Hello everyone, Renee here, and welcome to The Diabetic Toolbox, where we are on a mission to end type 2 diabetes, one family at a time, through education, support, and empowerment.

The Daily Dose, your moment to pause, learn something new, and take one small step toward balance and better health.  

 Today, we’re talking about a tiny habit that can make a big difference: drinking water before your morning coffee.
After a night of sleep, your body is naturally dehydrated. When coffee comes first, it can sometimes increase stress hormones and lead to blood sugar fluctuations, especially on an empty stomach.  Drinking about 8 ounces of water before coffee helps rehydrate your body, support digestion, and ease your system into the day. You’re not giving up coffee, you’re just supporting your body first.

This slight pause can help you feel more grounded and steady before caffeine enters the picture.   If you want more gentle, realistic habits like this, download my free guide Five Ways to Take Control of Your Mornings.   It’s designed to help you feel more supported and in control, without overwhelm. 

 Hello everyone, Renee here, and welcome to The Diabetic Toolbox, where we are on a mission to end type 2 diabetes, one family at a time, through education, support, and empowerment. 

The Daily Dose, your moment to pause, learn something new, and take one small step toward balance and better health. Today, I am introducing our brand-new free guide, Five Ways to Take Back Control of Your Mornings, with simple morning habits that help you take back control.  

Let’s talk about the first way to take control of your mornings: waking up gently.

If you wake up rushing, stressed, or immediately checking your phone, your body goes into a stress response. When stress hormones rise, blood sugar often rises too. That’s not your fault, it’s biology.    Waking up gently doesn’t mean your mornings have to be perfect. It might look like giving yourself a few extra minutes, taking a few deep breaths before getting out of bed, or simply slowing your pace where you can.

Calmer mornings help regulate your nervous system, and when your nervous system feels safer, your blood sugar often responds more steadily.           

 If you want simple, supportive ways to build calmer mornings that work with your body, I’ve created a free guide called Five Ways to Take Control of Your Mornings. You can download it using the link in the show notes or below this video and start with just one small habit.
With Peace & Love,
Renee

The holidays can be filled with joy, but also stress, noise, emotional triggers, and disrupted routines. For those managing type 2 diabetes, this can quickly impact blood sugar, energy, and overall well-being.

In this episode of the Diabetic Toolbox Sunday Inspiration Series, Renee walks you through three simple, powerful tools to help you stay centered during the holiday season:

• Mindful body check-ins to increase awareness
 • Anchor routines that create stability amid unpredictability
 • Pausing before choices to reduce emotional eating and stress reactions

You’ll learn how slowing down, even for 10 seconds, can shift your nervous system, prevent burnout, and support healthier glucose control with compassion instead of judgment.

 Free Resource:
Download the Craving Reset Guide + Audio Overview, a gentle 3-day reset designed to:
Calm cravings
Rebuild your food rhythm
Support low-glycemic meal planning
  Reset hydration, movement, and mindset     

Reflection Question:  What does diabetes awareness mean to you, your family, or someone you love?

This season, you’re allowed to choose peace, presence, and self-respect.

Simple Proactive Habits for Diabetes-Friendly Living

In this episode, learn how to be proactive instead of reactive about your health.  Renee shares her personal story of shifting from reactive to proactive health, the warning signs our bodies send that we often ignore, and three simple habits you can start this week to feel more energized, balanced, and supported.

 Download your FREE guide: “How to Protect Your Blood Sugar During the Holidays” and learn 10 realistic strategies to navigate holiday meals, stress, and cravings with confidence.

Perfect for anyone managing type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, insulin resistance, blood sugar imbalance, stress eating, or looking for healthier habits during the holidays.

 Disclaimer
The Diabetic Toolbox content is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your licensed healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, medication, or fitness routine. Participation in any program, including our Yoga Audio Series, is at your own risk. Your health and safety are our top priorities, and we’re honored to walk this journey with you.

Welcome back, friend! Today’s episode is for anyone navigating the sweet, sugary, delicious chaos of the holiday season while managing prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. We’re talking about five practical ways to protect your blood sugar, without feeling deprived or overwhelmed.

Inside this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why you shouldn't skip meals.
• Easy movement strategies that lower glucose naturally
• How to set gentle boundaries with food
• What to bring to gatherings for more mindful eating
• How sleep and stress impact your blood sugar

 FREE DOWNLOAD: How to Protect Your Blood Sugar During the Holidays. Get 10 extra strategies to stay confident and in control this season.

If you’ve ever felt tempted by donuts at the office (I’ve been there!), or nervous about family gatherings, this episode will give you peace, direction, and practical tools to stay grounded.

 Share your thoughts: What’s your biggest holiday blood sugar challenge?
  Send this episode to someone you love.
 With Peace & Love,
 Renee

⚠️ Disclaimer 

The Diabetic Toolbox content is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your licensed healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, medication, or fitness routine. Participation in any program, including our Yoga Audio Series, is at your own risk. Your health and safety are our top priorities, and we’re honored to walk this journey with you.

In today’s episode of The Diabetic Toolbox, Renee opens her heart to talk about a feeling many of us struggle with during the holiday season: loneliness. Whether you're managing prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, the emotional weight of this season can directly impact your blood sugar, routines, and overall well-being.

Renee shares her own personal journey through empty nest syndrome, divorce, and the loss of cherished family members, and how these experiences have shaped her understanding of connection, comfort, and healing. In this inspiring conversation, you’ll learn three simple steps to acknowledge loneliness without judgment, create meaningful moments of connection, and build rituals that nourish your mind, body, and nervous system.

You’ll walk away with tools to support your emotional and metabolic health, plus a reminder that you are never as alone as you feel.

What We Cover in This Episode

• Why loneliness is more common, and more human, than we realize
• How loneliness during the holidays can elevate stress hormones and blood sugar
• The difference between “I am lonely” and “I feel lonely.”
• Three steps to move through loneliness with compassion
  • Step 1: Acknowledge your emotions without judgment
  • Step 2: Create one small moment of authentic connection
  • Step 3: Build a comfort ritual that supports nervous system regulation
• How simple acts of gratitude can reconnect you to something bigger
• Personal reflections from Renee’s own holiday challenges and healing journey
• Why is connection a vital part of diabetes and prediabetes management

Download the Free Guide: Protect Your Blood Sugar This Holiday Season

The holidays don’t have to send your glucose and your stress into a spiral.
 Grab Renee’s brand-new resource:
 How to Protect Your Blood Sugar During the Holidays.
Packed with practical, easy-to-follow tips to help you stay grounded, nourished, and supported.

Download the free guide here.

Holiday Calm & Centering Meditation | Diabetes Stress Relief | 

In this episode of The Diabetic Toolbox, we guide you through a peaceful Holiday Calm & Centering Meditation designed to help lower stress, calm your nervous system, and support healthy blood sugar levels during the holiday season.
You’ll learn simple breathwork and grounding techniques that reduce overwhelm, emotional eating triggers, and cortisol spikes, all in just a few minutes.

 Perfect for anyone living with type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, or navigating holiday stress.
  Use this meditation anytime you need a reset, a moment of quiet, or support staying mindful around holiday food choices.

 Download your FREE guide: “How to Protect Your Blood Sugar During the Holiday Season.”
Get practical tips to stay balanced, energized, and confident all season long.
Get My Free Holiday Guide Now

The holidays are a time of joy, connection, and celebration, but for anyone managing diabetes or prediabetes, they can also bring stress, temptation, and worry. Between parties, sweet treats, and busy schedules, keeping your blood sugar steady can feel almost impossible.

In this heartfelt episode, Renee Reid opens up about the challenges of managing blood sugar during the holidays and shares a compassionate message of hope and balance. You’ll learn why holiday indulgence often leads to energy crashes and emotional frustration, and how small, consistent actions can make a huge difference in your health and happiness this season.

Renee also introduces her free resource, “How to Protect Your Blood Sugar During the Holidays,” a practical and encouraging guide packed with 10 simple tips to help you stay in control without missing out on the foods and moments you love most.

Because the truth is this journey isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress, presence, and giving yourself grace while honoring your health.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• 
  Why your blood sugar often feels harder to manage during the holidays

  
  

• How stress, sleep, and sugar all play a role in glucose control

  
  

• Simple ways to enjoy your favorite holiday meals without guilt

  
  

• The importance of mindset and self-compassion in diabetes care

  
  

• How The Diabetic Toolbox is helping families live healthier, more empowered lives

  
  

This November, we’re celebrating Diabetes Awareness Month,  and we have a big goal: to raise $2,500 to continue offering free education, support, and resources through The Diabetic Toolbox.  

Every purchase from Renee & Ruby’s “It’s Not Over Until I Win” Collection helps make that possible. Your support keeps these free resources, like our blog, podcasts, and informational guides, accessible to families who need them most.  When you wear the words “It’s Not Over Until I Win,” you’re not just making a statement; you’re joining a movement of strength, resilience, and hope.

Together, we’re proving: it’s not over until we win.

 Resources Mentioned

 Download Your Free Guide:  How to Protect Your Blood Sugar During the Holidays Free Download)
Support Our Mission:  Shop the empowering “It’s Not Over Until I Win” Collection at Renee & Ruby’s; every purchase helps us reach our Diabetes Awareness Month goal.

Friend, life gets messy, but your health doesn’t have to.
 In this heartfelt episode of The Diabetic Toolbox, host Renee Reid,  emotional eating and diabetes lifestyle coach and yoga teacher, shares how to stay consistent with your health goals, even when everything around you feels out of control.

You’ll learn:

1.   What “identity anchors” are,  and how they help you stay grounded in chaos
2.   3 simple, non-negotiable habits to protect your blood sugar and peace of mind
3.  Why consistency is built on small actions, not perfection

Plus, download the free The Crave Buster Guide and audio overview to help you discover how to reset your sugar cravings, along with a three-day complete menu.

If you’re ready to lower your blood sugar naturally and take control of your health, join the waitlist for my six-week coaching program, Lowering Your Blood Sugar Naturally. You’ll learn how to stabilize your glucose, calm your cravings, and build a healthy rhythm that actually lasts, without restrictive diets or long workouts.

Click this link to save your spot today and take the first step toward balanced blood sugar and a calmer, healthier you.

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Do you ever avoid checking your blood sugar or A1C because you’re afraid of what you’ll see? You’re not alone, friend.

In this episode of The Diabetic Toolbox, emotional eating and diabetes lifestyle coach Renee Reid shares how to understand your diabetes numbers, without fear, guilt, or overwhelm.

You’ll learn:
  What your key numbers mean: glucose, A1C, blood pressure, and cholesterol
  How often to check them (and what to look for)
  Simple ways to stay calm when your readings rise
  How to use your numbers as motivation, not judgment

If your numbers are higher after a few days of cravings or stress eating, don’t panic; use that info to reset. The Crave Buster Guide provides three days of balanced meals to help your body find its rhythm again, eliminating the need for crash diets and guilt.

 Tune in, take a breath, and remember: your numbers aren’t a grade, they’re your GPS.