Diabetes - Oswego,IL

A great book is Diabetes for Dummies. Not that you're a dummy, but it will be easy to read and understand. It also has great information on nutritional changes that will need to be made, but here are some basics:

-Eat every 2-3 hours in order to keep blood sugar levels nice and even. Instead of eating three large meals where a ton of sugar rushes into the bloodstream and insulin has to race to convert it (stressing the pancreas), having 5-6 smaller meals a day allows the insulin to do a better job of removing the sugar from the bloodstream.

-Eating every 2-3 hours will also keep you feeling fuller longer, thus not overindulging at meals. Make sure to have a carb, protein, and fat at each of these mini-meals.

-Carbs are NOT your enemy! Simple carbs are, and these are typically found in processed foods with refined sugar. Look for complex carbs in natural forms (i.e. fresh fruits and vegetables). Carbs are the body's main source and the preferred source of energy and you need them for life.

-For the main meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) divide the plate into three sections. One half of the plate should be vegetables. One quarter of the plate should be protein. The other quarter of the plate can be whatever you'd like but don't over do it.

-Count carbs and follow this general rule: 2-4 carbs per breakfast, lunch, dinner and 1-2 carbs per snack. You can calculate your carbs in this manner - find out the carb content of the food item. 15 grams of carbs = 1 carb.

You'd be very surprised at how easy this can be to fix simply by making better nutritional choices. If his doctor did not refer him to a nutritionist or a dietitian, you may wish to request that. Making simple changes can drop that a1c score by a significant amount in a short period of time. Good luck to you!

Feel free to PM me with questions. I helped my husband drop his a1c score from dangerously high to within 'normal' in the matter of 4 months. He lost approximately 80 pounds in the process too but the good news? We were still eating yummy food that was healthy for us.

2 moms found this helpful

Ask your doctor to refer you to see a Nutritionist. When my stepfather was diagnosed with diabetes, he had to go see a Nutritionist and my mom went with him so she understood what to cook. She cooks all the meals and makes his lunch for work everyday so it was helpful for her too.

1 mom found this helpful

Get the referral to the nutritionist. It will help so much.
I didn't realize that diet drinks are bad, cause kydney stones, and really increase cravings for sugar.

1 mom found this helpful

Hi,
There is, as with a lot of diseases, a ton of marketing of cookbooks, products, and stuff to help you manage the disease. While some may be helpful, more often than not, they are trying to sell you something.
Your endo should refer you to a diabatic nutritionist, who can really help you understand how to manage blood sugar. ou did not mention if he is on insulin or not, but if he is, it is even more important to understand the science behing food and blood sugar.
The biggest thing that helped me was to finally embrace the concept that while food can still be social, comforting, fun, etc, that food for a diabetic (and everyone really) is MEDICINE. Food needs to be dosed out in certain amounts and in certain intervals to maintain a healthy and balanced blood suger level. Not easy, but doable.
Having the entire family support, and even participate by eating in the same way can be really helpful for the diabetic member of the family. The diabetic "diet" is a healthy way of eating for everyone, regardless of whether they have it or not.
Keep the nutritionist on speed dial! They are a wealth of information, and should welcome questions after your initial apponitment.\
Best of luck to you all!

1 mom found this helpful

go to the American Diabetes Association website www.diabetes.org and look at the cookbooks they have--any would be appropriate. Also if you have insurance, get your doctor to give you a referral for diabetes education and a nutrition consult. The diabetes educator can work out a special meal plan that can fit with your lifestyle and make suggestions for weight loss. Good luck!

Remember that portion size is very KEY. A serving of anything should not be bigger than the palm of your hand. Fiber keeps you full longer, include lots of fiber in your cooking. Get some flaxseed and pulverize it, then add it to all sauces, oatmeal, cereals, etc... you'll never know its there. Here is a website with some good info to get you started. What you put in your mouth is more important than exercise, but the two together are ideal. Put a daily walk into your routine with husband, when was the last time you walked around the block together holding hands? As a wife you are being challenged right now, we take care of our husbands health just like we would take care of our childrens health. Go to the library or just fish around online and find some recipes that sound good to you. Just google "recipes for type 2 diabetes"... Here's one to get you started:

http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20307365,00.html

You really don't need a cookbook. What you need is to understand that his eating habits need to change. The whole idea is to keep your blood sugar at a constant level. It's a huge balancing act.

A few simple rules
1 - the most important is to avoid sugar and limit carbohydrates.
2- eat 6 times a day. Yes, 6. Eat a small breakfast, a snack, a light lunch, a snack, dinner, and an evening snack.
3- lots and lots of veggies, especially green ones (corn and potatoes are not veggies, they are carbohydates)
4 - exercise, know you don't have to go overboard, just increase whatever your doing now
5 - drink lots of water - watch out for hidden calories and sugar in beverages, good choices in addition to water, iced tea preferably herbal, seltzer with lemon, lime or orange slices

Some ideas for snacks -
whole grain crackers with cheese
veggies and dip
yogurt (read your labels - some have lots of sugar)
crackers with reduced fat peanut butter
fruit
chips and salsa (not too many chips, remember it's just a snack)

Some ideas for meals -
a large salad
boneless skinless chicken breast
vegetable beef soup
oatmeal (use cinamon, apples or raisins to sweeten)
pork lion roast
stir fry (not to much rice)
an omelette with veggies and cheese

You should meet with a nutritionist. Before your meeting write down a list of questions that you may have.

Ask you doctor to refer your husband to a nutritionalist/dietician to help get him started. They can help him with his menu and weight loss. Has your husband been checked for high cholesterol yet? If not I would have him checked. Then the Dietician can taylor a diet to his medical conditions. If he is taking medications or has health issuses then some food that seem healthy may need to be avoided.

A.---How to cook for a diabetic is no different than how to cook for a healthy lifestyle. I highly recommend exploring www.pcrm.org and then put diabetes in the search box. Also look for their vegetarian starter kit. Gives great ideas and recipes for moving to a more plant based diet.

Dr. Neal Barnard, the president and founder of pcrm has done research on reversing type 2 diabetes. It is simple. Eat more plants, eat less animal protein. His website will explain why. Type 2 diabetes is, in most cases, preventable. Your husband, and the rest of the family, needs to eat more fiber rich foods. Eating fiber and nutrient rich foods means that you are eating fewer calories. Exercise is essential to help maintain optimal weight. Exercise is just important for everything.

I must say, based on what Dr. Barnard teaches, many diabetes cookbooks really don't offer truly healthy recipes. Even the diabetes association website is biased. They are sponsored by food companies who make products that most diabetics should not eat. Just a little political side-note.

I have a BUNCH of info that I can share with you if you would like. Please feel free to contact me and I'd love to discuss your questions and concerns. I believe I have resources that can help. Good luck...D.

PS. I have friends in the wellness industry that host health education events in your area. I used to live in New Lenox. Again, if interested, I can share dates for those. They are a great way to learn how to optimize your family's health.

A.,
You have gotten some good advice about food. I would just add that you avoid processed foods.
My mother was diabetic and she would not eat right except when she was with me. But she started taking the supplements that I do and those helped her greatly. Let me know if you want more info on those.
V.

http://www.diabetes.org/

My Dad had Diabetes.
The Doctor... also has to refer him/you to a Nutritionist... that is normal protocol... with Diabetes patients.
AND... to assist in losing weight.... that is appropriate for HIM. HIS situation....

He also has to exercise. Even just walking up and down the street. Any kind of exercise... that is per his condition....

Educate yourselves all you can on it... there is a lot to know...

ALSO keep in mind, that for the Diabetic... they also can have a hard time adjusting to it all.... so... do not 'nag' to him about it. But just be there for him... helping....
My Dad... hated my Mom nagging him about it and lecturing him about it. He was not a child... and he had his own "Manly" things about it to adjust to, and emotionally. He felt his life changed..... there are also Support Groups... which are very helpful... which might be good to join....

all the best,
Susan