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Original poster

Good friend just diagnosed as type 1 diabetic

26 replies

oxocube · 02/05/2009 15:45

She is a great cook and loves good food. Does anyone have any recommendations for a cook book which would be good for her given that she now has to modify her diet but which would also be good for tasty family meals?

TIA

OP posts:
scienceteacher · 02/05/2009 19:41

Does she not have a dietician to give her the support she needs?

Original poster
oxocube · 02/05/2009 20:25

Doctors and hospital staff, but we don't live in Britain and she is a little bewildered by the dietary advice TBH. Everyone she has seen has been fantastic and she has been diagnosed and treated very quickly, but I know she would appreciate a recipe book (as she loves to cook) which is in English (!) and includes 'diabetic friendly' versions of things she already cooks for her family.

OP posts:
Sidge · 02/05/2009 20:37

Diabetes UK have a good website.

Have a look here for some recipes

MaureenMLove · 02/05/2009 20:50

Has she actually said she'd like a cookbook which includes diabetes recipes? The reason I ask, is because my brother has type 1 diabetes and he gets really really fed up, if people make special food for him. He knows what he's allowed to eat, because he does a blood pin prick test before he eats. It is usually to determine how much pudding her can have!

bran · 02/05/2009 20:51

Anthony Worrall Thompson has done a few diabetes books. I have this one, but haven't actually made anything from it, I just use it for ideas. He has also done a GI diet cookbook and a GL diet cookbook, both of which would be suitable for a diabetic as the aim of both diets is to keep blood glucose fairly level.

bran · 02/05/2009 20:56

Also, Azmina Govindji is supposed to be one of the best for diabetes cookbooks. I keep meaning to order one of hers to try, so this thread is a good reminder for me.

lulurose · 02/05/2009 21:14

My DD2 has Type One and I don't cook differently for her, we have made some healthy changes to our diet though including wholemeal pasta/bread, using splenda on cereals and in home baking (sometimes), no added sugar squashes and low GI foods wherever possible. She tests her blood before meals and depending on her carbohydrate intake we adjust the insulin to match.

Hope that helps and I wish your friend well.

Original poster
oxocube · 03/05/2009 07:32

Maureen, maybe you're right - she hasn't actually said she would like a cookbook but I know she is looking for new ideas. She, like all of us I guess, has a 'repetoire' of good family/dinner party dishes and I've heard her sighing a lot, saying she can't have much of this or that now ......

I should probably ask before I buy anything. Thanks to everyone for the recommendations though.

OP posts:
MaureenMLove · 03/05/2009 16:01

Thing is, a diabetic diet is pretty much the sort of healthy diet we should all be following in an ideal world. I bet she miserable because she doesn't actually know what she can and can't eat yet. I suppose as soon as you are diagonised with something, you automatically assume the worse. As I said, I've never actually noticed my brother eating anything different than the rest of us, including the lovely puddings.

Original poster
oxocube · 03/05/2009 16:27

I think you're right Maureen. Spoke to my friend a few hours ago and she said she is feeling good, testing about 3 times a day and eating healthy regular meals but cutting out the snacks which was her biggest food faux pas. She doesn't have a sweet tooth but does like a glass of wine (or three!) and loves cheese, bread, potatoes etc. Her sister has actually ordered a GI book for her which was recommended by one of the posters here. Thanks for the advice

OP posts:
hobbgoblin · 03/05/2009 16:30

You know, the Atkins diet principles are quite handy when just getting used to being Type 1 Diabetic. It's not great for recipes ime but good for changign the way you think about food - notably sugars/carbs.

paddyclamp · 03/05/2009 23:54

I have type 1 diabetes and eat pretty much what everyone else does...i just adjust my insulin accordingly

BUT..when you're first diagnosed they tend to put you on an insulin regime that is quite restricting in terms of diet and timing of food..then once you're stabalized you go onto more injections that give you much more freedom..so maybe things will get better for her

How old is she? Didn't realize adults could get type 1

Original poster
oxocube · 04/05/2009 08:50

Just turned 50, otherwise healthy, not overweight, exercises regularly, eats well ........... she was pretty surprised herself !!

OP posts:
TeaOneSugar · 04/05/2009 09:01

My DH was recently diagnosed with type 2, which he's managing with tablets, the dietician wasn't much help, as MaureeenMLove said a diabetic diet is really just a healthy diet, we should all be following.

I bought a cookbook but it was just low fat everyday cooking nothing special.

Our family meals haven't changed much, fewer puddings and an eye on processed food when we have it, but not much else, but then we have a 5 year old so we have sugar free squash with meals and we don't keep sugary snacks in anyway.

I don't know much about type 1, maybe it's different.

usedallmyideas · 04/05/2009 10:58

I have type 1 too and as paddyclamp already said, I eat pretty much the same as everyone else and adjust my insulin to suit (which is something your friend will get used to doing once she's got past the initial stages, I'm sure).

The one thing I would say is she'll need to watch out for hidden sugars - a personal bug bear is that low fat doesn't mean low/no sugar!!

I personally think it's easier having type 1 than type 2 as the diet for type 2 is much more restricted.

lulurose · 04/05/2009 11:39

Forgive me if I'm wrong but I think your friend at 50 years old cannot have been diagnosed with Type One, perhaps Type Two?

Some Type Two patients have to use insulin if diet and lifestyle changes don't lower BG levels.

lulurose · 04/05/2009 11:40

BTW, Hi Paddyclamp, I remember your great advice when DD2 was diagnosed...can't believe it is coming up to the 2 year anniversary.

How are you ?

bramblebooks · 04/05/2009 12:21

My friend was diagnosed T1 when aged 40 so it can happen.

My son has T1 and I don't cook any differently for him.

As above, she needs to get some training on carbohydrate counting, as the carb value of the food relates to the amount of insulin she needs to have. Other variables will affect her blood sugar levels, illness usually makes them climb and exercise can make them plummet for some time afterwards (but exercise is GOOD!).

If she's on insulin with meals a good starter guideline is to test her bloods before, then two hours after the meal. If the levels are the same, she's got the dose right for that meal. If the level after is higher, she needs a bit more insulin, if the level is lower she needs a bit less.

The carbohydrate value of the meal will affect how much insulin she needs. Pasta, rice, chips, etc are high in carb. Eggs, veg etc are low. We use a collins calorie counting book which lists carb values. After a couple of weeks it's almost second nature!Leeds Uni have a great website, look here

bramblebooks · 04/05/2009 12:22

Oooh! just looked on the DUK website and they've got a great carb counting website link which trains you how to carb count - wish I'd known about that a year or so ago (but it's second nature now!)

lulurose · 04/05/2009 12:57

Really BB, I stand corrected! Having just had to have blood and urine tests done at the GPs because of a suspected bladder problem I mentioned my DD2s Type One and wondered if that could be a possibility, she said catagorically, at 36 years old not possible!!

sorry Oxo! x

bramblebooks · 04/05/2009 13:36

I was surprised too, lulu - there's a lot of strange stuff out there! (and gps are only general rather than specialist).

Are you on 'the list' with cwd, lulu?

lulurose · 04/05/2009 14:05

Yes....daughter rhymes with Bess!!!!! I take it you are too? Ax

Thats my cover blown!

bramblebooks · 04/05/2009 14:50

Tee hee! I am too (not too often at the moment, am mad busy at work) - son rhymes with pack. pmsl. B.T. x

Always trying to let parents who don't know about the excellent support out there!

Hope there's similar support available for adults like the op's friend.

Original poster
oxocube · 04/05/2009 16:08

No problem lulu . I know nothing about diabetes other than what my friend has told me and have another friend whose son was diagnosed with Type 1 a few years ago. Apparently the doctors were surprised as they thought Type 2 but I am assured it is Type 1. Said friend injects once a day at the moment I think but was only diagnosed about 10 days ago so it is all v new to her.

OP posts:
paddyclamp · 04/05/2009 21:44

Hi Lulu...i'm good thanx...how's your DD doing these days??

Funny how things about age turn full circle Oxocube..when i was diagnosed with type 1 in the 1980s the GP didn't test me for diabetes cos they said i was too young!!! Must admit it's a first time i've heard of someone in their 50s getting type 1 tho!