Top Ten diaTribe Articles of All Time

Our readers have spoken! See ten of the most popular diaTribe articles.

To mark our 200th issue and celebrate over ten years of providing actionable content that helps people with diabetes get the information they need to live well, we've selected the ten best articles based on popularity and enduring relevance. 

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10. Low-Cost, Low-Carb – 19 Diabetes Recipes that Fit the Bill 

Cooking can get expensive when being mindful of nutrition, so we’ve put together a list of meals that come in under $3 per serving. Enjoy!

9. 10 Diet Commandments for Better Diabetes Management

In reality, all diet approaches have their pros and cons, whether you’re talking about health effects (e.g., blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol), cost, convenience, or taste. So instead of a “diet,” Adam writes about general strategies, or what this article is calling his “commandments.” These are strategies that keep his blood sugars in range, give him plenty of energy, are transportable to different eating environments, are relatively convenient, and fit within his budget. Use this as a guide for creating your own eating strategies!

8. Top 10 Tips for People Newly Diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes​

These tips focus on acting TODAY for long-term benefits and using healthy eating, exercise, medications, and structured blood glucose testing to guide newly diagnosed people through an overwhelming period. And, if you haven't already read Bright Spots & Landmines: The Diabetes Guide I Wish Someone Had Handed Me, this is also a great resource for anyone newly diagnosed with diabetes. As a bonus, for tips on navigating restaurant menus, see here. 

7. Low Carb vs. High Carb – My Surprising 24-day Diabetes Diet Battle​

Adam compared 12 days of 150 grams of carbs vs. 12 days of 300 grams of carbs per day. Check out the key takeaways from this (n=1) experiment to learn why!

6. Going Beyond A1C – One Outcome Can’t Do It All​

For the FDA and many insurance companies, A1C is currently the “gold standard” used to assess diabetes therapy. But A1C has limits: it cannot capture other critical outcomes that matter to patients on a daily basis. For example, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can be fatal, and yet, A1C tells us nothing about it. This article unpacks why going beyond A1C is important and shares other ways of measuring diabetes success. Learn more and be a part of the Beyond A1C movement! 

5. Dexcom G6 Review: No Fingersticks CGM, One-Button Insertion, and 10-Day Wear​

Editor-in-Chief Kelly Close and Adam Brown team up to review the Dexcom G6 continuous glucose monitor (CGM). They cover what’s great about the G6, what could be even better, and how the new CGM compares to the G5. 

4. Are Blood Glucose Meters Accurate? New Data on 18 Meters

Results from the Diabetes Technology Society’s Blood Glucose Meter Surveillance Program identifies only six out of 18 meters that passed. Did yours make the cut? 

3. Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre Approved in US to Replace Routine Fingersticks​

Abbott's FreeStyle Libre is a flash glucose monitoring system that was the first device to replace the need for routine fingersticks in the US. Since this exciting approval in 2017, the Libre has longer sensor wear time and is also covered by Medicare. 

2. 42 Factors That Affect Blood Glucose?! A Surprising Update​

Of all the topics Adam Brown has covered, one article has resonated with readers more than any other: “How many factors actually affect blood glucose?” Since its publication in 2014, over 100,000 people have viewed that initial list of 22 factors – this article expands on the original, sharing 20 additional factors and a whole new category of factors to consider and conquer!

1. What's a "Normal" A1C? When is it Misleading?

Get all of your questions about A1C answered here! The article covers what A1C measures and why it's used, A1C targets, and situations where numbers can be potentially inaccurate and how to test for them.