Author: christinasmithdd

Hi! My name is Christina, I am 21 years old, and I have recently started blogging about diabetes! I was diagnosed when I was 5 years old and have developed a passion for helping others cope with the demands of this condition. I am studying to become a Naturopathic Nutritionist so I can help people with a wide variety of conditions. Please follow my blog 'Defying Diabetes' for interesting and educational content!
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Diet, Recipes

Turmeric Latte Recipe

christinasmithdd

Here is a turmeric latte recipe which is delicious and perfect for the winter months! This is also a great coffee alternative if you are looking to cut down on caffeine.

Turmeric and ginger have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, providing many health benefits! Cinnamon adds an earthy flavour, while aiding blood glucose balance by promoting insulin sensitivity.

Serves 1/2

Macros:

Calories: 72
Carbohydrates: 9.6g
of which sugars: 7g
Fibre: 1g
Protein: 1.5g
Fat: 3.5g

Ingredients:

turmeric latte recipe
  • 350ml almond or oat milk
  • 1/4 tsp ground turmeric
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla essence
  • 1/4 tsp ground ginger
  • 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp organic honey
  • Grind of black pepper (which aids the absorption of turmeric!)

Turmeric Latte Method:

1.Put all of the ingredients into either a milk frother or a saucepan.

2. If you are using a saucepan, continuously whisk on gentle heat until the milk is hot.

3. Now pour into your mug.

4. Next, enjoy! 🙂

Turmeric latte

Thank you for reading the Turmeric Latte Recipe, make sure you give it a go! Be sure to subscribe and follow me on Instagram!

If you liked this post, be sure to check out Coffee and diabetes and Spiced Pumpkin Cappuccino Cake!

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Uncategorized

Happy New Year from Defying Diabetes!

christinasmithdd

Happy New Year from Defying Diabetes, I hope you celebrated and had fun!

I wish you happiness and remember to not get too bogged down in The New Year’s Resolution ‘hype’!

person holding lighted firecracker

Remember to check out How to set sustainable goals for yourself! and my Simple guide to fitness with diabetes!

Be sure to subscribe and follow me on Instagram!

Recipes

Praline Yule Log Recipe!

christinasmithdd

Every Christmas I love to make a Yule Log as a treat, so here is my Praline Yule Log recipe! This is super fun to make with your family and is a great way to start the festive season.

Keep reading for the rest of the recipe and macros!

Serves 10

Macros:

Calories: 374
Carbohydrates: 54g
of which sugars: 43g
Fibre: 2g
Protein: 11g
Fat: 22.5g

Ingredients:

For the sponge:

  • 3 medium eggs (use large if using gluten free flour)
  • 85g golden caster sugar
  • 85g plain flour
  • 2 tbsp cocoa powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder

For the filling and ganache:

  • 200ml whipping cream, or Oatly whippable
  • 150g dark chocolate (70%)
  • 1 tbsp runny honey
  • Pinch Himalayan salt
  • 50g Nutella

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees. Grease and line a 23 x 32cm tin with baking paper.

2. Next, use an electric whisk to beat the eggs and sugar together for around 5 minutes (until fluffy).

whisk eggs - praline yule log

3. Fold in the flour, cocoa powder and baking powder until completely combined.

4. Spread the cake mixture into the tin and bake for around 10-12 minutes. Once it is cooked, set the cake aside to cool.

5. For the ganache, gently heat the cream in a saucepan until it is warm. Take it off the heat and break the dark chocolate into the cream. Once this is combined add the honey and a pinch of salt.

ganache - praline yule log

6. Let the ganache sit for 1 minute, then place it in the fridge for 20-30 minutes. Next, use an electric whisk to whip the ganache for around 2 minutes.

7. Lay a piece of baking paper on the counter and dust lightly with icing sugar. Lay out the sponge and spread on a generous layer of Nutella. Next, spread a layer of ganache on top of the Nutella.

Nutella Praline Yule log

8. Starting with the end furthest from you, roll up the cake keeping it as tight as possible.

9. Once rolled, transfer the Yule Log onto your serving plate. Now spread the remaining ganache over the top, use a fork to create a ripple effect.

10. Sprinkle the Yule Log with icing sugar and your chosen Christmas decorations.

11. Next, enjoy! 🙂

praline yule log

Thank you for reading my Praline Yule Log Recipe! Give this festive treat a go and be sure to subscribe and follow me on Instagram!

If you liked this post be sure to check out Homemade mince pie recipe! and How to stay on track this Christmas!

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Recipes

5 Christmas Dinner Tips!

christinasmithdd

Here are 5 Christmas dinner tips to make your meal extra special. For me each component of the Christmas dinner plate needs to be jazzed up to bring the meal together!

1. Seasoning your meat

Roast turkey - Christmas dinner tips

I think it is vital to add some flavours and seasonings to the meat to make it more interesting!

Place the bird on a large piece of foil. Stuff it with half a lemon and 5 cloves of garlic (or one per person).

On the exterior, coat with butter, turmeric, smoked paprika, garlic granules, salt and black pepper. Squeeze the other half of the lemon over the top.

Next, roast according to the size of the bird.

Before serving, let it rest in fresh foil and top with fresh rosemary.

2. How to Brussel up your sprouts

Brussels are probably the most hated part on the Christmas dinner plate. That’s why I add some flavours so (nearly) everyone likes them!

Firstly, steam your Brussels for 5 minutes.

Next, fry off some lardons, then add the Brussels (cut in half), 1 crushed garlic clove, chestnuts, oregano and black pepper.

3. Honey glazed carrots and parsnips

Peel the carrots/parsnips and chop them in half vertically. Put them in the roasting tray and drizzle of olive oil, roast for around 25 minutes.

Take them out and drizzle with honey and a dash of white wine vinegar. Roast for a further 15-20 minutes.

Add some sesame seeds before serving!

4. Jazzing up your potatoes

Potatoes - Christmas dinner tips

The key to delicious roast potatoes is all down to par-boiling them before roasting.

Wash and peel your potatoes, then add boiling water to the saucepan. Allow them to boil for around 8 minutes. In the mean time, heat the roasting tray with plenty of olive oil.

Next, drain the potatoes and toss them in the warm oil. Add a pinch of salt, black pepper, oregano and powdered garlic.

Now roast them for 1 hour on 200 degrees.

Once they are cooked, add a generous sprinkle of sesame seeds!

5. Roasted onion gravy

Gravy brings the whole plate together and adds moisture to each component of the dish. I love to add some onion to add richness to the plate.

To do this, peel and cut 1 or 2 large while onions in half and roast them with the potatoes, carrots and parsnips for 25-30 minutes.

Once they are cooked, use a sharp knife to cut them into slithers.

After you have made the gravy, stir the onions in with a generous crack of black pepper.

onions - Christmas dinner tips

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If you liked this post, be sure to check out How to stay on track this Christmas! and Christmas activity ideas!

Recipes

Bang Bang Cauliflower for the Festive Season!

christinasmithdd

Here is my bang bang cauliflower recipe, which is perfect to make for a festive buffet. You can even use your leftover cauliflower from your roast dinner!

Serves 4

Macros:

Calories: 58
Carbohydrates: 8g
of which sugars: 4g
Fibre: 2.5g
Protein: 3g
Fat: 2g

Ingredients:

1/2 Cauliflower
2 Spring onions

For the sauce:
2 tsps grated fresh ginger
2 crushed garlic cloves
1/2 tbsp sesame oil
1 tsp ketchup
1 tsp honey
Drizzle white rice vinegar
1/2 small red chilli
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
1 tbsp soy sauce
Sesame seeds for garnish
Fresh coriander for garnish

Method:

1.Chop the cauliflower into small florets. Dry fry the cauliflower on a medium heat for around 2 minutes to give it colour.

dry fry, bang bang cauliflower

2. Next, add the sesame oil and a splash of water, lower the heat and let the cauliflower soften for around 5 minutes.

3. While the cauliflower is cooking, add all of the sauce ingredients into a bowl and mix until combined.

4. Add the sauce and 1 chopped spring onion into the pan, heat this through for around 1 minute.

5. Serve into a bowl and garnish with the remaining spring onion, coriander and sesame seeds.

6. Next, enjoy! 🙂

bang bang cauliflower

Thank you for reading 3 Festive Canapés for this Christmas! Be sure to subscribe and follow me on Instagram!

If you liked this post, be sure to check out 3 must make Christmas canapés! and Ginger Cookies you have to make this Christmas!

man inside vehicle
Education on Diabetes

Driving and Type 1 diabetes

christinasmithdd

People living with type 1 diabetes have to take extra precaution before driving. This post will cover what people living with t1d have to do in the UK.

Legal Requirements

Firstly, you have to declare to the DVLA that you have diabetes. This will not stop you from driving, they just need to know about any medical conditions.

People living with diabetes also have to renew their licences more frequently. This is so the DVLA can monitor any diabetic complications, or lack of hypo awareness.

check sugar levels - driving and type 1 diabetes

These are the legal requirements in the UK:

  • Check your blood sugars no longer than 2 hours before driving (really you should be checking just before)
  • Check your blood sugars every 2 hours on a long journey
  • Always carry sugary snacks and slow releasing carbs (snack bar, sandwich, etc)

If you have a hypo while driving

  • Pull over and stop when it is safe
  • Remove the keys from the ignition
  • Get out of the driver’s seat
  • Check blood sugars and treat the hypo
  • Do not drive for 45 minutes AFTER you feel better (this allows brain to fully recover so you can drive safely)

Car snack ideas

You also have to have access to hypo snacks in your door pocket. It needs to be a large opened bag so you can reach down easily and eat.

snacks for hypo's - driving and type 1 diabetes

Here are some ideas, I prefer to have dried fruit rather than sweets all the time.

  • Dried mango
  • Raisins, cranberries, dates
  • Fruit pastels
  • Sweets of choice

Thank you for reading Driving and Type 1 diabetes! I hope this was useful, be sure to subscribe and follow me on Instagram!

If you liked this post, be sure to check out Top tips on alcohol consumption and diabetes control! and Restaurants and Diabetes 101

Recipes

Orange & Mustard Chicken Pasta

christinasmithdd

Here is my delicious Orange & Mustard Chicken Pasta, this dish is so fresh and perfect for this time of year! This is also super easy to make, so it will become a staple recipe for you!

Serves 2

Macros:

Calories: 742
Carbohydrates: 88g
of which sugars: 16g
Fibre: 5.5g
Protein: 56g
Fat: 17g

Ingredients:

  • Juice of 2 oranges
  • 2 tablespoons mustard
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 chicken breast
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 tsp Paprika
  • 1 tsp Oregano
  • 200ml chicken stock
  • 30g flaked almonds
  • 150g dried fusilli pasta
  • 125g broccoli
  • 1 large white onion
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 3 handfuls of rocket
  • Salt and black pepper

Method:

1. Chop the broccoli, onion and garlic.

prep - chicken pasta

2. Next, cube the chicken into a large saucepan and brown with 1 tbsp olive oil. Once the chicken is browned, add the broccoli, onion, garlic and season with paprika, oregano, salt and pepper. Fry this off for around 5 minutes.

3. Now add the stock, soy sauce, orange juice, mustard and let this simmer for around 10 minutes. Cook the pasta while this is simmering.

reducing stock - orange & mustard chicken pasta

4. Once the pasta is cooked and the stock has reduced by half, stir the pasta and almonds into the chicken. Let this combine for a minute or two.

5. Once it is combined, serve up the pasta. Garnish with fresh rocket and grate some fresh orange zest over the top.

6. Next, enjoy! 🙂

orange and mustard chicken pasta

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If you liked this post, be sure to check out Jamie Oliver’s Jerk Chicken Recipe and Butternut Squash soup recipe!

faceless couple with cups of coffee and roses in cafeteria
Education on Diabetes, Parents

How to tell people you have diabetes

christinasmithdd

Telling people you are living with diabetes can be hard, especially if it’s someone you care about, or you have recently been diagnosed.

Even if it feels difficult, the people around you must know so they can support you. Here are my tips!

Choose a familiar place

tell people you are living with diabetes

Choosing somewhere you feel safe will help you to feel more relaxed during the conversation. This can be at home or your favourite cafe/restaurant.

You can also bring the topic up casually, it doesn’t have to feel serious. I often tell people when we are talking about food or exercise. For example I’ll say ‘I like to exercise because it helps me to control my sugar levels, I have type 1 diabetes’. Then the conversation goes on from there.

Keep it simple

Most people won’t fully understand what living with diabetes means, so you need to use easy language for them to understand.

You can use stuff like:
– ‘My sugar levels can go high and low’
– ‘When they go high I need insulin’
– ‘When they go low I need to eat sugar’

Tell people how to support you

Tell them what you might need. For example, sometimes your sugar levels will influence your food choices or you might need them to go for a walk with you.

I also tell people that I will let them know if i need anything, rather than having people constantly asking if I’m ok. This puts the control in your hands, and stops you feeling overwhelmed.

Be prepared to answer questions

question about diabetes

Everyone will have questions, this is vital to their understanding, and in my opinion the best way to raise awareness.

Questions will often be about your diagnosis, what you eat or about taking insulin etc. From my experience most questions are positive, however sometimes people might ask you a questions that comes off as negative. If this happens, reinforce that people living with diabetes can achieve anything, just with a little more preparation.

For more information, check out my post Dealing with annoying questions about diabetes.

*Remember to only have conversations when you are ready, but getting things off your chest is important too. If you are worried someone is going to judge you or treat you differently after, maybe you need to question their importance in your life rather than hiding your diabetes. Please email me if you need anything!

Thank you for reading How to tell people you have diabetes, email me any questions you have. Be sure to subscribe and follow me on Instagram!

If you liked this post, be sure to check out Tips on teaching children to inject and 10 facts about Type 1 diabetes!

Top Tips

How to Stop CGM’s from falling off

christinasmithdd

Diabetic sensors falling off can be super annoying. It can make supplies run out quickly, increase the burden of living with type 1 and can cost a lot!

Here are my top tips for making sure they stay on until they expire!

1. Keep the skin clear

keep area dry to prevent CGM falling off

Before applying your sensor, make sure the area is clean and dry. Do not use any creams, lotions or fake tan before.

Also be aware of getting it wet or exercising right before or after applying the sensor. It can cause the glue to not stick down. I would advise waiting 1 hour before/after applying so the glue can set.

2. Sensor Placement

Learning where to place your sensor will come with experience. When I first started using the FreeStyle Libre I would put it on the side of my arm. I quickly learnt this is a prime spot for it to catch on a door frame. Now I place it further around the back to prevent this from happening.

Placement depends on the type of CGM/FGM you are using, so have an experiment and see what works best for you.

3. Wear extra support when needed

When you are doing activities that makes a sensor falling off more likely you can put another layer over the sensor. This may swimming or going to the beach etc.

Some people like to use big stickers that cover the whole sensor and upper arm, medical tape can also work well.

I personally like to carry a libre band with me so I can put this on quickly and take it off easily (what I’m wearing in the picture to the right – click here to view on Amazon).

4. Get someone else to apply your suncream

Sun cream can get under sensors very easily, so ask someone else to apply it to the area if possible. This will also ensure the skin is fully covered, preventing sunburns.

5. Be careful in the heat

Intense heat can cause the glue to melt which makes the sensor tug away from the skin. If this happens, move somewhere cool if you can and hold the sensor down until the glue sets and re-sticks.

This happens very quickly in saunas and steam rooms, if you use these keep an eye on your sensor and don’t stay longer than 15 minutes.

sauna - preventing CGM from falling off

*Remember most sensor companies will replace faulty sensors. Contact them to see if you are entitled to a replacement.

Thank you for reading How to stop CGM’s from Falling off, I hope this was useful! Be sure to subscribe and follow me on Instagram!

If you liked this post, be sure to check out Diabetes technology 101! and HbA1c vs time in range