FCS3-542: Diabetes and Hemoglobin A1C

Anna Cason, Ingrid Adams | February 26, 2025 (Minor Revision)

Hemoglobin A1C is a measure of average blood-glucose levels over the past two to three months. Health-care providers sometimes reference hemoglobin A1C as “HbA1C” or “A1C.” These names all mean the same thing.

FCS3-543: Diabetes and High Blood Pressure

Anna Cason, Ingrid Adams | February 26, 2025 (Minor Revision)

Diabetes increases the risk for developing high blood pressure, or hypertension. High blood pressure means your heart works harder to pump blood through your body. This increases the risk for heart disease and stroke. It also increases the risk of diabetes complications, including kidney disease, eye problems that may lead to blindness, and nerve problems.

FCS3-540: Managing Diabetes

Anna Cason, Ingrid Adams | January 30, 2025 (Reviewed)

Diabetes is a condition in which the body cannot properly use glucose for energy. This causes glucose to build up in the blood. High levels of blood glucose can result in health conditions such as heart disease, kidney disease, nerve damage, and more. There are several known benefits of managing diabetes appropriately.

FCS3-539: Understanding Diabetes

Anna Cason, Ingrid Adams | January 24, 2025 (Major Revision)

Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects how your body changes food into energy. Most of the food we eat is turned into glucose, a simple sugar, which is released into our blood. The pancreas makes a hormone called insulin in response to rising blood-sugar levels to help glucose get into the cells of the body. Think of insulin as a key to cells: When insulin is around, the glucose can enter. These cells use this glucose as energy. With diabetes, the body either doesn’t make enough insulin or the cells can’t effectively use the insulin that is made. When there is insufficient insulin, glucose builds up in the blood rather than entering cells, which leads to high blood sugar. Chronically elevated levels of blood sugar have an impact on health. Medication and lifestyle changes are ways to manage blood-glucose levels.

FCS3-104: Lactose Intolerance

Sandra Bastin | November 12, 2024 (Major Revision)

Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest lactose, the natural sugar found in most dairy products. Lactase, an enzyme our bodies produce, breaks down lactose into simpler units during digestion. Some people do not produce enough lactase or do not produce lactase at all. In this case, the lactose does not get broken down into smaller units. Instead, the lactose is fermented in the colon. This fermentation process often produces common symptoms of lactose intolerance, including bloating, abdominal gas or pain, diarrhea, and nausea.

FCS3-571: Fiber: Are You Bulking Up on the Benefits?

Ingrid Adams | November 12, 2024 (Major Revision)

You may have heard you should eat more fiber, but do you know why? Fiber, in adequate amounts, decreases the risk for heart disease, supports blood sugar management, improves digestive health, and contributes to weight management.

FCS3-574: Cholesterol 101

Ingrid Adams, Anna Cason | October 15, 2024 (Major Revision)

Cholesterol is a fat-like substance found in all cells of the body. Our bodies naturally make cholesterol. Foods we eat can also impact the levels in our blood. Cholesterol is needed for the body to function properly, but too much cholesterol in our blood can have an impact on our health.

FCS3-555: Probiotics: Friendly Bacteria

Ingrid Adams, Anna Cason | October 14, 2024 (Major Revision)

Probiotics are live microorganisms, mainly bacteria and some yeasts, that may provide some health benefits. They also help to digest the foods we eat. “Probiotic” is a broad term for many different living organisms that can be found in foods, drinks, and supplements. The type and number of bacteria in our guts can change depending on our consumption of these items, in addition to other factors including health status, antibiotic and medication use, where we live, and even stress levels. Many of these probiotics found in food sources and supplements are like the bacteria found naturally in our bodies.

FCS3-643: Adding Up Vitamin A in the Diet

Heather Norman-Burgdolf | August 16, 2024 (New)

What do sweet potatoes and beef liver have in common? They are both excellent sources of vitamin A. We need this vitamin for vision, immunity, growth, development, and helping our heart and lungs to work well.

FCS3-644: Vitamin E for Everyone

Heather Norman-Burgdolf | August 16, 2024 (New)

We are exposed to harmful chemicals in our environment each day that can cause free radicals. These could be from cigarette smoke, pollution, or even too much sun. Our body processes can even create free radicals. This matters because free radicals can cause damage to our cells. There are several nutrients found in abundance in foods that can help minimize free radicals in our body. One of those nutrients is vitamin E.