Cooking for diabetic (help!)

Zziggi · 8 May 2007 at 12:49PM

(not looking for medical advice)

DH has just found out he has diabetes (on top of all his other health probs!). Now I am PANICKING!!! What on earth do I cook? I suppose i should be glad we already eat OS and i cook mostly from scratch - but I am still panicking!

Can anyone make suggestions? Especially needed are snacks that are suitable. Do i rule out puddings totally? What's "in" and what is "out"?

P.S. still waiting to see a diabetes nurse but i want to start while he is in the mood to change his diet!

Penelope_Penguin · 8 May 2007 at 2:03PM

Try a look at these older threads:
- Newly diabetic - any ideas?

- Low fat/low carb/diabetic/vegetarian recipe site

- Treats for diabetics

HTH, Penny. x

Shortie · 8 May 2007 at 3:37PM

Hi Zziggi :grouphug:

Please don't panic... I did when DS (now 4 years old) was diagnosed last October with Type 1.

What type is your OH if you don't mind me asking?

I can't offer advice really on food as I'm definately still learning myself and would hate to say the wrong thing. What I would say though is that if he's Type1, a lot of blood sugar control will be put back with the insulin.

Saying that, there are general rules to follow like try to reduce snacking between insulins, and if he's hungry, things like meat and cheese won't impact his blood sugar (though I know by saying that cheese is high in fat so you need to look at the trade-off here...). Pudding's aren't a no-no, just eat them with meals, and you'll be taught how to adjust the insulin to account for the sugar.

I can't say a sausage about Type 2 control as DS didn't start out as Type 2, he had a virus and 3 weeks later, bang, very poorly 3 year old.

If there's something positive I can say about DS being diabetic, it's that suddenly you see diet in a very different way. All nurses will tell you that there's not actually a 'Diabetic Diet' but one that really, everyone should follow regardless - that's because it's very healthy.

I wouldn't want to say too much until you've seen the diabetic nurse incase I conflict what she says, but PM me if you need a chat.

anniebooklover · 8 May 2007 at 4:20PM

Hi Zziggi

Don't panic - as you already cook from scratch you probably won't notice much difference. I'm a diet-controlled Type 2 diabetic and do most of my cooking from scratch. I was advised to use wholemeal bread and pasta and brown rice instead of their white equivalents as they are healthier and are better for maintaining blood sugar levels. If you are using jars of sauce or something similar, choose one that has less than 5% sugar and fat.

Use white meats where possible - on the list of foods I was given, pork was listed as something that should only be eaten rarely. Just as well I'm not addicted to bacon butties! :rolleyes:

I try not to eat any sweets, desserts or pud (except at Christmas or other special occasion) but if I really MUST have something then I would go for a scone or something similar as they are not as sweet as other cakes or chocolate.

To put it briefly, just make your OHs diet as healthy as possible. I was told to eat something roughly every four hours as this helps to keep the blood sugar levels in check too. A snack can be anything from a piece of fruit or raw veg to a brown bread sandwich with some salad and chicken.

I'm sure the nurse at your surgery will give you more info. Good luck.

morganlefay · 8 May 2007 at 5:01PM

Absolutely - don't panic ! Diabetic 'diets' are not like they used to be. The general idea is to eat normally, but healthily, so no need for special 'diabetic' foods. Obviously cut down (or out completely) straight sugar, as in sweets, sugar on cereals (sweetners are OK) sticky toffee pudding etc etc on a regular basis - tho he can have a treat now and then. Look on the Diabetes UK website - they have lots of different cookbooks quite modestly priced and really all thay are about is sensible eating - more fruit and veg, less sugar, more wholemeal bread/pasta etc because it keeps the blood sugars level. Any 'GI' diet would help as they are really about sugar too. Your diabetic nurse ought to offer you the opportunity to talk to a dietitian about food, which is very reassuring, but my thought is always that diabetes has to fit in with my life, not the other way round, so I eat sensibly now and try not to let it take over. I can tell you that there is life after a diagnosis of diabetes, and it's not all counting food units and not being able to eat things.Good luck !

Fivenations · 8 May 2007 at 10:43PM

I'm not diabetic so cannot help but I have been told this site is good http://www.mendosa.com/advice.htm

Also try the Diabetes UK website.

Good luck.

Uniscots97 · 20 August 2007 at 12:28PM

Hi All, I've started getting organised for Christmas and am making my best friend and her hubby and 3 boys a hamper for their present (they loved the chinese themed one last year). This year I thought I'd put in a collection of diabetic recipes (as well as some of the ingredients) as the youngest is diabetic. In previous years I would just have bought a recipe book, but trying to do this both OS and DFW style.Plan to type up the recipes and put them in a black portfolio file (wipe clean!).

Can anyone help me out please?

Penelope_Penguin · 20 August 2007 at 12:46PM

Try these older threads:

- Newly diabetic - any ideas?

-Treats for diabetics

- Dietary problems - all help very gratefully received...

- cake recipies for diabetics

- Low fat/low carb/diabetic/vegetarian recipe site

- Diabetic Christmas desserts?

HTH, Penny. x

Pink. · 20 August 2007 at 12:49PM

There are also hundreds of recipes on google to choose from: Diabetic recipes

Pink

Firefly · 20 August 2007 at 12:56PM

Now forgive me for being naieve but my son was diagnosed as diabetic in June. Type 1 diabetes and he injects 4 times a day. Other than a healthy diet, our eating hasn't changed. There is certainly no food that is "forbidden" although he does sometimes have to adjust and eat the sweet stuff before exercise or with meals and he adapts the insulin he takes to meet his carbodydrate needs.

Nobody has ever suggested that I should cook any particular meals although obviously I'm very conscious of sugar content and do things like reduce the amount of sugar that I use. Nothing related to cooking is diabetic specific, simply healthy.

I've been explicitly told by the diabetes clinical nurse specialist that I shouldn't buy anything that is diabetic specific such as "diabetic icecream" as this is all a waste of money.

I think it's lovely that you're thinking of your friend and her family but I'd urge you to simply think "healthy" rather than focus on a specific disability. I know my son hates it when his needs become specific, i.e. I made the mistake of asking for diet coke "because he's diabetic" and will never, ever make that mistake again.

Good luck.

iwanttosave_2 · 20 August 2007 at 1:02PM

I agree with firefly to be honest. My OH is type one and I don't cook anything different than I normally did. Everything was homecooked and healthy anyway.

He still has puddings with us, just smaller portions and has sugar free drinks.

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Cooking for diabetic (help!)

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