Diabetic menu guide & calorie chart?

My mother is diabetic & has not been properly controlling her diet & is now have severe health problems. She's not overweight, but really needs to change her eating habits & won't do it as the doctor says. I feel that if I help her she will change them & hopefully live a little longer than the rate she's going now (she's only 47). Does anybody know of any websites with FREE diabetic eating guides or sample menus? She's coming to stay with me & even if she doesn't know it, I will be monitoring her health by preparing her food. I would really appriciate any help you can give me. Thanks in advance!



Also, does anybody know of any website with a full calorie chart for everything (fruits, veg, burgers, fast food, etc)? That one is for me, I need to lose weight & cutting calories is the only thing that has worked for me, so I do not end up like my mother :) Thank you again

When I was diagnosed with diabetes I did the same thing. I thought the doctor was loony tunes. I didn't feel sick I felt terrific.

Here is what my wife did. First get your mom a good glucometer. I recommend either One Touch Ultra or The Accu-Check Compact. She should test 3 X a day. Right when she gets up in the morning. Once before Lunch and once before Dinner. Force her to do this. Even poking her yourself if you have to.

Next, there are community semenairs, usually free or very lowcost for non-residents and generally through the park district, showing people how to eat properly and how to keep count of what they eat. Your mom needs training. Cook Books won't do that.

Third, counting calaories for diabetics and for anybody is a misnomer. You and your mom need to keep track of her carbohydrate intake. Carbs convert to sugar in the blood stream. You can have a 1200 calaorie diet and still be consuiming 25 Carbs. NOT GOOD. Even non-diabetics should do both Maintain low Carb count and an average calorie count.

Her carb count, and yours, should be somewhere near 14 or less to maintain a good sugar level. You can count the carbs by looking at the packages. 1 Carb = 15G of Carbohydrates. Remember a Hamburger/Hot Dog bun may actually be 2 carbs as it is a top and a bottom. READ READ AND READ the Nutrition information label on each product you use.

Also MEASURE MEASURE AND MEASURE your food. That is a great way to maintain both calaroies and carbs.

The last thing I have for both of you actually is to eat three meals a day. The more times you eat the less food you take in. Do not skip meals. That is tantamount to overeating to compensate for missed nutirition.

I went on this diet in 2004 and lost over 100 pounds. Your mom, even tho she maintains her weight, should lose a few pounds to. She may find that if she reduces her weight even 10 pounds, that her Blood sugar will be lower.

do a search engine for diabetes. I know there are a few out there. I am not diabetic, but use splenda sweetner because it's just like sugar.