New to Diabetes

I'm sorry about the diagnosis! But there is a lot of help available. Please go to

www.diabetes.org

This is the web site of the American Diabetes Association and they have advice specifically for the "newly diagnosed" and their families. They also have recipes and nutritional information. They may even have groups that meet in your area.

Consider having a meeting with you, your husband and a registered dietitian (RD) who specializes in diabetes nutrition. You can get a lot of help that way! Ask the doctor for a referral to an RD.

Good luck navigating this new lifestyle. There IS help out there to make the cooking easier!

My late Dad, had Diabetes.

1) Not only overweight people, get it. It is also hereditary.
2) He NEEDS to see a Nutritionist. His primary care physician, should be referring him to one. This is mandatory.
3) He will need to take any recommended medications, daily.
4) he will need to exercise. But not for you or anyone... but for himself. And something that HE will enjoy. remember that exercise does not mean running marathons. It can just mean, walking about the block.
5) He will need to see his Doctor regularly.
6) He will need to monitor his blood sugar
7) He will need to learn... about what foods he can or cannot eat... AND how to eat. Thus, see a Nutritionist.
8) Diabetes, if a person does not take care of themselves, can die. Or the condition will get worse.
9) Each person, has to find out about THEIR condition. Don't just do what someone else is... because... they may have other medical problems too, and no person has identical conditions.
10) Go to http://www.diabetes.org/
11) You did not say what kind of Diabetes he has.

12) He has to learn how to care of his body... Diabetics are more prone to skin infection, especially on their feet and this can cause gangrene or amputation, if it is not monitored. ie: many diabetics get foot infections because they cut themselves while cutting their toenails.
13) Diabetes... ALSO affects: the circulatory system, the nervous system, the heart, and the eyes. My Dad for example, was partially blind, due to the complications of Diabetes.

So the MOST important thing is:
get educated on it. Your HUSBAND has to.
REGULARLY, see your Doctor. Not just a general practitioner, but a SPECIALIST. A heart/cardiologist Doctor, an eye specialist, a Renal doctor, etc. My Dad, saw ALL of these Specialists, regularly, per his Diabetes.

YOU also need to, go to the Nutritionist WITH him... so that you will know how to properly cook for him and what foods he can or cannot eat.

14) you/he also, needs to know and learn about the "Glycemic" index of foods.

15) Processed foods are not good.
Simple starches, are not good. ie: white rice, potatoes, white bread, etc. These, are simple sugars.
But he can eat, brown rice etc. WHOLE grains etc.
Again... SEE A NUTRITIONIST. Because, Diabetics have unique dietary and health... needs.

You cannot guess at this.
You need to learn about it, from the ground up.
DO NOT... just cook or feed your Husband something, just because someone of someone you know, told you this is what they do or eat.

Again, my late Dad had Diabetes... BUT he ALSO had, many other health problems and conditions... which ALSO in tandem with Diabetes... had to be, managed.
Thus, the reason why, you cannot just go by hearsay on what to cook for your Husband.
It is not a one-size-shoe, fits all.

Hi Nu2D,

My dad is a diabetic as well and he got a Diabetics Cookbook. I've heard that this is good. Good luck and I hope that this helps!

I. K.

I work on the diagnostic side of diabetes but Leigh has some great links below. EVERY office I visit has meetings with other patients to get their head around this or ask questions of the doctor and RD.

I'll look to see if there are any ideas in my resources.

It's much either than it first appears as how a diabetic is supposed to eat is how we all are supposed to eat. Once you understand how to distribute fats, proteins and carbs in a meal it will become second nature! And everyone in the family eating that way will feel healthier. We learned this at a class at our local hospital. It gave us the understanding. They actually figured out a numerical equation so that my husband (my diabetic) understood how many carbs,fats, proteins he would be allowed at each meal and how often in between. I sell a diet program and this is the advice I give my clients about how to eat:

This is the way we should all eat!

#1-Don’t skip meals
#2-space Meals 4-6 hours apart
#3-healthy snacks should be spaced 2 hours away from a meal
#4-Do your best to follow the distribution below at each meal, while watching portions. Your Cinch Meal bars and shakes are perfect meal replacements to accomplish this. My husband adds a little fruit to his shakes with no problem (usually ½ banana, or a few frozen strawberries, fresh blueberries, etc…. are great!)

40-45% of your calories should be Complex Carbohydrates. Pick low glycemic carbs with lots of fiber like whole grains, beans and plant based phytonutrients found in fresh fruits and vegetables.
25-30% of your calories should come from lean protein foods like soy, low or nonfat dairy, fish rich in omega 3 fatty acids and lean poultry.
25-30% of your calories should come from healthy fats like olives, nuts. avocados and seeds. Just be careful about your portions. (For example: 3 tablespoons of almonds are about 6 carbs)

So ....... say you would like to send a sandwich for lunch with your husband. Read the label of the breads. One slice of bread may have 9 carbs or 35! Buy yourself a book that lists the distribution of carbs, proteins, fats and look up everything you eat for a couple of weeks. Soon you won't need the book and will be able to estimate even when out in a restaurant. Depending on your husbands size will depend on how many carbs he should be minimizing himself to. Forget about sugar. Concentrate on carbs. He probably should have between 30 and 60 per meal. No more than 30 at a snack, but I would call a local hospital and see if they have a program you can be evaluated at.

Best of Luck!

CONGRATS to your husband for losing over 100 lbs!!! If he was able to do that, I am sure that he will find the discipline to avoid full diabetes as long as possible. The short answer is protein good, carbs bad. But you know that, and so does he :) My husband is a Type I diabetic, so a whole different story on diet and medication. I just want you to know that diabetes is very serious, but it is not a death sentence. My husband controls his condition very carefully, and after 27 years (diagnosed at age 8) he still has 20/10 vision. You wouldn't be asking this if you two weren't a team- you can work this out together.

I'm a healthy diabetic...look up diabetic diet. Watch sugar breads.exercise as much as possible.always check blood ____@____.com