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Yesterday was\u00a0World Diabetes Day<\/strong> and November is\u00a0Diabetes Awareness Month<\/strong>, but not everybody knows this. \u00a0To be honest, if I didn\u2019t have diabetes myself, I might not know it either.\u00a0 And if I were really honest, I might acknowledge that if I didn\u2019t have diabetes, I might not care much about today or November or raising awareness.\u00a0 I don\u2019t like to admit it, but it\u2019s true.\u00a0 And I daresay I am in good company.\u00a0 Diabetes is one of the most prevalent diseases in our society and it\u2019s on the rise, so it should be on everyone\u2019s radar.\u00a0 But in some ways, it\u2019s the very commonness of the disease that makes us less aware.\u00a0 We all know someone living with diabetes, and oftentimes they seem to be doing just fine.\u00a0 Sure, they have to watch their diet, and maybe they have to take a little insulin or other medication, but other than that, it\u2019s no big deal, right?<\/p>\n Wrong.\u00a0 (You knew that was coming!).\u00a0 Many people are indeed managing their diabetes well, but the vast majority are probably not.\u00a0 Because in reality, watching your diet, getting enough exercise and taking insulin in the correct amounts at the correct times are not easy things to do. Let\u2019s face it, we live in a world of sweet temptations and unhealthy options, and we\u2019re so busy with life that getting moving is often low on the priority list.\u00a0 If you are unused to healthy habits, it can be incredibly difficult to find a way to manage your blood glucose levels.\u00a0 It\u2019s difficult enough even when you are used to healthy eating and deeply committed to exercise, take it from me.\u00a0 And diabetes is a progressive disease, meaning that it gets harder and harder to manage as our bodies age.\u00a0 So even those of us who, to all outward appearances, are managing well enough now, the future of our disease is uncertain.<\/p>\n So I decided it was time to take a little action and do some awareness raising.\u00a0 Because\u00a0diabetes awareness and education<\/strong>\u00a0is the key to prevention.\u00a0 This year, I enlisted the help of many other food bloggers.\u00a0 I put out the call for a unified front on\u00a0World Diabetes Day<\/strong>\u00a0and I was thrilled and delighted that so many wonderful bloggers took up my challenge.\u00a0 My requirements for their participation were simple or so I thought.\u00a0 I only asked that they discussed diabetes awareness, talked about how diabetes has touched their lives, and created a\u00a0diabetic-friendly recipe<\/strong>\u00a0to highlight the subject of the day. \u00a0\u00a0 The requirement for a\u00a0diabetic friendly recipe<\/strong>\u00a0appeared to be the most challenging part of the requirements.\u00a0 Most of the participants are not low carb food writers, because really, that would be preaching to the choir.\u00a0 Instead, I turned to the food blogging community at large, and I simply tasked them to make a recipe that contained no added sugars, no flour and no starches.\u00a0 I did not require that it specifically be low carb, so fruits and other healthy but higher carb things were acceptable.\u00a0 I thought this would give everyone plenty of leeway, but I did receive a lot of questions and requests for guidance.\u00a0 And really, who can blame them?\u00a0 Learning to cook and bake without the flours and sugars you are used to\u2026it\u2019s like entering an alternate universe.\u00a0 Still, I am touched at the wonderful response I received and I hope you will take the time to check out each and every one of their recipes.\u00a0 Because they tried and that was all I was asking them to do.<\/p>\n I also enlisted the help of a sponsor for this event, because I wanted it to be big and I wanted it to catch people\u2019s attention.<\/p>\n Swerve Sweetener<\/a>\u00a0generously offered to give away Swerve Gift Packs on the blogs of any bloggers who wanted to participate.\u00a0 But they also agreed to host a big giveaway here on All Day I Dream About Food.\u00a0 A beautiful, big 5-quart\u00a0KitchenAid Stand Mixer<\/strong>\u00a0in a gorgeous shade of blue, because blue is the color of diabetes awareness.\u00a0 You are free to enter all of the giveaways, both here and on all the other blogs who chose to participate.<\/p>\n So please do me the honour take this time to check out all the amazing recipes created by my participating bloggers, because I am so touched that they all wanted to take part and to take a stab at creating a\u00a0diabetic-friendly recipe<\/strong>\u00a0for World Diabetes Day.<\/p>\n Also helping spread the word is\u00a0Molly Kimball of Get the Skinny<\/strong>.\u00a0 She kindly mentioned our little initiative on her show this morning.\u00a0http:\/\/www.abc26.com\/health\/gettheskinny\/wgno-get-the-skinny-on-four-carbcutting-swaps-20121114,0,5549593.story<\/a><\/p>\n The CDC estimates that almost 26 million Americans have diabetes and another 79 million have pre-diabetes.\u00a0 I likely fall into this second category, but as far as I am concerned, it\u2019s all diabetes and needs to be treated as such.\u00a0 It can happen to anyone, at any time.\u00a0 Please do not consider yourself or your loved ones exempt \u2013 I have no risk factors for diabetes, no family history, and yet here I am.<\/p>\n If my story helps even one person recognize their risk for diabetes and take action now, then I have achieved my goals of raising awareness.\u00a0 Help me spread the word<\/em>.<\/p>\n The Bloggers and Their Recipes:<\/strong><\/p>\n *please note, some links my not be live right away \u2013 different time zones, different posting requirements, etc.!<\/em><\/p>\n Yankee Beware Soup by Boulder Locavore<\/a><\/p>\n Flourless Chocolate Tart from In Katrina\u2019s Kitchen<\/a>\u00a0(Swerve Giveaway)<\/p>\n Rosemary Roasted Carrots from Oh My Veggies!<\/a><\/p>\n Cranberry Cheesecake from Roxana\u2019s Home Baking<\/a>\u00a0(Swerve Giveaway)<\/p>\n Date and Balsamic Glazed Brussel Sprouts from Diabetic Foodie<\/a><\/p>\n Sugar-Free, Gluten-Free Chocolate Cupcakes<\/a><\/p>\n Cranberry Chutney from Taking On Magazines<\/a><\/p>\n Healthy 4 Bean Chili from RavieNomNoms<\/a><\/p>\n Greek Tuna Salad from Bake Your Day<\/a><\/p>\n Cashew Chicken Lettuce Wraps from The Spiffy Cookie<\/a>\u00a0(Swerve Giveaway)<\/p>\n Guilt Free Hot Cocoa from Thindulge Yourself<\/a>\u00a0(Swerve Giveaway)<\/p>\n Green Beans, Bacons and Mushrooms from Cookin\u2019 Canuck<\/a><\/p>\n Clam Chowder in a Bread Bowl from Maria\u2019s Delicious and Nutritious Journal<\/a>\u00a0(Swerve Giveaway)<\/p>\n Low Carb German Chocolate Cake Bars from Living Low Carb One Day at a Time<\/a><\/p>\n Sweet Spiced Winter Squash Casserole from Jeanette\u2019s Healthy Living<\/a><\/p>\n Shredded Chicken Taco Meat form Ditch the Wheat<\/a><\/p>\n Spicy Chili Lime Yogurt Dip from Dinners, Dishes and Desserts<\/a>\u00a0(Swerve Giveaway)<\/p>\n Eggplant with Roasted Cashew Cream from Cara\u2019s Cravings<\/a><\/p>\n A Lunch to Remember from the Food Poet<\/a><\/p>\n Cannellini and Turkey Meatball Soup from Simply Gourmet<\/a><\/p>\n Roasted Harvest Vegetables from A Spicy Perspective<\/a><\/p>\n Peanut Butter Cranberry Bites from Diethood<\/a>\u00a0(Swerve Giveaway)<\/p>\n Mango and Blackberry Cobbler from I Wash\u2026You Dry<\/a>\u00a0(Swerve Giveaway)<\/p>\n Grand Marnier Cranberry Sauce from Liv Life<\/a>\u00a0(Swerve Giveaway)<\/p>\n Kale and Brussels Sprouts Salad from Eats Well with Others<\/a><\/p>\n Buckwheat Applesauce Muffins from GF Doctor<\/a><\/p>\n Gluten Free Quinoa Almond Coconut Cookie from Sue\u2019s Nutrition Buzz<\/a><\/p>\n Savory Roasted Tomato and Manchego Cheese Clafoutis from Cake Duchess<\/a>\u00a0(Swerve Giveaway)<\/p>\n Orange Chicken from Foodness Gracious<\/a><\/p>\n from The Healthy Voyager<\/a>\u00a0(Swerve Giveaway)<\/p>\n Pumpkin Bars from Kate\u2019s Healthy Cupboard<\/a>\u00a0(Swerve Giveaway)<\/p>\n Foil-Baked Steamed Fish from Blog Appetit<\/a><\/p>\n Hearty Bean and Veggie Chili from PartTime Housewife<\/a><\/p>\n Cherry Pistachio Cookies from Cravings of a Lunatic<\/a>\u00a0(Swerve Giveaway)<\/p>\n Greek Chicken Quinoa Salad from The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen<\/a><\/p>\n Rice Bowl with Pecans, Green Beans and Oranges from The Purple Oven Mitt<\/a>\u00a0(Swerve Giveaway)<\/p>\n Shrimp and Artichoke Frittata from Seasonal and Savory<\/a><\/p>\n from Zesty South Indian Kitchen<\/a>\u00a0(Swerve Giveaway)<\/p>\n The Giveaway:\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Win this gorgeous 5 Quart KitchenAid Stand Mixer in Cornflower Blue (the colour of diabetes awareness).<\/p>\n![\"Glucometer\"](\"http:\/\/alldayidreamaboutfood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/004.jpg\" "\\"004\\"")
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