Meals, eating, and nutrition
This Discussion Forum was closed to new comments on October 24. See the follow-up Discussion Forum on the same topic, CLICK HERE.
This forum was the 23rd in a series of discussion forums at Diabetes.Blog.Com, and is a forum for discussions about meals, eating, and other aspects of nutrition.
Note: As of 11Feb2006, I have added another Discussion Forum for swapping recipes: click here to go there.
I will insist that there shall be no promotion of herbs or other concoctions that alledgedly lower blood sugar: any such comments (for example, "I took vitamin Z and my blood sugar miraculously returned to normal") will be deleted without warning.
Please note our ground rules for posting comments, at http://diabetes.blog.com/690512/. To share your thoughts, use the "Comments" link immediately below.
Bill the diabetesdoc
wwq@diabetesmonitor.com
Diabetes.Blog.Com is a blogcompanion to our main website, the Diabetes Monitor, which you can find at www.DiabetesMonitor.com.
Kay in Florida (Comment this)
http://forums.ebay.com/db1/thread.jspa?threadID=200063456 (Comment this)
I have another idea that you might look at. I have subscriptions to 2 cooking magazines that help me out: :Light & Tasty and Cooking for Two. Both are from the same publisher...here's the link if you are interested.
http://www.tasteofhome.com/
Both magazines are also for sale in food stores. I also got a 1.5 quart crockpot from them which I use a lot. I use this little one 2-3 times/month.
Bon appetit!
peggy in st. louis (Comment this)
Bill
Donna's Mandelbread
Ingredients:
1 c peanut oil
scant 3/4 cup 2 to 1 splenda-(don't use cup for cup)
4 eggs
3 1/2 c flour
2 heaping tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla
1 1/4 c ground raw almonds
3/4 c dried cranberries or craisins
Procedure:Combine flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside. Beat eggs until fluffy and pale. Add Splenda oil and flavoring. Gradually add dry ingredients, then ground nuts and cranberries. Take approx 1/2 of dough from mixer and form into a small loaf on a cookie sheet. Use hands to smooth out cracks as best as possible. The take remaining dough and do the same with it. Bake at 350 degrees until golden brown (around 20-25 minutes). Remove from oven and slice in desired size carefully with knife that has been thoroughly chilled in the freezer. Lay each piece on its side and bake an additional 5-10 minutes. Then carefully turn over each slice with a spatula and brown the other side. Pack in wax paper in tin or tupperware etc, Keeps for weeks. I freeze mine and eat it straight from the freezer. Know that the recipe may be crumby but not crummy. Sorry I don't know the carb count- depends on the portion, of course. Does anyone have any good recipes they might what to share? (Comment this)
Proper nutrition is the dominant factor that will help most Type 2s beat their diabetes. Yes, exercise is also important, but if you're not putting the proper fuel into your body, then, exercise can only reap so much benefit. Proper nutrition magnifies the impact of exercise tremendously!
So, what is "proper nutrition"? Although it varies from person from person, there are some guidelines that you can start with and modify, based on your blood glucose testing.
There are five "super" foods that when consumed on a regular basis, create a biochemical and hormonal balance that controls appetite, strengthens the immune system, prevents inflammation, prevents disease, and helps to heal the body physically, biochemically, hormonally, emotionally and spiritually. These five "super" foods include vegetables and fruits, filtered water, lean protein, monounsaturated/Omega-3 fats, and organic whole grains. Eat these foods in the context of a "super meal" and watch your blood glucose gradually return to normal.
More importantly, reduce and try to eliminate eating as many of the 5 "dead" foods as possible. These five “dead” foods, when consumed in excess with a sedentary lifestyle, turn the body acidic, cause inflammation, and slowly damage or kill the body’s cells and create neurochemical imbalances that trigger unhealthy food cravings. These chemical imbalances, in turn, devastate your health physically, biochemically, hormonally, emotionally and spiritually. Over a period of years, this leads to systemic ailments/ diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. The five “dead” foods include most food products that contain refined sugar, refined flour/starch, trans fats, saturated fat, or other harmful chemicals. Examples of these foods include white bread, white pasta, white rice, macaroni, cereals, wheat (gluten), crackers, donuts, pancakes, pastries, biscuits, spaghetti, cakes, pies, and other processed foods; and, starchy vegetables such as potatoes and corn; soda, diet soda, bottled juice, soft drinks, candy, jams, jellies, other sweets; stick margarines, French fries, potato chips, pretzels, cookies, fried foods, donuts, crackers, store-bought baked goods; conventional (fatty) animal meat, organ meats, processed meats, lunch meats, fried foods and some dairy products (cow's milk/cheese); and drugs including alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, prescription drugs, and recreational drugs.
Although this is an oversimplification of a complex problem, the primary reason for diabetes (and other systemic, degenerative diseases) is nutritional imbalance. Nutritional imbalance can be characterized in two ways: (1) toxic buildup/congestion – eating too many “dead” foods full of chemical toxins that cannot be processed and eliminated by the body; and, (2) nutritional deficiency – eating “dead” foods that lack vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids, enzymes, fiber and water. Both of these imbalances interfere with the body being able to function properly and successfully defend itself against any disease. Congestion and nutritional deficiency progresses to increasing insulin and glucose levels, insulin resistance, weight gain, fatigue, cravings, increasing blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and eventually a serious disease such as diabetes.
These "super" foods accomplish 3 objectives to improve our body's health: (1) they provide the proper nutrients (nourishment), they provide protection (antioxidants), and they help to cleanse and detoxify to remove the accumulated toxins and pollutants.
Note: There's a lot more to this, but I wanted to keep my message 'short'.
DeWayne McCulley
DeWayne@DeathToDiabetes.com
www.DeathToDiabetes.com
p.s. Blood glucose testing is also important because it helps to determine which specific foods work/don't work for your body. And, blood glucose testing is key because it takes into account that everyone's body is different. (Comment this)
Carbohydrates Improve Insulin Control
16 Jan 2006
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=36212#
It is commonly believed that carbohydrates, particularly sugar, are a cause of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. However, such thinking has been challenged following the publication of a thorough appraisal of the evidence, in the latest edition of Nutrition Research Reviews.
Dr Neville McClenaghan, from the University of Ulster , conducted a large review of scientific studies investigating the effect of high and low carbohydrate diets on blood glucose control in people with and without diabetes.
The author of this review concludes that there is no evidence to suggest that carbohydrate-rich diets are a cause of insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes in humans. In fact, he suggests that diets rich in carbohydrates, which tend to be naturally low in fat may help improve insulin control. Furthermore it is well established that high fat diets, particularly those rich in saturates, not only interfere the normal action of insulin but also encourage weight gain, which itself increases risk of insulin resistance.
Many people with type 2 diabetes wrongly restrict the amount of carbohydrate in their diet. This paper adds weight to current dietary advice which recommends that meals should be based around carbohydrate rich foods, such as bread, pasta or rice, that there is no need to restrict sugars specifically, and that the amount of saturated fat in the diet is restricted.
Insulin resistance is a common but often silent disorder which occurs when the body does not respond appropriately to the effects of insulin (see below). Insulin resistance can lead to, and is a feature of, the more serious condition, type 2 diabetes.
Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, is needed for normal glucose, fat and protein metabolism. Insulin controls the amount of glucose in the blood by enabling glucose to enter cells (e.g. muscle and liver cells) which need glucose for fuel. With insulin resistance the body either can not produce enough insulin or the body's cells do not respond fully to its effects. This ultimately leads to a raised blood glucose. Having blood glucose that is either too high (hyperglycaemia) or too low (hypoglycaemia) is dangerous to health, for example, long-term hyperglycaemia is associated with an increased risk of kidney and eye problems.
Fat metabolism is also affected by insulin resistance raising the risk of heart disease, the most common cause of death amongst people with diabetes.
On a global scale, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes are becoming increasingly common. Whilst genetics account for some degree of susceptibility to these disorders, lifestyle factors such as diet and physical activity levels can have a large impact on risk. Insulin resistance is closely involved in type 2 diabetes, and is thought to be a precursor to the disease. In people with and without type 2 diabetes, a diet rich in carbohydrate and low in fat appears to offer protection against insulin resistance. Being of a healthy body weight and also maintaining an active lifestyle will help reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Click here to see source
Peer reviewed publication and references
McClenaghan NH (2005) Determining the relationship between dietary carbohydrate intake and insulin resistance. Nutrition Research Reviews. 18. 222-240.
About THE SUGAR BUREAU
The Sugar Bureau is the trade association for the UK sugar industry. It is funded principally by British Sugar and Tate and Lyle, with smaller contributions from Irish Sugar and the UK Sugar Merchants Association. Since 1990, The Sugar Bureau has been involved in promoting nutrition research and raising awareness among academics, health professionals, the media and the public about the role of sugars in the diet.
http://www.sugar-bureau.co.uk
(Comment this)
Thanks for the info on the carbs, Angela...this is what I was told years ago when first diagnosed and they keep coming back to it. Seems to work in keeping you from the highs and lows that happen so often. And when you have to stay 'low protein' because of high levels of protein in your urine, a 'low carbohydrate' diet doesn't leave you much to eat! ;) Call me old-fashioned, but the good old common sense of eating balanced meals and watching your sugar intake still seem to the best way to approach it...but sometimes just doing that isn't as easy as we think in our busy, active world of today. And as my old family doctor used to say...the best exercise is pushing yourself away from the table! Not the easiest exercise plan to follow though...especially when it all tastes so good. But that is where Gilly helps...at first he forces you to eat less and then you begin to learn you CAN get by on less food...just keep it healthy and balanced! (Comment this)
Here is something easy add 1/8 teaspoon to sugar free vanilla pudding pack and stir well.
Angela in Iowa (Comment this)
4 cups water
2 oz. thinly sliced ginger
5 whole cloves
juice of 1 lemon
combine above in medium saucepan, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 2 to 3 minutes. Strain and serve with honey or sugar.....well...in our case I guess with Splenda!
Hope it helps! (Comment this)
There seems to be a lot of talk about coffee, tea and other beverages lately. I thought that caffeine in any product, including chocolate, was not good for diabetecs. Has anyone seen anything that says the opposite? I'd like to know because it was hard for me to give up caffeine, especially coffee. (Comment this)
Hello Leah, Yikes! Perhaps I should have known this already, but I didn't. After reading your question I decided to Google a search on Diabetes and Caffeine and the results really hurt my feelings! I drink a pot of coffee every day--about 60 to 70% caffeine and the rest decaf. I MUST have my coffee. Drink it black. Now I read that caffeine interfers with diabetes control. Big time. A team at Duke University found a strong correlation between cafeine intake at mealtime and increased glucose and insulin levels among TypeII Diabetics. They had a harder time regulating their insulin. In another report I read the Doctor believes caffeine actaully CAUSES the Diabetes--causes a dangerous free redical called alloxan that damages the pancreas and can cause pancreatic cancer. He was a heavy coffee drinker and Diabetic and after going off ALL caffeine he went completely off insulin and his eyesight was restored. He says bg levels return to normal in a few weeks on a caffeine-free diet.
Gosh. This is news I almost wish I didn't know but now that I do I guess I'll have to do something about it. He says you cannot replace the regular with decaf either because it will still contain a bound form of caffeine that produces that alloxan. It was scary reading. I can get by without the tea, but the coffee and chocolate...oh no...don't know what I am going to do...I will have to pray for help with this. Can't do it on my own power. I certainly need to cut back gradually and cut waaaay back. Thank you, Leah, for your question because it caused me to do some research that I might otherwise not have known about. I love this blog for this very reason...
(Comment this)
I guess you must brew or pwercolate your coffee because you refer to a "pot." So, nex time you are out of coffee, buy two small cans, one regular and one decaf. Pour 1/4 of the regular into a jar and fill the 1/4 can with decaf. When you run out of the "mixed" can get another regular and put 1/2 into the jar and fill the can with 1/2 decaf. The next time you buy will be one small decaf. You use 1/4 can regular and 3/4 can decaf. The next time you use decaf only. Then you start adding hot water to every cup of coffee.---1/4 to start for about four days, then go to 1/2 then 3/4 hot water and then after the four days,give the rest of the coffee away and switch to another beverage---not caffeine in tea, either. I use hibiscus tea if I
need a hot beverage. Basically, I am now on filtered
water. I got one of those PUR things because I don't have
good tap water where I live.
As for chocolate, I don't really have a problem because i am a vanilla lover! But I have a theory because of what happened to a friend that used the above withdrawal method. She found that after she got off the coffee, she wasn't as interested in chocolate unless it was really high quality. And she only wanted a small taste of even
that.
One last thing. I do, on rare occasions, have a cup of decaf but only when I am eating out.
Good luck. I know this seems tedious but it works. Trying to drink less of the coffee you are used to just won't do it the same way.
Also, that was a good piece of research you did. (Comment this)
Ladies we are going through so many changes. I know that the study you did is impressive, Cindylou, even if we don't like the results. I hate to sound like and ostrich with its head in the sand but for me personally, I am trying to get past just eating less right now. To eat less AND eliminate caffeine is just too much at one time for me. I also feel the pain of all of this tremendously because my dad passed away from pancreatic cancer last March. He did consume coffee (decaf in his later years) (but not a huge amount) and I must say he lived until one
week before his 84th birthday. Let's face it, we are not going to live forever. We should try our best to take care of ourselves within reason but not over excessively- that is just my opinion, for what it's worth. (Comment this)
Leah and Donna M., Wow. I reflected on what both of you have said here and I am thankful once again that I was led to this blog and helpful, caring folks like you all. On the one hand Leah you are showing me a very reasonable way of weaning myself from the caffeine because you know it is not good for me and I drink entirely too much. On the other hand, Donna you know I did not just start out drinking a "pot" of coffee...coffee and Cindylou have been friends a very, very long time. And true,we are going through a lot here, and you had some first hand experience through your dad (so sorry about his passing last March). So....with both of your excellent council I think what I will do is cut back using simular Leah's method (I do brew my own and measure from 2 jars now and decide each day my percent of caffeine according to what I think I will need) but not go off ENTIRELY just yet as Donna has suggested. I am going to work towards that eventual goal but maybe not so quickly. If I can cut in half what I am consuming right now it will be a big help. I know it is probably like smoking...you need to quit entirely or you aren't going to heal, but this is going to be a tough one to give up. I quit smoking 15 years ago and that was the hardest thing I have ever done. I quit drinking my coffee with anything in it (cream or sugar) probably a decade or more ago, but to cut it out all together right now will be very difficult. It is really about the only source of caffeine I get other than chocolate. I occasionally drink hot tea but oddly enough this southern girl doesn't drink iced tea. I just drink filtered water all day....and my coffee. Thank you both for your input and concern.
Leah, that is an interesting theory about the ceasing of coffee and lack of desire for chocolate! Also, I really love herbal teas and that will likely be how I will replace the coffee one day. Love hot beverages. Only thing is I ususally sweeten teas with lemon drop candy. Put a couple in and they melt and dissolve and I get a lemony just right sweetened tea. Probably not the best choice for a diabetic. How do you sweeten your hibiscus tea? Splenda? (Comment this)
Some studies have shown that coffee and cigarettes are what they call "cross addictions." So, if one is stopped, the other persists and becomes just as hard or perhaps harder to stop. It is so hard to kick cigarettes since other studies have shown that nicotine addiction is more difficult to kick than even heroin. Those who quit are to be commended.
Certain herbal teas are loaded with caffeine. Also one has to be careful of some kinds of the teas because they negatively interact with some medications. It is important to be a label reader and to find out which teas one should use with caution.
I use SweetnLow, a saccharine product. There was a flap about it years ago but it was never proved to be a health hazard. Noone seems to remember that last part---they just remember the flap.
One final note---offered with respect and empathy. If you are taking arsenic every day, it doesn't matter how little or how much. If you take a little, it will merely take longer to kill you. I feel the same way about things that are not good for me. Coffee has been my favorite flavor ever since I can remember. And If I knew that I had a month to live, I would go to the store and get a pack of smokes. In the meantime, I want to live in the best health I can manage so I have made some choices that suit me---just as others must make their own choices. I applaud those on Byetta because they have made a choice to try to improve their lives and longevity. And it seems that a single choice can lead o others of a positive character. I feel that most people do the best they can under the circumstances. And there's nothing wrong with being human.
Best wishes for better and better health.
(Comment this)
You are have wealth of information! I never knew about cross addictions. I loved the coffee and cigarettes together. Now I really don't even want to be near a cigarette, they bother me terribly. It was 15 years ago that I quit, but I still remember how powerful an addiction it was.
I will be careful about checking the herbal teas for caffeine too. Thank you for that warning.
Whew, your arsenic analogy was powerful. I have a lot to think about and pray about. I am trying to really get in the best health I can and feel better. I did quit smoking cold turkey, not gradually as I would like to do with the caffeine--something else to think about. Thank you for your insight and wisdom, especially knowing it is coming from a coffee lover too.
Leah,I gathered from your statement that you are not on the Byetta at this time? What is your health situation? (Comment this)
Thank you for your kind words. I am lucky to have a lot of information gathered over a lifetime of interest in health and natural methods.
I am on Byetta and finishing my second 5 pen. Was diagnosed with type 2 about 12 yrs. ago. I have had 5 bypasses and two carotid surgeries.This was all from inherited cholesterol problems. I'm probably in the best health in over 25 years. I now believe that I had metabolic syndrome before anyone knew what it was because my three children appear to have it. One of them is going on BYetta soon because of gross overweight even with diet and exercise. I have talked about it with another who was seriously ill with pancreatitis last year. With part of his pancreas gone, he needs all the beta cells he can get. So, that's part of it. My numbers are pretty good except when I get stressed out. The Byetta is helping, I'm sure. My endo is happy so far. My primary is ecstatic because we have been struggling together for years to get my numbers in line and have been failing.
Thanks for your interest. I can't tell you how many people hide their heads in the sand because they are unwilling to try something that will help. It's not as much denial as it is the difficulty in changing habits. The trick seems to be to replace one habit with a new one so one doesn't sabotage the self. Works for me!
Best health is the best health!! (Comment this)
I'm glad that you are in the best health in over 25 years and I hope the Byetta helps your child that is going on it. I'm not really familiar with metabolic syndrome but I would image one's metabolism is out of whack. I'm glad you are holding your numbers steady and if your endo is happy that is good! (hold down that stress! Easier said than done, I know)
I cut back on coffee today. Plan to keep at it. I want to be careful I don't get headaches. That can happen from too little when I am so used to it. First day and I'm working on it. (Comment this)
TO save on carbs (and also let out aggressions) I use a mallet 2 crush these small sized bread shaped melba type of toasts ("Regular TOASTS by ROyal Sire) inside of a baggie. They are only 5 carbs per slice. I generally use 2 or 3 and sometimes add spices to them. Last evening I coated a raw chicken breast in egg whites and then in the crumbs. I fried it in a little olive oil but it can also be baked and is delicious and not too bad in the carb dept. (Comment this)
Good morning Donna! You have so many wonderful cooking ideas! I love that site that you gave that had the zucchini and eggplant lasagna--the diabetes recipe swap--really cool. I love your idea of the melba bread crumb coating! Very clever! I can't wait to try your mandelbread one day and your orange spice tea sounds heavenly. Right now I'm still drinking some coffee but trying to limit it greatly and cut back on the caffeine in it right much. I have been drinking a 12 cup pot of coffee by myself for years now and that really is too much. I just want to ease out of it so I don't get the "lack of caffeine headaches".
I read in your post that you would be getting your fasting
bloodwork this morning and seeing a nutritionist (I think you already know that department pretty well though). Hope your numbers are good and Doctor well pleased! Can't wait to hear your report!
You asked about me--well I have been on the #10 pen for a month now (was on the #5 for almost a month before that)and for the longest time I was getting good numbers but not much action in the weight department. Only a little loss. Now my numbers have come up a bit but the weight is coming down! Go figure. I am still dealing with chills, welts, and only occasional queasiness and that is if I overeat even by a few bites. I am still learning to beat the lizard in that game. This week he won twice and I won three times so I'm steadily learning. Thanks for asking and I wish you a great report! (Comment this)
Good morning Donna--I misunderstood and thought you went yesterday and then wondered all day if they KEPT you there since I didn't hear from you! You are there now as I type this since we are both on the East Coast, and I look forward to your report.
Thank you so much for letting me know Extend bars are available at Walgreen's. I don't order online and I want to try some.
As for the coffee. I prayed about it and I am just honestly amazed once again how the desire for it has lessened greatly.(Awesome God) Yesterday I had a mug in the morning--mostly decaf no less! Then I actually FORGOT my afternoon coffee! I normally would have had 2 mugs of "high test" to get me going in the morning and at least 2 more mugs of it in the afternoon to pick me up. I really think the incredible energy I am feeling with the Byetta is helping too.(another side effect blessing I am given!) I am already feeling like I had a java jolt just being on this spit! I sometimes forget that it is mealtime, forget snack time, just busy doing other things. This will help me wean off the caffeine for sure!
Treat yourself to a nice portion of Mandelbread when you get home! (Comment this)
Hooray- you go girl! I am so proud of you for turning to
"low test." That was actually the hardest part of taking the fasting blood test for me. I really longed for my coffee in the morning. I had taken an Extend bar with me-
peanut delight- (not a bad flavor- kind of reminds me of Rice Krispie TReats w peanutbutter but not so sweet.Have had some java now and feel much better-Also had mozz cheese on rye. Saving mandelbread for tonight. Take care (Comment this)
Donna--how did it go? Did you have good numbers this morning? How was your A1C? Did you learn anything new with the nutritionist that you didn't already know? Any changes to your medications or increase in spit?
(Comment this)
Do you get your test results instantaneously? Since they just drew the blood yesterday, I won't know until I see the endo nest Friday. The only thing new I learned from the nutritionist is that Thomases makes lite English Muffins that are multi-grained and they only have 8 carbs for the whole thing. Have you had them? May buy some.
(Comment this)
Good morning Donna! Actually I do get the A1C immediatlly at my Endo's office and she looks at my log book of bg results (now I hope to give them my meter too and they can plug it in and pull results off of it) The only thing I don't get back right away is Thyroid tests. I guess maybe you had some other types of bloodwork testing done. I'll be hoping you get good results next Friday.
As far as the Thomas's English Muffins--this I do know about, and I have looked at all of them but never have I seen one with 8 carbs. Now the one I get is "LIGHT". Thomas's "Light" Multigrain English Muffins. I eat them most mornings for breakfast. They are 8 grams of FIBER not carbs. They are only 100 calories, only 1 (one!) gram of fat, zero sugars but they have 22 carbs. Still not too bad for bread. I love to put a little Brommel and Brown strawberry spread on it, or light butter with cinnamon and splenda. I like the B & B best on them though. My mama thinks they taste like cardboard, but I love them! (Comment this)
Cindylou and Donna, I also get my A1c(and fasting BG, cholesterol and triglicerides) done instantaneously at the office. The new machines are miraculous and only need a small amt. of blood from a finger stick!!. By the time the NP comes into the exam room, those results and my 1 mo. meter results are brought in. Also, by that time, I am drinking my coffee from a thermos because we live 45 min. away from the diabetes center. My coffee consumption has also gone way down since Gilly.
(Comment this)
This diet is for slow emptying stomachs, not necessarily for diabetics, but they tell what foods to eat and why and have 3 stages witt diets from 700+ to about 1800 calories-- also telling what vitamins and minerals are included or missing. (Comment this)
Hello Toni, Yes, Shari and I have had a bit of a discussion going on for some time in "Odds and Ends" blog about Gastroparesis and the diet. (uh) I have recently read that really we should quit eating broccoli and citrus fruits--esp. oranges because it can cause "bezoars". I had never even heard of bezoars before. I absolutely LOVE broccoli and oranges. Eat more broccoli than any other vegetable in fact and love my o.j. I was VERY disappointed to learn of this. I love fresh fruits and raw veggies and most of the veggies on the "avoid" list are the ones I eat the most, as well as fiberous meats and beans. Seems to go against all the healthy foods we've been taught to eat! I don't seem to have so many problems with WHAT I'm eating, more the HOW MUCH. But this is worrisome because things can be happening (bezoars, etc.) that we don't know are happening... (Comment this)
Also, if we followed every "food rule" out there, I think we would be living only on boiled water. I guess we just have to use common sense - brocoli, for instance, has so many good qualities that we might have to ignore the bad.
I have another question. I have stopped using anything but olive oil in my cooking and dressings. However, when I occasionally bake a cake or other goody for the family, what can I use instead of the called for vegetable oil. Olive oil in a cake doesn't sound right. Someone suggested applesauce instead of oil - wouldn't that change the flavor or even the texture.
It is Friday afternoon in a bad rain storm so forgive the length. (Comment this)
Hello Nancy, I totally agree that we sure can't follow every food rule out there or we wouldn't be able to eat a thing! I love food too, and eat a good variety so I'm probably not going to follow this diet or anything, but maybe just use it as a guideline if I start having the digestion problems. Also, I will eat more of the foods we should avoid at lunch when I am in-between the spit shots if I can. We as Diabetics don't actually have this disease (but I read long time diabetics often do get it because of damage done) but I think that what we have happening with this slow emptying is the same sort of thing. That is a good question about the length of time in our stomachs for food with Byetta vs. Gastroparesis. Maybe Shari knows???
As for Olive Oil, I cook exclusively with it too. Use Olive Oil Pam also. I use EVOO. I do have a friend who lives away from me (so I haven't tried them myself), but she cooks brownies and everything with olive oil and loves them and so do her friends. I have heard of the applesause substitution but haven't tried it. Bet it probably works just fine. Need something to moisten it and I would think that would do it and be flavorful too! Let me know if you try it how it turns out! (sorry, I use canola for baking)
Sorry you are having a bad storm here. It is a lovely sunny 72 degrees here in N.C., but we have rain on the way sometime tonight.
(Comment this)
Cindylou and Nancy, We gilly users have temporary slow stomach emptying that is one of the effects of Byetta. At other times of the day or night our stomachs should be doing their normal thing so we are not in the same catagory as anyone with a diagnosis of gastroparesis.
The gastroparesis diet is directed at people who have the slow emptying continually, although, I believe, it can be treated.
We, on the other hand, should be able to benefit from some of the suggestions on that diet as far as what we eat after our two shots. Any other time of the day we should be able to eat other foods. Some of us are bothered more than others with nausea, etc. and haven't complained much about what they eat..only how much. I think it's a good diet for those with the most digestive upsets to pay heed to, but by no means, should we give up our healthy foods.
I believe the bezor problem is an effect of someone who has been diagnosed with gastroparesis and it doesn't happen overnight. It would be a long time effect of fibrous foods, even hair in some instances of gathering into a ball in the stomach.
It seems to me that if we just use it as a guideline, we might be able to avoid some of the discomforts.
Enjoy your brocoli..and go to odds'n'ends to see how we can enjoy our pasta too....and believe me I have no itentions of giving up whole grains or eating white rice!
(Comment this)
I just want to say again that we should not have anywhere near the problems that people with a diagnosis of gastroparesis have. (Comment this)
I went out to lunch today at a lovely seafood restaurant. I could only eat a half dozen shrimp and a few veggies. I was stuffed to the gills. Sacred gilly, I adore you!Long live our spitoons! (Comment this)
On the Dreamfield's pasta thing.. don't know if I can blame it on that, it's too soon to pass judgement after just one try, but my bs was 120 two hrs. post and then it went to 172 at three hrs. post. I had also eaten some beets and a hard candy, so it could have been that. Tomorrow I'll try it again with a lower sugar vege. and see what happens.
Donna, will be anxious to know what your cholesterol will be without the drug. I bet it will not be bad.
(Comment this)
My husband always uses olive oil in cakes, and says there is only a very slight change in flavor from vegetable oil. He said to add a little extra vanilla if you want to. He said you could use Canola or corn oil which have no flavor. For the applesauce, substitute applesause for half the olive oil(ie: if it calls for a cup of oil use 1/2 cup of applesauce and 1/2 cup oil. He said you could use prunes instead of the applesauce in chocolate cake and not tell the difference. He has one recipe for no fat chocolate cake and another for chocolate cloud cake that uses 4 jars of baby food pureed prunes which replaces 1 cup butter. I could post them if anyone is interested.
(Comment this)
Thanks Shari--I knew you could explain it and I really appreciate knowing I can eat my broccoli and healthy veggies and drink my high pulp oj! But did you say that it could cause a hairball? Oh no, we are lizards not cats!!! (just kidding!)
Thanks also for the report on the Dreamfield's Pasta! After your post I started thinking maybe that is what I picked up a couple of weeks ago at the grocery store. I had a coupon and it was a new product (I can NEVER have enough pasta on hand) and sure enough, it's Dreamfields! I had not even read that it was only 5 CARBS!!! Compared with 32-40 carbs of regular pasta! AWESOME! I just grabbed it thinking it was just some other new brand of pasta! I'm really excited now! Glad it worked for you and hope it does for all us pasta lovers!
Well, we did go out to a Chinese Buffet tonight. This one is exceptionally good. She prepares things like baked salmon and grilled shrimp and many good and healthy dishes (and a few I can't resist like Walnut Shrimp-really sweet) I thought about it and since I have backed my shot up to nearly an hour to help more with the appetite supression and weight loss (best tip of the month for me on this blog!!!) then I wondered if the reverse would work so I didn't take my shot until in the parking lot of the restaurant and I was hungry going in. It worked! I ate right much more than I have been of late and so then I was a bit worried about that. I had to turn down a lot of things I wanted but I didn't put them on my plate because I just knew I wouldn't be able to eat that much. I really could have kept eating and most likely would have regreted it! As it was I had about 5 minutes of queasywannabe but never quite was and all was good. I am thrilled. Bad thing is I forgot to take my meter to test but it was probably not so good bg because it was in the 160's when I got home 4 hours later. My pen didn't stay cool this time either. That trick worked great for me last time, but it was nearly 60 degrees by that little thermometer by the time I got home.
This is a good chat site for sure. Afterall, it is all about the food for us diabetics! We have to think about it every moment, every morsel we eat so it's good to have a little fun with it!
(Comment this)
Sorry Donna, I thought you meant Thomas's English Muffins. I'll have to look for the Nature's Own--sounds good! Wow, learning about the pasta and bread in one night! Now maybe I can have pasta and garlic bread together again!
TONI IN CALIFORNIA AND OLIVE OIL,APPLESAUCE, AND BABYFOOD PRUNES:
Thanks for such great tips! (to you and your husband!) I especially like the adding a bit of extra vanilla to help with any funky taste there might be in the olive oil cakes. Also thanks for the right propotions in the applesauce/o.oil. I have heard of using the baby food prunes before too in place of the oil. That is great that your husband likes to cook and bake! Mine does too and he is a very good! (Comment this)
Cindylou, I checked out mannitol( ingredient in byetta) and found that it can cause about half the symtoms some or all of us are experiencing. Posted my obeservations on "research about meds." Can't resist still playing Nancy Drew because I am still having the nausea thing..no matter what I do.
I blame mannitol on the terrible nausea and bloating I always had when I ate sugar free foods containing sugar alcohols, such as mannitol. My theory is that some of us are just more sensitve to it than others.
I guess it's a tradeoff for better health in the long term...
So glad you enjoyed your Chinese buffet..it's my favorite food.. after the most unaffordable ones, like lobster and crab legs!
You won't believe the similar side effects, including Chills! (Comment this)