What to you eat? Pre and diabetics ?

**KenLynn** · 10-08-2008, 05:36 PM

Hi,

How do you eat healthy if pasta and bread make good cheap fillers, if you have pre-diabetes or diabetes? I know you must limit it but what do you fill up on. I also have over 100 lbs to loose.

Lynn

**DonnainME** · 10-08-2008, 05:44 PM

Well, I am pregnant and diabetic NOW on insulin (with high blood pressure too). Fillers are non-starchy veggies. when we have spag - I LOAD UP the sauce with peppers, onions, mushrooms. It's soo thick. I am only allowed 2/3 cup of pasta and 1/2 - 3/4 cup of sauce. We are still eating almost everything we did before. I agree it's harder than before. I LOVE potatoes but now have to limit that. Broccoli and carrots are my friends. Sugar Free KA and SF Jello are too.

Just remember that you can eat ANYTHING you did before just in moderation. I was in the hospital over my bday. I begged for cake. I got a small piece of chocolate cake (instead of a fruit at my bday lunch). I see on the nutrition label that there are some brownies I can have (snack - 15 carbs aka 1 carb serving). I lost one pound in the past week from eating better. I have also had Subway occasionally (6 inch Roasted Chicken Breast on Wheat wth no mayo is about 35 carbs and well within my carb allotment for a lunch or supper).

Good luck. I will answer any questions I can. I see my Diabetes Educator and Dietitian weekly.

**Dancing Lotus** · 10-08-2008, 05:46 PM

Both the Adkins diet and the South beach diet are good for diabetics. I personally am on the Adkins. Cheap fillers are the hard part. I simply don't snack and eat large portions of veggies , sugar free jello and ( Do I dare say it?) Pork rinds. Eggs , lots of eggs made any way you can dream of. Buy the medium ones instead of the large, you will save a little bit of money and never know the difference.

**Dancing Lotus** · 10-08-2008, 05:52 PM

People will argue and I don't really care what they say, but I don't worry about the calorie or fat intake. As long as I keep away from bread, pasta, sugar and potatoes I'm good. Last time I did Adkins I lost 30 pounds fast! And you would be surprised , it doesn't take long before you don't miss it anymore.

I recommend eating sugar substitutes as little as possible. Study's have shown that they have the same effects on your body as regular sugar,. And I can't speak for anyone but me but I know that if I eat a lot of things made from splenda and the like it just makes me crave more sugary things.

**JENROY** · 10-08-2008, 07:35 PM

I am always on the lookout for filling inexpensive foods for my Grandfather who is diabetic. Soba noodles are a healthier alternative and not very expensive. Another NO CARB noodle is shirataki. These are really yummy, but about 2 bucks a package.
Here is the website I use for my Grandfather
http://www.dlife.com/
and here is one about Shirataki noodles, which I first read about in a magazine as a healthier alternative to pasta.
www.MiracleNoodle.com/lowcarbpasta

Good Luck!

**Ceashels** · 10-09-2008, 09:11 AM

We do the South Beach and they are very diabetic oriented in that they consider the glycemic index (how much the blood sugar is raised after eating). Some things you can substitute in moderation would be whole grains such as millet, barley, brown rice and bulghar wheat.

I make mashed beans instead of potatos with garlic, some chicken stock or milk, and some butter. Even Greebo will eat some. You could try mashed turnips (I like them but Greebo doesn't) or combine a potato and a turnip so the carbs are lowered but the flavor and texture isn't dramatically changed.

I made au gratin cauliflower instead of potatoes and they were good, not the same, but they were good none the less.

We eat whole grain pita, tortilla and english muffins (thomas' light multi grain) instead of white breads and since we eat bread so infrequently... we look forward to it as a treat. LOL

I've never been happy with the flavor of whole wheat pasta that I have tried so don't buy too much of one variety until you know you like it. Someone suggested Dreamfields (i think thats the right name) and I have it in my pantry but haven't tried it yet. We'll see how that one is next.

I don't really miss the items we don't eat anymore... I don't miss the white bread or white rice or the sugar. It seems that if we are craving something we can get around it with something similar. It usually isn't pasta that we want, its the cheesy flavor or marinara sauce that is served with it that we crave.

**nodmicks** · 10-09-2008, 06:33 PM

I rarely eat any grains besides oats because of diabetes. I eat stuff like spagetti over cooked cabbage. Lots of veggies. It is more expensive but health is worth it.

**azangie** · 10-09-2008, 07:06 PM

We love Dreamfield's pasta. Tastes just like regular pasta to me and is so much better for you.

We eat a lot of brown rice with chicken, hamburger steaks and meatloaf.

Always have baby carrots and dip made with sour cream and Hidden Valley or generic brand salad dressing. It's excellent and good to snack on.

We're on Weight Watchers, which isn't really diabetic, but on it you can tailor your food to meet your needs.

I'm diabetic and my numbers, both blood sugar and A1C, are never better than when I'm eating within my points and keeping away from white foods (white rice, white bread, etc.)

Good luck to you!!!

**spyzvixxen** · 10-09-2008, 07:08 PM

Back when I did LA Weight Loss (many moons ago & gained it all back due to getting lazy), I enjoyed mashed cauliflower w/ butter, s&p. Spaghetti squash w/ sauce is also a good alternative.

I currently have gestational diabetes & am on insulin. Portions are really the key but it STINKS!!! Eating 2/3 cup of rice is really insulting to me when DF sits there and has about 2 cups LOL.

**DonnainME** · 10-09-2008, 08:38 PM

Originally Posted by spyzvixxen

Portions are really the key but it STINKS!!! Eating 2/3 cup of rice is really insulting to me when DF sits there and has about 2 cups LOL.

I know it sucks - Dh and Dd are there eating up all this pasta and I get 2/3 cup or rice and I get 1/2 cup. OR FRUIT - I LOVE FRUIT. I get 1/2 medium apple and they are there eating a whole one or 2 of them. I am currently too weak to let them bring chocolate or sodas into the house. I told them not allowed because I WOULD eat/drink it and then be in trouble.

I'm 9 weeks pregnant (as of tomorrow) and on insulin as well. Good Luck to you.

**Patty A** · 10-09-2008, 09:44 PM

A couple real good snack ideas I have found that really help me is graham crackers and cheese, cottage cheese and pears, celery and peanut butter, rice cakes (carmel), homemade trail mix with lots of dried fruit, low fat yogurt, and yogurt ice cream,pretzels. Pop corn sprayed with low fat butter spray and sprinkled with some garlic, onion powder,cinnamon, or dry ranch dressing is a very tasty snack. smoothies are great to, made with fruit, yogurt, and sugar free chocolate, extracts work great in these as they really add taste and no sugar.

A couple good fillers are oatmeal, a few beans (like red beans, navy beans, pinto beans) rinsed and added to a green salad really gives it a new taste, the texture really adds something to a plain old green salad. Salsa can really add a kick to a plain meal and give you some new tastes added to about anything. Mushrooms added to a meal can really add also.

Use applesauce for a least half the oil when you make a cake or cookies, it really cuts a lot of fat, and makes it stay moist and nice.

Mashed potatoes made with chicken broth instead of cream and butter makes it much better for diabetics. It tastes pretty good this way and really cuts the carbs. I also add garlic and make a flavored mashed potatoe this way. Thin sliced potatoes sprayed with Pam can bake in the oven and give you a fix when you are wanting a REAL taste of french fries, it really helps take away the crave for the real deep fried things. You can even spice them up with your favorite spices and have a potatoe chip if you leave them a little longer. Not near as bad for you as the real thing either.

You can always use ground turkey or chicken for a meat loaf, it really cuts some carbs and tastes great if you spice it up well.

Just some ideas, hope these help. I have been insulin dependent for the last 15 years. You get really tired of not being able to eat like "normal" people and are always looking for something new to try. Thanks so much for the new ideas, its great to see so many people adding to all of these.

**mom2three** · 10-09-2008, 09:59 PM

I'm going to sound odd here, but try cutting out glutrn grains (wheat, rye, barley). Sub in things like rice, quinoa, millet, amaranth, and buckwheat. In my experience, many people who are overweight are gluten intolerant. I wasn't really oveweight and I even lost 17 lbs just by going gluten free.

**Libby** · 10-09-2008, 10:41 PM

Hi Lynn *waves to a fellow Canuck*

I am diabetic but not on insulin. My #'s are average - we all have both good and bad days. I love to eat which is my problem. I think I have found that its a mental thing with me and portion. I know what a proper portion is but I like to eat more both visually and physically. I love the way food sounds when described, smells when cooking or cooked & being served, the way it looks and tastes send me into a state of happiness at times

What I have to do is limit the foods with high glycemic value (whites & refined sugars) and I can up the volume on the 'freebies' so to speak. Less starch/carbs/sugars/whites and more veggies. I don't go overboard on the meat as that will affect your sugar levels as well.

I try to eat foods that fuel a body. When my gf was pregnant she kept telling me that her mind just shifted into the "Whatever I eat, my baby will eat" and I need to give the right foods to it. So she started eating better and sort of followed the South Beach Diet. I was already doing it and cheat here and there but just tried to balance out whatever I ate.

Mainly I stick to whole grain products though in moderation since they're starch/whites/sugars/carbs and lean protein sources - meat, cheese, youghurt and a whole crapload of veggies - literally. I will have half a plate of veggies steamed and 1/4 plate of protein & 1/4 plate of starch.

Follow the Canada Food Guide suggestions but try to stick to the most purest forms of food. No processed/packaged foods. And try to stick to veggies that are slightly cooked/steamed and not overcooked/boiled to death and *gulp* w/o the tasty fat laiden sauces

(Sorry Mr. Alfredo & Mr. Cheese Sauce)

Keep well hydrated. If you think you're hungry - down a glass of water and wait 10 minutes to see if you're hungry (not full) again. If you are, time for a snack. If not, you were just dehydrated. If after a meal you feel unsatiated (unfull) have a hot tea/coffee to help 'fill in' the gaps. The warmth spreads all over to help your tummy feel cozy and full.

The last tip I can give - if you eat every 2-3 hours alternating between a small meal followed by a snack followed by your next meal etc your body will learn that its going to be fed again shorlty and will not 'store' the food. Plus I find when I do this, I feel more 'full' b/c I'm always eating.

Simple little changes help a lot.

**purktoni** · 10-10-2008, 01:23 PM

What a great thread! I am here with most of you. I WAS gestational diabetic and I'm "pre-diabetic" now, so I do watch what I eat, most of the time.

When I was pregnant, I know my saving grace was Diet Rite soda. It was such a treat to have one every day (it is sweetened with Splenda) it is cafeine free and doesn't have aspartame or sugar in it.

As far as fillers go, we also eat alot of brown rice. The instant brown rice has just as much fiber in it as does long grain that takes forever and a day to cook. Also, try new vegetables, like sweet potatoes- still a starch, but better for you than white potatoes, also asparagus, cabbage salads etc. Adding a sprinkle of cheese (like parmesan) livens just about any vegetable you find dull or Mrs. Dash table blend or both.

I just read somewhere to fill your plate up 1/2 way with non-starchy vegetables, use smaller plates (which we've always heard) and that leaves the other 1/2 to share a starch and a protein.

When you get a craving for something sweet, which I know I do DAILY- popsicles and fudgesicles are perfectly portioned, are portable and satisfy that sweet tooth. Sugar-free or not, I know I can never stop at 1/2 cup of ice cream so I don't have it in the house, but I feel like a pig if I eat 4 popsicles- so its kind of a psychological thing for me!

Good luck- and thanks for the thread, lots of good stuff here!
Toni

**heartofmine** · 10-10-2008, 05:58 PM

Its just a matter of limiting those and adding in the good vege's you can eat to fill in the gaps. My dh is diabetic. Its tough but he know he has to be careful.