Books on Diabetic Cooking Plans
When someone has diabetes, it means that their blood sugar levels have a tendency to be very high and must be controlled through diet and sometimes medication. Diabetes is a serious disease which can lead to death if not cared for properly. One thing that diabetics must do is adopt a specialized diet that is designed to keep blood sugar levels at a steady normal level.
Learning about diabetes menu planning and cooking become very important and there are a number of sources for solid information such as the diabetes association and personal physicians. There are also several books on the market about this subject. This article will take a look at a couple of popular books on diabetic cooking.
The Diabetes Diet: Dr. Bernstein's Low Carbohydrate Solution
Dr. Bernstein is an authority on diabetes and he has written a book that is packed with diabetes information and comes complete with a menu planner and 100 delicious recipes. His approach emphasizes the importance of controlling diabetes through low carb eating. The first edition of this book was released in 1997 and has sold over 120,000 copies. The goal of the book is to help diabetics enjoy the pleasure of eating delectable meals while controlling the blood sugar by preventing swings through the practice of a low carb diet.
Atkins Diabetes Revolution: The Groundbreaking Approach to Preventing and Controlling Type 2 Diabetes
This book was written by two colleagues of the low carb diet guru Dr. Atkins. Mary Vernon and Jacqueline Eberstein put together this diabetes cooking book which focuses on a low carbohydrate diet which allows the eating of fats. This book contains important information for diabetics concerning how eating a low carb diet can help them to alleviate the symptoms of their disease and keep their blood sugar from swinging up and down based upon what they eat. This diet allows for hearty eating and helps to promote general good health and can also be used to prevent diabetes from developing in the first place.
Important work has been done in the past couple of decades regarding the effects of low carb eating and diabetes. A person with diabetes has to be very careful with their diet so it is highly recommended to consult with a doctor before starting on any type of eating regime to make sure it will be safe and effective. Even if one is taking medication to control diabetes, it is still necessary to eat properly to keep blood sugar levels on an even keel. The reward of eating properly and keeping blood sugar levels down will be worth it since it will help to ward off many of the severe conditions that can develop along with advanced diabetes such as blindness and loss of circulation in the extremeties.
Diabetic Cooking: The Importance of Controlling Carbohydrates
If you have diabetes then you know how important it is to control your meals and maintain a strict diet so that you keep your carbohydrate consumption to a minimum each day in order to keep your blood sugar steady. This article will take a look at the types of diabetes and how diet is used to control each type.
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes usually manifests itself in childhood or as a young adult. This type of diabetes causes the diabetic to become insulin dependent which means they need to inject insulin everyday because their pancreas does not manufacture enough of it to keep blood sugar levels down. This is the less common type of diabetes and affects only 10% of diabetes sufferers. Symptoms of type 1 diabetes include nausea, vomiting, weight loss, exhaustion, excessive thirst, frequent urination and constant hunger.
Type 2 Diabetes
In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas produces enough insulin but the cells of the body resist it therefore it cannot be utilized by the body. Hence, this type of diabetes is also referred to as insulin resistant diabetes. The symptoms of type 2 diabetes include tingling and numbness of the feet, skin infections with slow to heal wounds or sores, and blurred vision.
For those with type 1 diabetes, it is important to eat at regular meal times, adhere to a strict diabetic diet and get plenty of exercise to keep weight under control. For these diabetics, the amount of carbohydrates that is consumed each day is determined by the amount of insulin that the doctor prescribes.
For those with type 2 diabetes, following a diabetic diet as well as exercise play an important role in controlling blood sugar levels. Diabetics that are at their ideal weight can consume half of their calories from natural carbohydrates. Diabetics that are overweight should limit carbohydrates to 40%.
The glycemic index is a useful tool for diabetics. It can be used when menu planning because it is basically a list of foods ranked according to their carbohydrate levels and how quickly they affect blood glucose levels.
Diabetics need to consume a low carb diet. The best cereals, bread, pasta, and rice that should be used is whole grain. In addition, nuts and seeds, fresh vegetables and fruits, and dried beans are also good for diabetics to add to their diets. On the other hand, white rice, white potatoes, low fiber cereal, candy, and beverages with sugar must be avoided.
If you have any questions or concerns about your diabetic diet, be sure to consult with your doctor or dietician. You should also check with your doctor to make sure you are eating the correct amount of carbohydrates for the type of diabetes that you have.
Cooking For A Diabetic
If you or a loved one has diabetes, then you already know how important it is to strictly control the diet. Sometimes diabetic cooking can be a challenge and it is easy to get into a rut. The challenge is to prepare foods that are nutritious, won't cause a spike in blood sugar and yet are appealing to eat. Because diabetes is such a widespread condition today, there are many diabetic cookbooks on the market to make it a little easier for you to prepare both healthy and yummy meals.
There are some general guidelines you should follow to make sure your meals are healthy and you should keep an eye on fats, sodium and carbohydrates. It is best to avoid frying foods when possible and instead, broil, boil, or roast. Before cooking, remove the fatty portions of meat and take the skin off of chicken. Use broths and other food items that are low in saturated fats and sodium. Use non-stick frying pans so you can cut down on the amount of oil used. Substitute vegetarian meals in place of meat based meals on occasion and substitute certain fruits in place of ice cream and chocolate sweets. Use skimmed milk and other non fat dairy products and fat free dressing on salads or use yogurt as a salad dressing.
Reduce the amount of sugar you use when cooking or eliminate it altogether. You can use an artificial sweetener instead such as splenda or cut the sugar back to about 1/4 as much as you would normally use. This may not work with sweets and other desserts and those should be eliminated except for diabetic desserts. Artificial sweeteners have their own drawbacks but can be used in recipes where sugar is not needed to create the right texture, color or moisture level. It may take a while, but eventually you and your loved one will lose the taste for sugar and learn to enjoy the natural flavor of foods once again.
It is also important that you use measuring spoons and measuring cups when you cook for a diabetic and measure out portion sizes accurately. Cooking for someone with diabetes can be a challenge but thanks to the many wonderful cookbooks that are on the market today, it is getting much easier to make healthy and tasty meals. You can easily find diabetic dessert recipes and recipes for holiday meals as well as everyday eating. Remember though to follow the dietary guidelines as set forth by your doctor or the doctor of your loved one since everyone is different and the doctor is the best one to give advice on the proper diabetic menu to follow.
Diabetic Cooking: Sample Menu
The diabetic diet that you follow will be determined by you and your doctor based upon the type of diabetes that you have as well as its severity taken into consideration with any other health problems that you have. A common diet that is used for diabetics is often referred to as the 1800 calorie diet. The goal of this diet is to limit caloric intake in order to control blood glucose as well as cholesterol and weight. In addition, it helps to transition the diabetic to a healthy eating lifestyle. Below is a sample day's menu for an 1800 calorie diabetic diet.
Breakfast
1 cup of skim milk or 1 cup unsweetened low fat yogurt
2 slices of whole wheat bread
1 serving of an apple, banana or orange
1 small slice cheese
The breakfast provides adequate nutrition and fuel to last all morning and includes starch, fat, vitamins and protein. Whole grain pasta may be substituted for the bread.
Lunch
2 small portions skinless turkey or chicken
1 small fish
Cheese may be substituted for one portion of turkey or chicken. Meat is an excellent source of protein and should be cooked with a very small amount of oil. It is best not to fry but to steam, grill, bake, or roast instead. You may optionally add 1 cup of vegetables or 1 cup of whole grain rice or pasta.
Afternoon Snack
Salt free or low salt crackers
1 cup skim milk or yogurt
1/2 cup tea unsweetened or with artificial sweetener
Try not to eat anything heavy or an afternoon snack. Be sure to use sweeteners in moderation and to check with your doctor before using sugar as a sweetener.
Dinner
1 small fish or 1 portion of meat
1 small fruit
Vegetables such as carrots, broccoli, or spinach
Rice cake
1 cup low fat milk
A heavy meal should be avoided at dinner time also so digestion will not be impaired while you sleep. You can see by this sample menu that you can eat very well on an 1800 calorie diet. The basic tenets of the 1800 calorie diet include calorie restriction to 1800 calories per day, eating low salt or salt free foods, eating foods that are low in fat, avoiding cooking in excess fats, and limiting the amount of carbohydrates consumed during the day. The diet is basically a healthy eating plan and can be used to lose weight and control diabetes. If you are a diabetic, you should get specific details from your doctor to make sure you know which foods to eat and which to avoid so you can regulate your blood sugar. And remember, the above is just an example menu. You can follow the basic guidelines while jazzing up your menu so your meals don't become boring.
Diabetic Cooking: Sugar Substitutes
If you have diabetes or prepare meals for someone who is, then you will need to switch to sugar free cooking. Thanks to all the sugar substitutes on the market today it really isn't all that difficult any more. Plus you will find many diabetic recipes that were created specifically for particular artificial sweeteners so you don't have to worry about doing the conversions yourself. The main drawback to cooking without sugar is that sugar is often needed in recipes to perform other functions besides sweetening. Sugar also affects the chemistry of what you are cooking and adds volume and moisture. Diabetic recipes have already accounted for this, but if you are trying to convert the recipes yourself, remember to take the above into consideration.
If you want to simply avoid white sugar then you can substitute brown sugar which reportedly is somewhat healthier since its vitamins and minerals are removed when it is polished into white sugar. However as a diabetic, you are probably aiming to avoid sugar all together. If that is your goal, consider the sweeteners below.
Splenda
Splenda is extremely popular with diabetics because it closely resembles sugar when cooking. It can be used for baking, sweetening beverages, making sauces and just about anything else you would normally use sugar for. Splenda is made from sucralose which is a form of sugar but the body doesn't recognize it as a carbohydrate so it doesn't have an effect upon blood sugar to the same degree as regular white sugar does.
Saccharin
Saccharin was originally isolated from grapes and is reported to be over 100 times sweeter than sugar so a tiny amount goes a very long way. Its use is limited however. It does not add the other chemical actions like regular sugar does so it cannot be used in baking. It also has a strong aftertaste so it is difficult to use as a sweetener for drinks.
Aspartame
Aspartame is another artificial sweetener which is super sweet, again it is claimed to be 100 times sweeter than sugar. It too is not suitable for baking because when it is heated it loses its sweetness. Aspartame is popular as a sweetener for beverages.
Honey
Honey is a sugar substitute but not an artificial one. It can however be used as a substitute in certain kinds of cooking and can be used to sweeten beverages if one can become accustomed to the taste which differs greatly from sugar. Honey does have more calories and carbohydrates than sugar however so be aware of that fact if you use it as a sugar substitute.
With a little creativity you can create recipes that are unique and tasty without having to rely on sugar. You can use the artificial sweeteners mentioned above or rely on natural ingredients such as using applesauce or honey.
Diabetic Cooking: Where To Find Diabetic Dessert Recipes
Just because you have diabetes, it doesn't mean you can no longer enjoy food that tastes good or have to reject desserts. Of course, you must be very careful with what you eat and must stay away from typical sweets, since those can cause blood sugar levels to soar. Eating sugar based candy and sweets is not good for anyone but especially not for diabetics. Luckily, there are many desserts that diabetics can eat - just make sure that you obtain the recipes from a trusted source. Listed below are a couple of good sources of diabetic dessert recipes.
The Type 2 Diabetes Dessert Cookbook
This is a great cookbook for diabetics and it has recipes for scrumptious cookies, pies, cakes, and other treats. In addition, the book also provides pointers of what to avoid when you dine out and includes tips on holiday meal planning. This book was written by Lois Soneral and Charles Chavez and is filled with recipes to please diabetics as well as non-diabetics.
The Healthy Exchanges Diabetic Desserts Cookbook
This book was written by Joanna Lund and Barbara Alpert and is a popular cookbook for obtaining diabetic dessert recipes. You will find 200 recipes such as Rocky Road Pistachio Pie and the yummy Butterscotch Pecan Parfait. The book is educational as well and helps the reader to understand diabetes and pre-diabetes and how important it is to follow a diabetic diet to keep blood sugar in check. Joanna Lund is a popular speaker at weight loss support groups and has been featured in People Magazine, Forbes, and the New York Times. She has put together a wonderful cookbook for diabetics that includes such treasures as cheesecake recipes and recipes for pies, puddings, cakes, breads, brownies, and cobblers.
Sticking to a diabetic diet does not have to be boring and there is no need to feel deprived of your favorite foods when you have dessert recipes like these. Feel good about the fact that the food you are eating is healthy for your body and keeping your blood sugar under control.
You may be able to find these books or similar ones at your local library so you don't have to spend money on them if you don't care to. In fact, your local library is a good source of diabetic cooking recipes and menus. Of course, you will also find a wide selection in your local bookstore or online at Amazon. You can also search for diabetic dessert recipes on the internet, just make sure they come from a reliable source. As you can see, there are many options when it comes to diabetic cooking and making your meals interesting and delicious.
Diabetic Cooking: Chocolate Dessert
Are you thinking you have to give up all sweets and even chocolate because you have diabetes? Well, luckily you don't have to. Of course, you must follow a diabetic diet and avoid sugar but thanks to today's artificial sweeteners you can still have a sweet treat now and then. In fact, you can find many diabetic dessert recipes for treats that not only taste good but are actually good for you because they are not made with excess fats and sugars. Therefore they are healthy even for non-diabetics to choose over the normal sugar laden desserts. One such dessert is the yummy chocolate banana mousse and the recipe for it is below.
Chocolate Banana Mouse Diabetic Dessert Recipe
Ingredients
1 cup evaporated skimmed milk
3 tablespoons granulated artificial sweetener
1/4 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 ounce unsweetened chocolate
2 sliced bananas
2 egg yolks
Directions
In the top pan of a double boiler mix together 1/4 cup milk with the artificial sweetener and chocolate. Put the remaining 3/4 cup of milk into the freezer to start chilling. Stir the chocolate until it is melted. Place the two eggs yolks in a bowl and pour part of the chocolate mixture on the eggs and beat. Transfer this egg-chocolate mixture into the remaining chocolate in the double boiler and stir until thickened. Let cool completely. Now retrieve the milk from the freezer and whisk it until it becomes stiff. Add the cooled chocolate mixture, vanilla, and sliced bananas. Spoon this mixture into cups or a mold and place back in the freezer until firm.
For more delicious diabetic recipes like this one, pick up a copy of The Joslin Diabetes Quick and Easy Cookbook: 200 Recipes for 1 to 4 People. In addition to great recipes, this book also lists the nutritional content of various foods and lists cholesterol, fat, sodium, and calorie amounts. There is also a FAQ which answers often asked questions about diabetic cooking.
There are many diabetic recipes out there for desserts, chocolates, as well as main dishes which are easy to make and good to eat. There is no reason to deny your taste buds just because you have diabetes. Sure, you may have to give up candy bars, but those are laden with sugar and other things that are not good for you whether you have diabetes or not. You can substitute yummy and healthy sweets instead and help yourself stay healthy and live longer too. Follow your doctor's or dietician's guidelines, grab some good diabetic cookbooks and enjoy your meals again. Diabetic cooking doesn't have to be difficult at all; there are many quick and easy menu ideas you can implement to keep your meals lively so you will be more inclined to stick to your diet which as you know is very important for the health of someone who has diabetes.