Diabetic recipes

[Tania]

Hi everybody,

I’ve been diagnosed as diabetic few weeks ago therefore I had to follow a strict diet though I do not know much about cooking and foods. I discovered this forum recently by a friend and I was wondering if someone can help me. I really have to change my lifestyle.

Some helps would be appreciated,

[Martin Fisher]

Something like the ADA diet or a low-starch/low-sugar diet?

Anyway, Diabetes Daily is a good resource and community.

[Mjx]

Two big topics, to get you started: Cooking for Diabetics, and Desserts, Sweets, Baked Goods for Diabetics (there are quite a few focused topics, too).

[Ozcook]

You will find lots of advice and diabetic friendly recipes here: http://www.lowcarbfriends.com/bbs/index.php

I also recommend signing up to the newsletter at http://www.mendosa.com/

Edited November 19, 2013 by Ozcook (log)

[Ammy]

Hi Tania,

I found this book “Victory of diabetes” it’s an edition of the health publishing company if I remember well. There are lots of recipes and natural health tips for diabetic people in it , it will help you a lot. By the way I heard that natural foods are perfect for diabetic people, maybe it will lessen your task.

Best regards,

[Tania]

Thanks for advices and suggestions; they all were really helpful Ozcook, Mjx, and diggingdogfarm. I found lots of diabetic recipes and easy to make ones. As far as the book “Victory over diabetes” the health publishing company is concerned Ammy, I haven"t the book yet but so far it sounds very interesting. I wish it will help.

[Ammy]

You’re welcome Tania; in fact, diabetic people don’t really have to follow a strict diet but should only know what is good and what is to be avoided. I heard that "Victory over diabetes" has changed the daliy lives of many diabetes sufferers, maybe you'll be among them.

Good luck!

Edited November 27, 2013 by Ammy (log)

[Allura]

As someone with diabetes, I suggest that a low carb diet is the way to go. It's not a cookbook, but I actually recommend the Insulin Resistance diet. Most doctors will tell you to lose weight but not give you a lot of advice on how, and that is the only one that helped me to lose weight. The general idea is limiting carbs to no more than 30g in a two hour period. You really don't have a lot of things you can't eat if you follow that, you just have to chose your portion size appropriately. Casserole type dishes or pastas don't often work, but anything where you can have the starch component of a meal to the side and measure it out (2/3 C rice, for instance) will work. Sweets are more troubling. I prefer to cut them out and just limit myself to small portions of good quality sweets.

[Tania]

Thanks a lot Allura for this useful information. You’re right saying that most doctors don’t often give tips; they are just here to check your insulin rate and the effort you’ve made during the day. It’s important for diabetic people to know some recipes if not all; however we just have to limit ourselves.

[andiesenji]

I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes 10 years ago and have learned to live with the condition. I have seen several specialists and been prescribed different medications (Including Avandia, which was "bad" but has just been cleared with some more detailed studies). I took Metformin for a few years with fairly good results in keeping my blood glucose in the "normal" range.

However, 9 months ago my nephrologist (I have chronic kidney disease) took me off the metformin and, much to my surprise my diabetes is still well controlled by diet (cutting way back on sugars, moderate carb intake and also cutting back on animal proteins because of the chronic nephritis), and she spend a long time giving me some tips about how and when to test my blood glucose. She says once or twice a day is not enough UNTIL one has stabilized the pattern.

She also told me that if there is a spike in my blood sugar - over 140 - to walk vigorously (or as vigorously as my arthritic knees will allow) for 20-30 minutes. To my surprise, that works! Testing at the end of the exercise period shows a normal reading and even lower half an hour later.

Not one prior doctor had ever taken the time to explain to me how and why this works, just the vague instruction "get regular exercise."

So now I have even better control of my diabetes and for the present, no medication.

Of course this won't work for everyone, I do produce insulin, just not normal amounts. And I am obese, though 80 pounds less than I was two years ago. I am losing weight but in very small increments - losing too much, too rapidly is very hard on the kidneys and liver.

I use some of the newly available sweeteners with a low glycemic index: Agave nectar, barley malt syrup, and most recently got some Yacon syrup(moderately expensive), Lucuma powder (expensive). I've been using coconut palm sugar for many years but slacked off when I thought it was as damaging to the environment as palm oil production but I have lately been assured that it is a sustainable, less problematic industry.

I have subscribed to the free e-newsletter from the Mayo Clinic since my doctor recommended it 8 or 9 years ago. I have a folder in my email where I save all of them so I can refer back.

I'm on Medicare - SCAN and the medical group I have has free "classes" for diabetes management twice a month. Exchanging info and recipes has been very helpful - it's two hours of learning and socializing that I find helpful. I'm retired but they also have evening sessions for people who work. Many other HMOs offer similar help because prevention is less costly than treating after a crisis.

You have to ask if such is available because busy office personnel do not always offer spontaneously.