Diabetic cooking on a narrowboat!

[Leni]

Bit of a blow. To add to his problems, my son has just been diagnosed as diabetic He cooks for himself when on the boat, but tends to rely too much on processed and 'convenience' foods. Can anyone recommend a diabetics cook book which would be easy for a severely dyslexic / ADHD person living on a narrowboat to use? I get the feeling this is going to be hard work!

[Chertsey]

I suspect he might need some hands-on lessons from you to get him started!

 

Does anything actually differentiate a 'diabetic' diet from a normal healthy one - i.e. plenty of fibre, fruit and veg, and not too much processed and refined stuff? Even this could well be a culture shock to someone used to using a lot of processed stuff so it would be nice if someone was muddling through it with him, perhaps.

[Guest wanted]

I'm not at all able to advise on the Diabetes issue however if you are interested in trying to steer your Son away from processed food I would recommend this http://www.amazon.co.uk/River-Cottage-Veg-Every-Day/dp/1408812126/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1335987444&sr=8-2

 

Really tastey veg food every time.

[magpie patrick]

I suspect he might need some hands-on lessons from you to get him started!

 

Does anything actually differentiate a 'diabetic' diet from a normal healthy one - i.e. plenty of fibre, fruit and veg, and not too much processed and refined stuff? Even this could well be a culture shock to someone used to using a lot of processed stuff so it would be nice if someone was muddling through it with him, perhaps.

 

Overall the advice is that what is sensible for most people is essential for diabetics, espcially diet controlled ones like me.

 

But not too much fruit. It's full of sugar, natural sugar albeit but sugar never the less

 

I find the traffic light system on processed foods and sauces helpful, but not fool proof, especially [expleteive deleted] coop who brand things as green or orange and then add "not including natural sugars". The system is also based on percentages, which is sensible but not always helpful. A chocolate bar is "red", but a small chocolate bar is okay because even if it is 50% sugar, it's okay.

[Grace and Favour]

Bit of a blow. To add to his problems, my son has just been diagnosed as diabetic He cooks for himself when on the boat, but tends to rely too much on processed and 'convenience' foods. Can anyone recommend a diabetics cook book which would be easy for a severely dyslexic / ADHD person living on a narrowboat to use? I get the feeling this is going to be hard work!

 

Could not your GP, or one of the many diabetic associations, help, Leni?

[Dyertribe]

Could not your GP, or one of the many diabetic associations, help, Leni?

Speak to the Diabetes Specialist nurse, there is at least one attached to every Diabetes Unit in hospital, he/she should be able o help and also put you in touch with a dietician,again there s usually one attached to the Unit. They will have lots of practical help for him.

As has already been said a normal healthy diet is what is recommended for people with diabetes ( the term diabetic is frowned upon these days) the importance is to eat regularly to avoid problems associated with timing of insulin doses. I have presumed that as you mentioned "son" that he has Type1diabetes and needs insulin. If he has Type 2 diabetes the emphasis will be to maintain a suitable weight, if he s overweight he will be encouraged to loses some as that can improve his insulin resistance and an even mean his blood sugars return to normal.

 

Alyson

[n.b.Goldie]

Try having a look at this site, I find it very helpful. http://www.diabetes.co.uk/

 

Personally I favour low-carbing but it's a bit controversial.

 

What I find strange is that the diet recommended by the NHS consists of foods that convert almost totally to sugar which is of course what we are trying to avoid.

 

My diabetic nurse says that the reason for this is that low-carbing contravenes the low-fat-mantra that we all, healthy or diabetic have to follow now although in her opinion diabetics should be treated differently.

 

What he can or cannot do will depend on whether he is insulin dependent (type1) or diet and medication such as metformin controlled (type2). If he is lucky he will be diet only controlled but if handled badly can quickly become medication dependent.

 

I am sorry that he is severely dyslexic ADHC, I suspect he will need close supervision.

 

Best wishes

Ditchdabbler

[Arthur Brown]

Ask your hospital dietician for some suggested recipies.

[cazberry]

I'm not at all able to advise on the Diabetes issue however if you are interested in trying to steer your Son away from processed food I would recommend this http://www.amazon.co.uk/River-Cottage-Veg-Every-Day/dp/1408812126/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1335987444&sr=8-2

 

Really tastey veg food every time.

 

Thanks for the link...just purchased it!

A friend of mine was diagnosed as diabetic, and managed to bring it under control through his diet. I agree with Arthur...always a good idea to ask the hospital dietician for guidance...good luck

Edited May 2, 2012 by cazberry

[jelunga]

The Diabetes Uk org do a great cookbook. Which you can buy frim their web site. There is also an ipod/ iphone app from them too.

Have a good read on the web site. They publish useful information about tge standards of xare your are entitled to expect. My diabetes is (badly) controlled by tablets abd diet. It is the diet bit I gave problems with. Ok if you are a rabbit but not so easy if you are a lion like me

[sueb]

Meat is fine :-) The exercize catching it even better.

[tree]

Bit of a blow. To add to his problems, my son has just been diagnosed as diabetic He cooks for himself when on the boat, but tends to rely too much on processed and 'convenience' foods. Can anyone recommend a diabetics cook book which would be easy for a severely dyslexic / ADHD person living on a narrowboat to use? I get the feeling this is going to be hard work!

Hi,it is always a shock when a family member is diagnosed with diabetes ( or any other condition), the times people said to me 'oh! he carnt have any sugar can he' my son was diagnosed at 2 yrs and had to use insulin,he is now 23yrs. What we found that helps keep his condition under control is to eat a healthy balanced diet, and to exercise regularly. Too much processed food is not a good idea for anyone, especially not people with diabetes or ADHD ( I also work with youngsters with this condition and have noticed that too much processed foods can make them more hyperactive

 

I was lucky ( in a way) that my son developed the condition at such a young age, because he has known no different, as his diet and lifestyle has more or less been the same. But when people develope diabetes at a later age it can be very traumatic, and some find it very hard to deal with, especially if they have to use insulin straight away, because it can be such a shock to their lifestyle. It might help to see if there are any support peer groups in your area, because maybe being able just to talk to others could be helpful,because as parents we tend to worry and maybe go on a bit ( I still do now especially as my son is away at university and I nag him, 'have you been eating properly, checking your blood sugars ecterea )

 

I would also contact the dyslexic and adhd organisations for advice. But although diabetes is a very serious condition it can be controlled and people can still have an excellent quality of life, it does mean that you have to do a bit more planning. I wish you all the very best and if you ever want to talk ,just let me know, and I will give you my contact number, as it does effect other family members and you will need reassuring as well.

 

I am sure that you will all get through the shock that you are all feeling at the moment and get advice and help.

 

edited : because my typing is erm... well less said

Edited May 2, 2012 by tree

[JJay]

This Amazon Linky isn't a diabetic cookbook (nor is it particularly new - I used it when I was a student!) but the recipes are simple and nutritious.

 

As a Type 1 I'd agree there is no specific "diabetic diet". It's a question of balance - plenty of the healthy stuff but not too much of the "bad". Some processed food/ready meals are fine - but you do have to read the labels carefully. "Low fat" isn't always good - some manufacturers seem to have the idea that they must make up for the lack of fat with extra sugar.

[Leni]

Thanks to everyone for the useful info. We've found the diabetes UK website very useful and have ordered the cookbook, and also 'Diabetes for Dummies'. (Not that he's a dummy, but he's found the '... for dummies' books readable in the past.

He's Type 2 diabetes - he's mid-thirties, so it's early to develop it, but he's very overweight. The doctor even offered him bariatric surgery! I don't think he wants to go down that route, but this is definitely not going to be easy! Don't know yet if he's going to be on medication or if they are going to attempt to control it with diet, but the 'life management' issues are going to be the most difficult thing for him.

 

Anyway, many thanks again for the advice. It's good to know there are people out there on the cut who are living with and managing their diabetes. Thank you all

[Chertsey]

Overall the advice is that what is sensible for most people is essential for diabetics, espcially diet controlled ones like me.

 

But not too much fruit. It's full of sugar, natural sugar albeit but sugar never the less

 

 

Yes, I nearly left fruit out but it made it look a bit dull!

 

With regard to all the comments saying ask your GP, nurse etc - that's not really helpful. They'll tell you what you should be eating (any number of websites will do that just as well) - the problem is HOW - how to change the habits of a lifetime that have got someone into that state in the first place. That is the difficult part, especially as so much of the sort of food that is unhealthy is also what is most comforting and gives the quickest satisfaction.

 

And why is diabetes (a noun) ok but diabetic (as an adjective referring to a person, not a noun defining them) not, by the way?

Edited May 3, 2012 by Chertsey

[JJay]

And why is diabetes (a noun) ok but diabetic (as an adjective referring to a person, not a noun defining them) not, by the way?

 

I don't mind being referred to as diabetic (adjective) but I do object to being called "a diabetic" in the manner of most press reports.

[David Mack]

I don't mind being referred to as diabetic (adjective) but I do object to being called "a diabetic" in the manner of most press reports.

 

But why?

[Chertsey]

But why?

Oh, I can see that. Because it identifies you as an ailment, as if there were nothing more important or more interesting about you.

 

I'm not at all able to advise on the Diabetes issue however if you are interested in trying to steer your Son away from processed food I would recommend this http://www.amazon.co.uk/River-Cottage-Veg-Every-Day/dp/1408812126/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1335987444&sr=8-2

 

Really tastey veg food every time.

Just taken a look at this and it sounds brilliant, so on the basis of the ginger beer, I have ordered it.

[BlueStringPudding]

I can say from experience of a close family member with diabetes: my advice is that if you have a cassette loo on the boat, get more spare cassettes than you think you need. At least until medication/diet is regulated, it may be needed a lot.

[Chertsey]

I can say from experience of a close family member with diabetes: my advice is that if you have a cassette loo on the boat, get more spare cassettes than you think you need. At least until medication/diet is regulated, it may be needed a lot.

Is blue string pudding permissible in a diabetic-friendly diet? It looks quite high fibre, but on the other hand, it does look rather highly processed. Can you get brown string pudding?

[JJay]

Thank you, Chertsey, for making the point much better than me - "I am a person, not a disease!"

[jelunga]

Is blue string pudding permissible in a diabetic-friendly diet? It looks quite high fibre, but on the other hand, it does look rather highly processed. Can you get brown string pudding?

I thing Blue String Pudding is very tasty!

 

But to be serious, I have type II diabetes, coupled with high chloresterol, and gout.

Plus I live on our boat. I can not find any diet that is "good" for all 3 conditions, especially since I am not vegetarian.

So moderation in all things seems to help.

[Chertsey]

I thing Blue String Pudding is very tasty!

 

But to be serious, I have type II diabetes, coupled with high chloresterol, and gout.

Plus I live on our boat. I can not find any diet that is "good" for all 3 conditions, especially since I am not vegetarian.

So moderation in all things seems to help.

I have no idea whether being vegetarian would help you find a better diet for all your conditions, but being vegetarian is a choice you could make, whereas you state it as if there were nothing you could do about it.

[jelunga]

I have no idea whether being vegetarian would help you find a better diet for all your conditions, but being vegetarian is a choice you could make, whereas you state it as if there were nothing you could do about it.

Yes Sarah I could choose that. But since I hate 80% of all veg and love 98% of all meat I am disinclined to do so lol

[Chertsey]

Yes Sarah I could choose that. But since I hate 80% of all veg and love 98% of all meat I am disinclined to do so lol

Hmmm. I suspect that hating veg is more of a problem than not being vegetarian!

 

BTW, I am as disinclined to say 'a vegetarian' as to call someone 'a diabetic'. It seems wrong to define someone by what is only one aspect of them.