Diabetic Lasagna Recipe
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
1 hr
Total Time
1 hr 10 mins
This easy Diabetic Lasagna Recipe is delicious, hearty and healthy. Made with ground turkey and fat-free ricotta. Perfect for an easy weeknight dinner idea.
Course:
Entree
Servings: servings
Calories: 291 kcal
Author: Tiffany Bendayan
Ingredients
1 1/2
lbs
ground turkey breast
1
large onion
chopped
2
cloves
garlic
minced
28
oz
can of crushed tomatoes with NO SALT ADDED
3-4
leaves
basil
chopped
1
teaspoon
dried oregano
9
sheets of Whole Wheat Lasagna Noodles
15
oz
fat-free ricotta cheese
1
egg
2
cups
part skim mozzarella cheese
shredded
2
teaspoons
olive oil
Salt + Pepper
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
Cook noodles according to package instructions*
Drain and place in cold water to stop the cooking process
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil
Add the onions and saute until softened
Add garlic, 1/2 teaspoon of oregano and half of the basil
Add the ground turkey and cook while breaking up the big pieces into little ones
Drain excess liquid and add salt and pepper
Add the tomatoes and cook until the mixture starts boiling. Remove from heat
In another bowl, mix the ricotta cheese, egg, salt, pepper and the other half of the basil
Drain noodles
Place 3 noodles in a 9×13″ rectangular baking pan in a way they cover the bottom of the pan
Add 1/2 of the turkey mixture. Spread evenly
Add 1/2 of the ricotta mixture. Spread evenly
Sprinkle some cheese
Cover with 3 more lasagna noodles
Spread the remaining turkey mixture
Spread the remaining ricotta mixture
Sprinkle some more cheese
Cover with 3 more lasagna noodles
Sprinkle with remaining cheese and dried oregano
Spray a piece of aluminum foil with nonstick spray
Cover lasagna with foil
Bake covered for 45 minutes
Remove foil and bake for 10 minutes
Broil for 2 more minutes or until the top is brown
Remove from oven and let it rest for about 10 minutes before serving
Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
*omit this step if using oven ready noodles
Nutrition Facts
Diabetic Lasagna Recipe
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 291
Calories from Fat 54
% Daily Value*Fat 6g9%Saturated Fat 2g13%Cholesterol 74mg25%Sodium 437mg19%Potassium 492mg14%Carbohydrates 30g10%Fiber 1g4%Sugar 5g6%Protein 29g58%Vitamin A 325IU7%Vitamin C 8.3mg10%Calcium 299mg30%Iron 2.5mg14% * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Happy Valentine’s Day! If you’re like most people, odds are your day will involve some (or a lot) of chocolate and sweets. However, if you’re diabetic or pre-diabetic, you have to be careful about your sugar intake today. In fact, Valentine’s Day is actually the day with the highest average blood glucose levels among people with diabetes.
The numbers were reported by the digital health tracking platform Glooko, a web and mobile application that tracks blood glucose levels among more than 1.5 million users across 23 different countries. After looking at the collective data of their users, researchers uncovered that Valentine’s Day was the worst day for users in terms of keeping their blood glucose levels in a healthy range. Here’s a look at the average blood glucose levels on some of the worst days in the calendar year:
Valentine’s Day – 168 mg/dL (9.3 mmol/L)
Halloween – 158 mg/dL (8.8 mmol/L)
Christmas Day – 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L)
New Year’s Eve – 131 mg/dL (7.3 mmol/L)
Michelle de Haaff, Glooko’s vice president of Strategy, said Valentine’s Day is so problematic for diabetics because of the regular opportunities to snack on chocolate and because many people go out to eat for dinner.
“Valentine’s is known to be a sugary holiday where chocolates are given as gifts and people go out for meals. It is likely that is what drives higher glucose,” said de Haaff.
Diabetic Care on Valentine’s Day
So if you are diabetic or pre-diabetic, we want to share some tips for helping you navigate Valentine’s Day and other holidays. For starters, eat and drink in moderation. And by moderation, we don’t mean just one piece of chocolate every time you come into the break room. One or two pieces are fine with lunch or dinner, but don’t snack on these sugary sweets throughout the day. Other tips to help keep your blood glucose levels in check include:
Fill up on healthier options so you’re not tempted to overindulge with sweets.
Drinking plenty of water can help you feel full.
Try to carve out 30-45 minutes to exercise.
Limit your alcohol consumption during dinner.
Monitor your blood glucose levels throughout the day.
The most common medication worldwide for treating diabetes is metformin (Glumetza, Riomet, Glucophage, Fortamet). It can help control high blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. It’s available in tablet form or a clear liquid you take by mouth with meals.
If you’re taking metformin for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, it may be possible to stop. You may be able to manage your condition by making certain lifestyle changes, such as maintaining a healthy weight and getting more exercise.
Read on to learn more about metformin and whether it’s possible to stop taking it.
Before you stop taking metformin, talk to your doctor to see if this is the right step to take in managing your diabetes.
possibly reducing your appetite, which may result in modest weight loss
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Because of its possible risks and side effects, metformin isn’t safe for everyone. It’s not recommended if you have a history of:
substance use disorder
liver disease
severe kidney issues
certain heart problems
If you’re currently taking metformin and have had some unpleasant side effects, you might be looking for alternative treatment options.
Most common side effects
The most common side effects are headaches and digestive issues that may include:
diarrhea
vomiting
nausea
heartburn
abdominal cramps
gas
a metallic taste
loss of appetite
Other side effects
In some cases, metformin leads to poor absorption of vitamin B-12. That can lead to a vitamin B-12 deficiency, though this only occurs after long-term use of the medication.
As a precaution, your doctor will check your B-12 levels every one to two years while you’re taking metformin.
Taking metformin might also lead to loss of appetite, which could cause a small amount of weight loss. But taking this medication won’t lead to weight gain.
There are also a few other side effects you may encounter, including hypoglycemia and lactic acidosis.
Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, might occur since metformin lowers blood sugar. It’s important to monitor your blood sugar regularly so your doctor can adjust your dosage based on your levels.
Hypoglycemia due to metformin is a rare side effect.
Low blood sugar is more likely to occur if you take metformin with other diabetes drugs or insulin.
Lactic acidosis
Metformin can cause a life-threatening condition called lactic acidosis. People who have lactic acidosis have a buildup of a substance called lactic acid in their blood and shouldn’t take metformin.
This condition is very dangerous and often fatal. But this is a rare side effect and affects less than 1 in 100,000 people taking metformin.
Lactic acidosis is more likely to occur in people with kidney disease. Tell your doctor if you’ve ever had kidney problems.
Metformin can be an important part of an effective diabetes treatment plan. But reducing the dosage of metformin or stopping it altogether is safe in some cases if your diabetes is under control.
If you want to stop taking diabetes medications, talk with your doctor or healthcare provider about what steps you need to take to do so.
Everyone who has diabetes can benefit from changing certain lifestyle habits, even those taking medications.
Losing weight, eating better, and exercising are the best ways to help reduce blood glucose and A1C. If you can manage these through such lifestyle changes, you may be able to stop taking metformin or other diabetes drugs.
According to experts from the American Diabetes Association, you usually need to meet the following criteria before you can stop taking diabetes medications:
Your A1C is less than 7 percent.
Your fasting morning blood glucose under 130 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL).
Your blood glucose level at random or after a meal is below 180 mg/dL.
It’s risky to stop taking metformin if you don’t meet these criteria. And keep in mind that these criteria can change based on your age, overall health, and other factors. So, it’s important to talk with your doctor before changing your metformin plan.
Metformin may help prevent long-term health complications from type 2 diabetes. But you may be able to stop taking it if your doctor thinks you can maintain your blood sugar without it.
You may be able to successfully lower and manage your blood sugar without medication by making lifestyle changes such as the following:
maintaining a healthy weight
getting more exercise
reducing your intake of carbohydrates
modifying your diet to include low-glycemic carbohydrates
stopping smoking tobacco in any form
drinking less or no alcohol
It’s also important to get support. A registered dietitian, personal trainer, or peer group can improve your chances of sticking with these healthy habits.
