar Free.

This shows the carb and other related information. I should have read this part before eating half of the batch I made. My brother ate the other half of the batch. It shows that sugar free doesn't mean carb free. One has to do portion control when one is a diabetic.

When one does a sugar free item, the results can vary from brand to brand and to what sugar substitute one uses. This came out way better than expected. It was a lot easier to make than I realized it would. It was so good that I put aside good judgement and ate half the batch. I am grateful that my brother ate the other half; otherwise, I would have eaten too. 

I took a photo of this site even though it doesn't show a lot. I thought I would include it anyway. 

Thomas Lee Mullins

I have been a diabetic since 1989. 

TomLeeM at Cafe Press

Just A Pinch - Diabetic Recipes?

I did a search for recipes that are good for diabetics. I cam across this site. It is a diabetic section of Just A Pinch.  It will be checking it out and trying some of the recipes. I hope to post the efforts and results of some of those attempts on this blog.

The pictures make it look really good. I am hoping that my results looks as good as the ones in the photos. I think food should be visually appealing as well as taste good. If it looks bad, one is unlikely to eat it no matter how good it might taste.

There seems to be a big variety of recipes. I think that is good since it would be boring to eat the same thing all the time. One can get discouraged if one thinks that one has to eat the same thing all the time. I thin variety is the spice of life.

Here are some photos of foods from their site. I am not sure what they are but they look good. Each recipe at the site seems to have a photo; one that makes it appealing - IMO.

photos from the site with the diabetic recipes. 

Thomas Lee Mullins 

I have been a diabetic since 1989.

Cafe Press and TomLeeM

Sugar Free No Always Carbohydrate Free

I have learned that just because something is sugar free does not mean it is also carbohydrate free. One should not just check to see if it is sugar free but also check to see how much carbohydrates it has.

One should also check the serving size and how many carbohydrates for each serving. It may seem like a low carbohydrate per serving when the serving is small and consuming the whole contents might mean eating more carbohydrates than what one realizes.

I had eaten some sugar free chocolates. It was a small package with a handful of pieces in it. Since it was late and I checked my blood sugar level before I had consumed it, the next morning my blood sugar level was higher than expected.

I have eaten some sugar free gummy bears that had a lot more carbohydrates than I realized. It would be great for when ones sugar level was low and needed a boost; not from any added sugar but from the amount of carbohydrates it had. When one blood sugar is not low, one has to be careful how much one eats at one time. 

Just because something is no sugar added does not mean it does not have a lot of sugar in it. There are products are labeled with no sugar added since the other ingredients have their own sugar; like milk used in no sugar added ice cream.


The best advice would be from ones primary care physician and/or a diabetic educator. Getting advice is good but getting them from the above is even better and they can adapt it to ones personal needs. One can control ones diabetes better with the knowledge they can give.

American Diabetes Association. 

a great resource for diabetes. 

Big Goofy Guy

needs work but better than before

My Diabetic Page

My Art On Items For Sale

my Cafe Press store

Diabetic medicine from the venom of a platypus?

New Atlas has an article about the research - The University of Adelaide -  of find a way to help diabetics using the venom from a platypus. I think this is very unique but I hope it works. The article indicates there is much research to be done before diabetics could use it but I am hoping that future diabetics will be able to benefit their efforts.

BBC also an article on it. PHYS.ORG also has an article. 

Maple Grove Farms of Vermont Sugar Free Pancake & Waffle Mix?

I was looking for pancake mix when I came across this. I like to make pancakes for breakfast. Since I am also a diabetic, I look for things that would fit into my meal plan. I found a box of sugar free pancake / waffle mix by Maple Grove Farms of Vermont. It is not a big box like other pancake / waffle mixes. It does have a nice look to the box. I like that there is a bag inside that one can reseal.

I tried portion control. It indicated that a serving was 1/4 cup. I also reduced the eggs from 2 to 1. I added a little vegetable oil. I made three pancakes. I tried the first one by itself. I thought it was pretty good. It was not as 'fluffy' as the second and third one. I tried the second one with some butter on it. It was pretty good. The third one I heated a slice of meat with a cheese plus a little bit of sugar free syrup and butter that I heated. It was really good. They were not as thick as the ones I usually make. I think this is a delicious way to help reduce the amount of sugar in ones diet. 

I like to add things to the pancake mix before putting it on the pan. One time I added mushrooms, another time I added peas and carrots and another time cubed meat. I like being creative with it. I will be doing this with the mix above. It is good to start with a 'base' that tastes good.

With diabetes, one needs to have a meal plan that controls ones intake. This could include regular food but eaten with portion control. My recommendation is that one should check with ones diabetic educator and / or primary physician before starting any diet  or meal plan. What works for one person might not work with another. 

I think the American Diabetes Association is a great group to support since they support diabetics. They have a lot of helpful information at their site.