A Diabetic Meal Broken Down

I thought I would put up some examples of some meals that don't raise sugar levels to outrageous levels and try to explain why.  I'm not a doctor, or nurse, so I may be wrong on why, but I have tried to understand this illness and how it works in my body, and this is what I think.  If you want to correct me- PLEASE DO!  I want this blog to be helpful to those who are struggling with diabetes, pre-diabetes, and gestational diabetes.

Mini-wheats with a little fruit in the middle.  Served with unsweetened Almond milk rather than regular milk.  Why this works: While this cereal does have 29 grams of carbs, it only has 10 of those from sugar.  Additionally it has 6 grams of fiber which slows the digestion process.  The unsweetened almond milk does not have any sugars and has between 1-5 grams of protein, depending on what brand you buy.  The whole grain wheat, protein and fiber combine to keep you full and slow the digestion process enough to keep your sugar levels in check. Cheerios work great too, as does oatmeal (not instant) and whole grain toast with peanut butter and 1/2 a banana. 

This is an all American picnic meal.  A hamburger, potato salad and a green salad.  Why this works: protein from the burger and cheese slow the digestion process.  The bun should ideally be whole wheat or only 1/2 a bun, but once in a while a full out burger is okay.  However, there are no chips, jello salad, sweet baked beans or fries on this plate.  Instead there is a green salad, (and no I didn't use dressing, but you could) and a small helping of potato salad made with real mayonnaise.  I have also stacked the burger with lettuce, and tomato.  The more veggies you add the better.  The veggies add a complex carb to your plate.  I did add sliced almonds to the salad, as they are tasty and add just a bit more healthy, fatty protein.  I like to be full.  There was no need for seconds, this plate was plenty. 

A diabetic can have pasta?  Really?  Yes really.  The ravioli is filled with cheese and the sauce is a meat sauce.  That is plenty of protien to counteract the carbohydrates provided in the pasta.  Portion size is, of course, critical with pasta, but the sauce and filling really help.  Also, I chose a vegetable that is more difficult for the body to digest.  A complex carb.  I don't cook the broccoli until it's mushy, just tender crisp.  That way my stomach does more work and I get more vitamins.  If this doesn't look like enough food for you, add a big green salad.  It is amazing how satisfying a good salad can be.

So there you have it.  Some examples of meals that I have eaten that haven't destroyed my sugar levels, and haven't required me to eat differently than the rest of the family.  It takes a bit of thought but the more you do it the easier it gets. :)