The End of Diabetes: The Eat to Live Plan to Prevent and Reverse Diabetes

The holiday season is here, and this year I’m going to be a little bit selfish: it’s the right time to ask for things I wouldn’t necessarily buy for myself! It’s also a enormous time to treat yourself. After another exhausting year of managing diabetes, we deserve it!

I asked friends, coworkers, and members of the Diabetes Daily community for their diabetes-related Christmas wishlists. These are some of the products that have been helping them live their best lives while managing their condition.

Sugar Medical

Function meets fashion with this brand that offers beautifully designed bags, cases, adhesives, and more. If you are planning a long trip or hike, you can keep your supplies organized and at the right temperature with insulated bags, backpacks, and cooling circumstances. And if you’re looking for something you can carry daily, they have purses and cases that look right out of a department store catalog – with pockets optimized for diabetes supplies – and all at a reasonable price point. 

InPen

This product has been a lifesaver for me, because I prefer multiple daily injections over utilizing an insulin pump, but still want to track my insulin usage in detail. It digitally connects to an app on your phone and has many capabilities that a pump offers, such as calculating insulin dosage. The InPen also integrates with the Dexcom continuous glucose monitor, allowing it to report on trends. Your insurance may cover most of the cost. I wrote a review that anyone who prefers shots should check out. 

Babysitters Club books

If you grew up with diabetes, you might remember that the megapopular Babysitter’s Club book series featured a main character with type 1: Stacey McGill. Stacey’s diabetes was a frequent topic, and at least a couple of the books, like Stacey’s Emergency, addressed her struggles with her condition in detail.

Little readers with type 1 might enjoy the books too. You’ve got a lot of options – you can find huge sets of the books on ebay and on used book websites. The earliest books – still available in retro styling – have also been revived as a series of graphic novels by super trendy artist Raina Telgemeier. Both sets feature The Truth About Stacey, the first book to fully explore Stacey’s diabetes.

Glowcose

I was so excited to see this cross my newsfeed thanks to a member of the diabetes online community. This device is basically a soft lamp that changes colors according to your glucose levels by syncing up with your Dexcom CGM. I would put this in my bedroom – imagine opening your eyes in the middle of the night and immediately knowing if you’re in range or need to troubleshoot without fumbling with a smartphone! It only costs , and it’s in high demand. As of this writing, they’re out of stock, but hopefully will be filling orders soon!

Medical alert bracelet

There are a lot of options out there when it comes to wearing your medical id. It’s the responsible thing to do. Road Id is super durable and great for anyone active or looking for something plain. If you are looking for something more ornate, be sure to check out Lauren’s Hope, which offers a beautiful selection of fashionable bracelets at reasonable prices.

Apple Watch Series 7

Source: Dexcom

The new Apple Watch was created to bring users the largest display screen yet without increasing the dimensions of the watch. This model is also the most durable yet, it is water-resistant, crack-resistant, and dust-resistant. Most importantly for us, it is compatible with the Dexcom G6 – as long as you’re already an iPhone user – and lets you check your blood sugar with a mere glance at the risk. Athletes and biohackers love that the model also allows you to check your blood oxygen level, take an ECG, and check your heart velocity. This is the first item on my wish list this year! 

Alert ID Tag 

If you’re putting an Apple Watch under the tree, make sure to include a personalized alert tag. This is made with high-quality steel and will last forever!

Fossil Gen 5 Carlyle Stainless Steel Touchscreen Smartwatch

The Fossil Gen 5 is a less expensive alternative. It’s powered by Google Wear and compatible with both Android and iPhone. You can check your heart rate and activity tracking using Google Fit. It also has GPS and distance tracking, which is great for runners and walkers to keep track of their progress. No CGM compatibility, unfortunately, but still a pretty neat toy.

Cuisinart Air Fryer

If you are looking to make delicious food without consuming extra fat and calories, you should consider purchasing an air fryer. It works by using a convection mechanism to achieve a crispy coating due to air circulating at high speed, which allows you to use significantly less oil to achieve the same browning effect and flavor. Diabetes food blogs are full of air fryer recipes, lately, making this seem more and more like a necessity. I wrote a glowing review and absolutely recommend the Cuisinart Air Fryer. It also operates as a toaster and oven, which is why I got rid of my old toaster and created space for this!

Peloton Bike

If you like the idea of friendly competition and the sense of community when it comes to your fitness experience, but prefer to be at home, this is a great option for you. You can get a great online streaming workout by an experienced instructor and you can also try out some of their non-bike workouts when you subscribe. While it’s an expensive purchase and subscription-based, if you are shelling out money weekly at spin studios, you could easily spend the same amount as the initial payment in just months. This is a splurge that I could definitely go for myself.

I welcome any technology or tools that can facilitate make my life easier. 

What items made your wish list this year that will help you live a better life with diabetes? Share and comment below!

Diabetes Daily

The End of Diabetes: The Eat to Live Plan to Prevent and Reverse Diabetes