I had to watch my diet when I was borderline for gestational diabetes with Phillip. I probably ate better then than any other time in my life, LOL! We got a book from the library for DH to read. It basically says that if you are pre-diabetic, you can actually put off the onset, or in some cases prevent it altogether, through exercise and diet. But HE'S the one that has to make the decision. I can do all I can here, but if he stops and buys donuts every day on his way to school, what can I do?
I pack my husbands lunch every day, I give him peanutbutter crackers for his morning break. something like that might be filling and better alternative for him than doughnuts. Or you can do something like scrambled eggs, and cheese a pice of crumbled bacon inside a tortilla--breakfast burrito! (add salsa if he likes) If he is full before he heads out the door or has something to take along with him he might not stop for that empty callorie doughnut every day (or less times each week).
also, I did a big thing switching from regular coke cola to diet, but it was hard! I don't like the regular diet coke but the splenda one or e the zero is pretty good, or diet pepsi with lemon, lime or cherry flavor is ok, then we make iced tea every day (my husband is southern) I switched out the sugar and put in splenda packets, we both like it that way now. Simple things like that is helpful. At first I did really well with every thing else the doctor told me to do but now I have to get back on track with portions
My DH is simply STUBBORN! He won't eat anything that he has to take the time to stick in the microwave for lunch. He doesn't care particularly for cheese, and won't eat whole-grain breads. He honestly doesn't drink much pop. I generally don't keep it around the house, but we do drink some KoolAid in the summer. He will drink tea unsweetened, and is VERY good about drinking water. In the past, he has asked me to get him some "good" stuff for his lunch, which I do, and then he never touches them. I'll pack him a lunch and he'll leave it at school and buy junk in the cafeteria instead. Like I said, HE has got to decide to do it. I can't do it for him!
jeeeesh, he should have the nurse that I have at my doctor's office, she gave me a lecture that scared my pants off about what could happen if I didn't take care of my self.
Because of Ashley's allergic reaction to Equal (nutrasweet), we have pretty much ruled out all artificial sweeteners in our house. Becky~ Sweet & Low is not a nutrasweet product, it contains saccharin. I never noticed that it made me go to the bathroom more. Of course, I used to use it in iced tea, which runs right through me- so maybe it was a combination of the two! I think that Splenda is a great alternative to sugar for those of you with diabetes. However, when we were talking about artificial sweeteners with a nutritionist at Curves, she said that if we had to buy one at a grocery store, she'd recommend Sweet & Low (which used to be taboo!) She said that Splenda contains chlorine, or something. I can't remember now. I have also tried a product called Stevia, which is actually a plant. You need very little of it to sweeten a drink, and it leaves no aftertaste at all. Those of you with diabetes may try this one, if you haven't already. It's hard to find, and costs a bit more, but I found it to be worth the extra money for the taste. And, it's natural, which makes it a nice alternative.
I remember a discussion on abcteach about natural diets and stevia. I finally live in an area with a natural food store. Thanks for reminding me about stevia, Heidi!
The diabetes book says that Splenda is made from "sucrose in a process that substitutes chlorine atoms for part of the sugar molecule". So it seems the curve nutritionist is correct. It ALSO says that it is the best suited for cooking and baking. I will not use anything with aspartame or saccharin in it. I don't trust either one.
Living with diabetes is a challenge, but it is "doable"... The Husband is also a diabetic (we both have inherited it), but refuses to take care of himself... *sigh* It makes it harder to buy/cook food when one is on board without the other. Maybe someday...
