Diabetic recipes (need answer fast!)

[Aspidistra]

So, a close friend of mine just rang and told me she's been diagnosed with diabetes.

Bummer. Not wholly unexpected, but bummer.

Tomorrow, we have her booked to come sit on (ok, with) our children for an evening. In the process of collecting her, we are now also going to collect everything out of her kitchen she shouldn't oughter eat these days. Apparently this is going to be quite a collection...

I have two or three spare hours this evening. I would love to make her something nice, and also healthy, to replace all the goodies we are about to take out of her life. I can't leave the house and go shopping, because my husband is out, so am limited to what's in the cupboard, including

*masses of fresh fruit (apples,oranges,bananas,kiwis,peaches,strawberries) and some tinned
*flour/rice/oats/polenta/grainy things in general
*milk products of all descriptions, but all of them HIGH fat (we are not a low fat household!).

Any suggestions?

[King Bobo]

Maybe I am just ratty right now, but seems to me you have just about everything on the planet anyone would ever want to eat, Just tell her to graze wherever she wants and avoid anything with any nasty chemicals she wants to avoid.

[IvoryTowerDenizen]

Maybe I am just ratty right now, but seems to me you have just about everything on the planet anyone would ever want to eat, Just tell her to graze wherever she wants and avoid anything with any nasty chemicals she wants to avoid.

Managing diabetes requires control of carbohydrate (including fruit, grains, pastas, simple vs complex carbs etc) intake and balancing that intake against protein and fat. Depending on the type and severity of diabetes the extent of control can vary.

Have you asked her what her management plan is like? Insulin dependent? Just diet? Etc.

[King Bobo]

Ok, last post retracted.

I'm bad.

[Athena]

Diabetic here.

The problem is, there's no one "diabetic diet." In general, most docs recommend the same diet to diabetics that they do to anyone - eat healthy food, lots of vegetables, restrict (but don't eliminate!) sweets, etc.

That said, a lot of diabetics want to get their blood sugar in control RIGHT NOW after diagnosis. That means massively restricting carbs - ALL carbs, not just sweets. So that's a big NO on the fruits and grains you list. Even milk is carby, and I avoided it after diagnosis.

If she's really in low-carb mode, good snacks are:

- hard boiled eggs
- deviled eggs
- sausage/salami
- cheese
- nuts (make sure they're not honey-roasted!)
- full fat yogurt made with no sugar or fruit (use Splenda or other artificial sweeteners to sweeten up)

[Nava]

- full fat yogurt made with no sugar or fruit (use Splenda or other artificial sweeteners to sweeten up)

Or try it unsweetened, I realize my sweet tooth is nonexistent even by Spanish standards but I really like it that way.

Aspidistra, you don't have anything that's proteins? You listed carbs, carbs and, oh yeah, milk.

[Aspidistra]

I'm not sure what her management plan is. I think at the moment she's in OMG mode...

Last week she was thinking her recent health problems might be lactose/wheat intolerances (of which immedate family members have/had plenty) and was planning on going on a restricted diet for that. I suspect that's out of the window now.

She seems to think fats are on the Bad List - is that right? Talking of getting rid of all the bacon in her fridge.

Nuts is a good idea. And eggs. I just want to send SOMETHING back rather than just ripping all the food out of her house! And even better if it were something I could make, but maybe that's not on the cards right now.

ETA - proteiny things in our house are all meat, and I was more thinking along the lines of healthy snacks - something a bit cheering, since she's currently envisaging a life of lentils and rice from here on in...

[King Bobo]

I apologize for my presence in this thread. I should have been very far from here from the start.

I am gone now.

I am sorry for my numb-nut-i-ness.

M.

[Athena]

She seems to think fats are on the Bad List - is that right? Talking of getting rid of all the bacon in her fridge.

Nope, fats are fine, in the blood sugar sense of things. However, if she's Type 2 and overweight, her doc may want her losing weight. If that's the case, I highly recommend the Atkins/South Beach way of doing it, NOT by restricting fats. She needs to watch her carbs because of the diabetes; she can't at the same time also highly restrict fats. Ya gotta eat something!

I'm not saying ditch everything in favor of high fat foods - just go in moderation. A couple eggs and 1 slice of bacon for breakfast is healthy and tasty, too.

ETA - proteiny things in our house are all meat, and I was more thinking along the lines of healthy snacks - something a bit cheering, since she's currently envisaging a life of lentils and rice from here on in...

Nope, she's not going to eat lentils and rice! Both are high carb :-)

Really, just think "healthy". If she eats sweets, restrict them to small bits. Dark chocolate is delicious and generally lower carb than most other sweets. Cookies are OK, if she has one or two small ones. If she's the type who can sit down and eat a whole package, that's not too good. But she doesn't have to give up everything that tastes good.

What's her diet like now? Is it OK, or massively bad, or somewhere in between? That'll give us something to start with....

[Aspidistra]

High carb, low fat, I think. Kind of Anti-Atkins!

I think I've decided that a plate of devilled eggs would be a good "thinking of you" gift for tomorrow. And maybe some of the insights in this thread...

Anyone got any good simple straightforward weblinks on the subject too? The doctor loaded her up with info, but she said she's just been sitting there trying to process one sentence at a time and they're not going in - apparently furry brain is a symptom of not-in-control diabetes too.

[IvoryTowerDenizen]

High carb, low fat, I think. Kind of Anti-Atkins!

I think I've decided that a plate of devilled eggs would be a good "thinking of you" gift for tomorrow. And maybe some of the insights in this thread...

Anyone got any good simple straightforward weblinks on the subject too? The doctor loaded her up with info, but she said she's just been sitting there trying to process one sentence at a time and they're not going in - apparently furry brain is a symptom of not-in-control diabetes too.

Does she have access to a nutritionist? Our local hospital has a nutritionist that your doc can recommend you to for managing chronic illness, like diabetes. They can breakdown the info from theory to an actual eating plan.

Is she insulin dependent or managing through diet/meds?

[aruvqan]

Make up a nice plate of 2 eggs made into deviled eggs, 4 oz or so of fancy cheeses, up to 18 thompsons seedless grapes and 2 oz of a nice hard salami/sopresata/cured sausage and 100 calories of some type of wholemeal cracker (http://www.amazon.com/Ryvita-Fiber-Cracker-Crispbread-8-8-Ounce/dp/B001HTJCGQ) for sandwiching with the cheese and sausage. If she likes veggies, you can also include some raw goodies - broccoli, celery, cucumber, and make a dip based on sour cream or full fat yoghurt and chopped herbs [think something like boursin thinned out with sour cream or yoghurt flavor wise.] Avoid commercial dips [though Maries double blue cheese salad dressing is reasonably low carb and free of junk chemicals]

See, the problem for most high protein/low carb regimes is an interesting difficulty with lack of fiber. Many people just will not eat the amount of lower glycemic vegetables that you need to in order to get the fiber.

[Aspidistra]

She actually wants to give us all her cheese, as part of her "clearing out the bad stuff in the cupboard" plan. But I think I'm going to have to persuade her otherwise

[Athena]

She actually wants to give us all her cheese, as part of her "clearing out the bad stuff in the cupboard" plan. But I think I'm going to have to persuade her otherwise

Sounds like she really needs some guidance in the diet department. I second IvoryTowerDenizen's suggestion - take her to a nutritionist! In the US, it's very common to see a "Certified Diabetes Educator" (CDE) after diagnosis. That's a nurse and/or dietitian with special training around diabetic issues. They bring together the whole diet/exercise/blood sugar control thing in a way that makes sense depending on her diagnosis and lifestyle. I'm guessing there must be some equivalent in Australia.

[Critical Mass]

When I found out I had type 2 diabetes, it took about a week for the shock to wear off and the adjustments to be made. After that, it has been relatively easy.

At diagnosis, I had a fasting BG of about 13 mmol. Within a week, it was normal and I've kept it that way through medication, diet and exercise. My A1C was 12.5. Within 6 months it was 6.0 and I've kept it between 6.0 and 6.9 (slightly higher than normal, but good for a diabetic).

The biggest adjustment was diet - the first trip to the grocery store was daunting and depressing. She'll have to learn to read labels looking for carbohydrate information. I went with an Atkins diet approach - severely limit carbs. After a few days of mourning the loss of my previous lifestyle, I adjusted well. I realized and rationalized that high carbs food were now poisonous to me and that made it easier.

After stabilizing my BG and reading as much I could about different kinds of diabetic do's and dont's (there a couple of big online forums with good advice), I started looking at different food's glycemic index values. Different foods react differently with each individual. I can eat some things but not others. It's different for each diabetic. As with most type 2 diabetics, I'm ok with all meat and green vegetables - if I stuck with nothing but Atkins or a paleo diet, I wouldn't have to think twice about what to eat.

Some experimentation with eating small amounts of other foods in conjunction with monitoring my BG before and after eating shows me what kinds of foods I can tolerate. I can do about 40-50 carbs per meal. But only some kinds of carbs. About 1/2 cup of brown rice or 1 cup milk are ok. Citrus fruits are out. I can't do bananas. Berries are fine. All oats are out - even the low carb spike me hard. 1/2 cup of nuts are fine. Small quantities of beans are ok. Tomatoes are not. It's a matter of fine tuning and paying attention to what the BG meter says. Every diabetic will react differently to some seemingly innocuous foods.

Exercise is huge in maintaining a healthy BG. 45 minutes of brisk walking every day or at least every other day does wonders.

*masses of fresh fruit (apples,oranges,bananas,kiwis,peaches,strawberries) and some tinned
*flour/rice/oats/polenta/grainy things in general

Pretty much all of that is not going to be good for a diabetic as all of these items are higher carb and high glycemic index (except maybe fresh strawberries). Look at Atkins recipes. Something like steak and a leafy salad with an oil and vinegar dressing. A cappucino with sugar substitute and a few strawberries for desert would be a good way to start a new diet.

[amanset]

Seriously, is your friend type 1 or 2. They are really quite different beasts.

I've been type 1 since 1993. I just eat why I used to but avoid overly sweetened stuff. OK, that means steering clear of overly processed food, but it really isn't that difficult.

Be careful with the fruit. A lot of naturally occurring sugar in fruit.

Maybe it'd help if you said what a typical meal for your friend would be and we could recommend changes?

[Aspidistra]

I've ended up with a box of devilled eggs, olives, wholewheat crackers and peanut butter.

Thanks to all for your input. I'm for bed! (it's 1130pm here)

[amanset]

Pretty much all of that is not going to be good for a diabetic as all of these items are higher carb and high glycemic index (except maybe fresh strawberries). Look at Atkins recipes. Something like steak and a leafy salad with an oil and vinegar dressing. A cappucino with sugar substitute and a few strawberries for desert would be a good way to start a new diet.

Is this a type 2 thing? In the UK and Sweden I have always been told to maintain a balanced diet, which meant that starch/grain was an important part of the meal. In eighteen years I've never done the low-carb thing, mainly because if I have very few carbs it is really easy to screw up the amount of insulin and end up with blood sugar dropping fast.

And it may sound grim, but dropping the concept of desserts would be an even better way to start. I did, although at nineteen I'm guessing I was younger than the person we are discussing.

[Critical Mass]

Is this a type 2 thing? In the UK and Sweden I have always been told to maintain a balanced diet, which meant that starch/grain was an important part of the meal. In eighteen years I've never done the low-carb thing, mainly because if I have very few carbs it is really easy to screw up the amount of insulin and end up with blood sugar dropping fast.

Type 2 don't typically take an insulin dose prior to eating as type 1 diabetics have to. A meal has an immediate impact on BG readings. The goal for me as a type 2 is to maintain my BG as close to a non-diabetics numbers as possible through diet and exercise. Insulin is a treatment option for type 2 (I do take a small injection of long lasting insulin once per day), but I keep my reliance on medication down through limiting foods that cause big increases in BG.

[Athena]

Is this a type 2 thing? In the UK and Sweden I have always been told to maintain a balanced diet, which meant that starch/grain was an important part of the meal. In eighteen years I've never done the low-carb thing, mainly because if I have very few carbs it is really easy to screw up the amount of insulin and end up with blood sugar dropping fast.


I was diagnosed as Type 2 in the US, then 4-5 months later (when I finally went to a specialist) they changed it to Type 1.

In both cases, they told me to just eat a healthy, balanced diet.

That said, I find life a lot easier when I restrict carbs. I'm the opposite of you - eating very few carbs is easy. Eating a ton of carbs is where I find dosing insulin to be tricky.

[amanset]

Eating a ton of carbs is where I find dosing insulin to be tricky.

Oh that's difficult too. I just find the changes can happen more rapidly the fewer carbs are eaten.

But everyone is different. Still, as you were told as well, balanced is the way to go.

[Hogfather65]

WE eat normal food. Not overly sweet - I have a sweet tooth but had to curb what i eat - like i did when i tried to loose a few pounds. Soup is good - meat, chicken, veg are good - Pasta (high in slow burning carbs - good if she is running rounds after the kids) - sweet - jelly, fruit cocktail - nothing with too much sugar.....

This type of stuff - imaging she is trying to loose some weight - not in the Atkins way.

[Lsura]

So, here's my question for the OP: why is it your responsibility to remove stuff from your house? I assume she is an adult and unless she's asked you to do something like this, she is responsible for her own diet. She is the one who has to make the choice about if and how strictly to follow the dietary recommendations set out for her. I really recommend this post (http://www.fatnutritionist.com/index.php/how-to-eat-in-a-nutshell-lesson-one/) over at the Fat Nutritionist about permission.

I'm reading the OP as saying this is someone coming in for an evening to stay with the kids, not a long-term thing - if she was going to be staying with the kids for several nights, I'd think that yes, it would make sense to ask her if there's anything specific she'd like to have on hand for meals. And if you still want to have something nice for her to have on hand, ask her. (and if she says "yes, I'd love X" - even if you think X is not something she should be eating, that's not a decision for you to make).

This is a bit of a soapbox thing for me - it took me a long time to learn (and sometimes I still have to re-learn) that I (and ONLY I) am responsible for what I eat.

[Chefguy]

I was diagnosed as Type 2 in the US, then 4-5 months later (when I finally went to a specialist) they changed it to Type 1.

In both cases, they told me to just eat a healthy, balanced diet.



This is the most sensible thing to do. Fad diets and dramatic changes are not optimal, as it can just set up cravings. Basically, what consists of a healthy diet and exercise plan for diabetics is the same as what is healthy for non-diabetics: fruits, veggies and whole grains, carbs in moderation, mono-fats, less salt, smaller portions. Chances are, if this is your dietary regime and you're not obese, you will never be diagnosed with Type II.

[amanset]

Type 2 don't typically take an insulin dose prior to eating as type 1 diabetics have to. A meal has an immediate impact on BG readings. The goal for me as a type 2 is to maintain my BG as close to a non-diabetics numbers as possible through diet and exercise. Insulin is a treatment option for type 2 (I do take a small injection of long lasting insulin once per day), but I keep my reliance on medication down through limiting foods that cause big increases in BG.

Things have changed a bit over the years. In 1993, when I was diagnosed, insulin had to be taken 20 mins before food, which was a challenge in restaurants. About ten years or so ago I started on an insulin that could be taken when you started eating. These days with Humalog I inject after I have eaten so I can tailor the dose to exactly what I have eaten.

Certainly makes life easier!

[Athena]

Chances are, if this is your dietary regime and you're not obese, you will never be diagnosed with Type II.

Except I was! Oh, those were fun times. I remember sitting with the CDE having them go over what I should be eating and how much I should be exercising. I ate more healthily than they recommended and exercised about twice as much as they recommended, but doc was STILL insisting I was Type 2.

That's about when I decided doc was an idiot and started exploring other options.

[rhubarbarin]

There's two opposing schools of thought even among diabetes doctors; endorsing a conventionally 'healthy' high-carb low-fat diet with lots of whole grains, beans, fruit and veg, and the Carbs Are Now Bad For You approach. For me the second makes the most sense by far and anectodally, the diabetics I know who follow it seem to do a hell of a lot better (in terms of keeping their blood glucose consistently lower, using much less insulin if they have to, not being fat, and not going blind and getting their feet cut off). But there's no way to change someone's mind if they're committed to the first approach, and plenty of docs, dietitians, and nutritionists will support them.

The low carb approach is gaining in popularity with doctors, thankfully - my MIL was diagnosed with diabetes a few years ago now and I would have had a fit if her doctor told her to eat lots of 'healthy whole grains', but he's staunchly in support of limiting total sugars and of course grains are mostly glucose so therefore to be avoided. She's been great with sticking to her diet plan, based on foods that are mostly protein and fat as well as unlimited veg. She's lost 40 lbs and kept it off and improved all her health markers drastically. If she sticks to it, she will never have to use insulin, and right now her blood glucose is always kept low enough to keep her body from being harmed.

[Chefguy]

Except I was! Oh, those were fun times. I remember sitting with the CDE having them go over what I should be eating and how much I should be exercising. I ate more healthily than they recommended and exercised about twice as much as they recommended, but doc was STILL insisting I was Type 2.

That's about when I decided doc was an idiot and started exploring other options.

Nothing is absolute, which is why I said "chances are". Even those who are diagnosed with Type 2 can come off the meds with proper changes in lifestyle. It doesn't mean that you're cured, just that the diabetes is controlled without meds.

[GythaOgg]

Most - not all, but the great majority - of type 2 diabetics also have problems with dyslipidemia and should be limiting unhealthy types of fats and in general eating a heart-healthy diet. This means, in a broad sense, cutting down on the fats from animal sources and moving more towards plant-based fats. Diabetes is a major cardiac risk factor. There is such a thing as going overboard; it's all about moderation and being sensible.

From what I have seen in the last 9 years of working extensively with type 2 diabetics, there is no one diet philosophy that is best for everyone. Some do better going low carb; some do better not limiting carbs that much but concentrating on the high-fiber carbs. (My husband is one of these.) This is a huge debate in the diabetic community with a lot of people leading holy wars on the One True Diabetic Eating Plan, but in practice people are different and have different needs. The important thing for a diabetic is trying different things and finding what works for them and keeps their levels under control.