my husband just diagnosed with diabetes
03-17-2011, 12:03 PM
#2
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: playing with fabric in Louisiana
Posts: 3,246
It looks like you are going to explore the wonderful world of vegetables! Try roasting them in the oven. Fruit is also important to east also, just watch serving size, like 10 small grapes/ one half banana. Serving size is a big key. You may want to try some new things like quinoa. See if you can make a visit with a diabetic educator and nutritionist to get you jump started. Exercise is a key too. Best of luck! :)
03-17-2011, 12:10 PM
#3
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Belle Isle, Florida
Posts: 6,668
Bummer. The good news is there is a lot you can do to keep the disease under control or even prevent it. Google "Sugar Busters" and "Low Glycemic Recipes." The white pasta, bread, potatoes and fatty meats are going to have to go bye bye. But he can enjoy whole wheat pasta, whole grain breads, sweet potatoes, and you can find low-fat cuts of any type of meat you like. Add in lots of fruits and veggies and you guys won't miss any of those white foods.
I'd ask the doc if he can recommend a nutritionist. I think it helps to understand what certain foods do to your sugar levels. Good luck!
I'd ask the doc if he can recommend a nutritionist. I think it helps to understand what certain foods do to your sugar levels. Good luck!
03-17-2011, 01:07 PM
#5
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: SW Colorado
Posts: 1,102
My advice as well. I,too, am diabetic.
Originally Posted by sweet
It looks like you are going to explore the wonderful world of vegetables! Try roasting them in the oven. Fruit is also important to east also, just watch serving size, like 10 small grapes/ one half banana. Serving size is a big key. You may want to try some new things like quinoa. See if you can make a visit with a diabetic educator and nutritionist to get you jump started. Exercise is a key too. Best of luck! :)
03-17-2011, 02:36 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 768
All the above advice is good. Here are a few more pieces of advice.
You might want to ask his dr. how many carbs he can have every day, then you'll both have to become carb counters like dieters are calorie counters. You'll learn just how much of what foods he can have.
Hint: you'll also learn how you can "cheat" once in a while by omitting for instance an allowable starch or bread serving and having a small serving of dessert instead, say for a birthday or holiday celebration.
Serve two veggies at a meal instead of a starch and one veggie. Pay particular attention to carb-laden veggies like peas and corn.
Get a little carb counter booklet and refer to it often. You'd be surprised how many foods have high carb counts.
He doesn't have to give up pastas if you start cooking Dreamfields brand of pasta. It has added fiber (you'd never know it) which reduces the digestible carbs and makes it very low on the glycemic index. It never increases my glucose count. It comes in a black box. If your grocery store doesn't handle it, you can get it online at http://www.DreamfieldsFoods.com or call 1-800-250-1917.
I've served it to family and to company and nobody can tell any difference. But be careful - I can have a whole bunch of macaroni salad, but macaroni and cheese sends my sugar through the roof. It's because of the lactose (milk sugar) in the cheese and milk in the cheese sauce.
Read labels and pay particular attention to nutrition facts. There are all kinds of carbs which raise blood sugar counts - anything that ends in "ose" is a sugar/carb - glucose, fructose, (fruit sugar), lactose (milk sugar), etc.
Don't be fooled by foods (desserts, baked goods, etc.) labeled "sugar free". Sugar-free baked goods are made with flour which is a high-count carb. Also, most sugar-free baked goods and candies are sweetened with maltitol which gives many people diarrhea. Have him try just a liittle at a time to see if it affects him.
Also, sugar-free ice cream has only about 3-4 fewer carbs per serving than regular sugar, so don't be taken in.
Unbelievably, sugar-free Cool Whip has 1 MORE carb than regular Cool Whip (and doesn't taste as good).
When checking labels, check carbohydrate counts, not just sugar. Sugar is a carb, and that's what you have to avoid.
That's all I can think of right now, and I'm sorry this is so long, but it's information I've learned over time the HARD way!
Good luck!
You might want to ask his dr. how many carbs he can have every day, then you'll both have to become carb counters like dieters are calorie counters. You'll learn just how much of what foods he can have.
Hint: you'll also learn how you can "cheat" once in a while by omitting for instance an allowable starch or bread serving and having a small serving of dessert instead, say for a birthday or holiday celebration.
Serve two veggies at a meal instead of a starch and one veggie. Pay particular attention to carb-laden veggies like peas and corn.
Get a little carb counter booklet and refer to it often. You'd be surprised how many foods have high carb counts.
He doesn't have to give up pastas if you start cooking Dreamfields brand of pasta. It has added fiber (you'd never know it) which reduces the digestible carbs and makes it very low on the glycemic index. It never increases my glucose count. It comes in a black box. If your grocery store doesn't handle it, you can get it online at http://www.DreamfieldsFoods.com or call 1-800-250-1917.
I've served it to family and to company and nobody can tell any difference. But be careful - I can have a whole bunch of macaroni salad, but macaroni and cheese sends my sugar through the roof. It's because of the lactose (milk sugar) in the cheese and milk in the cheese sauce.
Read labels and pay particular attention to nutrition facts. There are all kinds of carbs which raise blood sugar counts - anything that ends in "ose" is a sugar/carb - glucose, fructose, (fruit sugar), lactose (milk sugar), etc.
Don't be fooled by foods (desserts, baked goods, etc.) labeled "sugar free". Sugar-free baked goods are made with flour which is a high-count carb. Also, most sugar-free baked goods and candies are sweetened with maltitol which gives many people diarrhea. Have him try just a liittle at a time to see if it affects him.
Also, sugar-free ice cream has only about 3-4 fewer carbs per serving than regular sugar, so don't be taken in.
Unbelievably, sugar-free Cool Whip has 1 MORE carb than regular Cool Whip (and doesn't taste as good).
When checking labels, check carbohydrate counts, not just sugar. Sugar is a carb, and that's what you have to avoid.
That's all I can think of right now, and I'm sorry this is so long, but it's information I've learned over time the HARD way!
Good luck!
03-17-2011, 03:57 PM
#7
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: NE Wisconsin
Posts: 1,351
Sugar free jello became one of my husband's favorites when his blood sugar was at levels higher than his Dr. liked. We also went to a nutritionist (which our insurance paid for) and have learned to read labels. Portion control is important.
I used to buy sugar free cookies for my Dad, who was diabetic. Now that I'm reading labels, I find out that they have MORE carbs than some regular cookies. Who knew?
It's a whole new adventure, but you'll get used to it.
Wishing you and your husband the best.
Sue
I used to buy sugar free cookies for my Dad, who was diabetic. Now that I'm reading labels, I find out that they have MORE carbs than some regular cookies. Who knew?
It's a whole new adventure, but you'll get used to it.
Wishing you and your husband the best.
Sue
03-17-2011, 08:24 PM
#8
Power Poster
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Reno, Nv
Posts: 16,524
Check out GlucoMenu.com When my hubby was diagnosed I freeked out just like you are. This web site was a life saver. It is run by doctors and dieticians. There is a personalized diet weekly put on line for your hubby. YOu print it out along with a shopping list and a sheet of recipes for a few specialty dishes for that week. There will be three meals and three snacks to keep the levels right for each day of the week.
It is great! No guessing or having to read all those labels. They have done it already. This is half of it. The other half is, he has to exercise to bring the ac1 down. Hubby also takes a cinnamon tablet with each meal.
There is the american diabetes association (on line) to go and read and talk on the chat and there are tips and information there that helps a lot.
I hope this helps you some...
Red
It is great! No guessing or having to read all those labels. They have done it already. This is half of it. The other half is, he has to exercise to bring the ac1 down. Hubby also takes a cinnamon tablet with each meal.
There is the american diabetes association (on line) to go and read and talk on the chat and there are tips and information there that helps a lot.
I hope this helps you some...
Red
03-18-2011, 02:38 AM
#9
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Tucker, GA
Posts: 2,042
My dad was diabetic and loved the Jello Sugar Free pudding cups or the box that you mix with milk to make the sugar free pudding. Try looking for a diabetic cookbook for some other ideas! I had one that had a fabulous recipe for cake frosting and cake...both sugar free and quite tasty, even for non-diabetics. I used them for his birthday each year.
03-18-2011, 04:17 AM
#10
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Ashdown, AR
Posts: 9,238
Sugar Free Pecan Pie
3 T. margarine
12 pkgs Equal
3 slightly beaten eggs
1 cup sugar free syrup
pinch salt
1 tsp. vanilla
1 T flour
1 1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 pie shell
Mix all ingredients together and pour into pie shell and bake at 350 degrees for about 1 hour.
3 T. margarine
12 pkgs Equal
3 slightly beaten eggs
1 cup sugar free syrup
pinch salt
1 tsp. vanilla
1 T flour
1 1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 pie shell
Mix all ingredients together and pour into pie shell and bake at 350 degrees for about 1 hour.
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