Mini Meals

[Gladys]

DH does so much better on mini-meals, just about 2-5 bites every 2 hours or so all day long.

We just have to make sure there's protein, fiber, a little carb, and he drinks unsweetened tea or water most of the day.

Bean soup, for instance, he can eat 4oz with a couple of chunks of ham in it (I cut them on purpose to be about 1/2 oz each), with a couple of celery sticks.

Another favorite is a wedge of whole wheat pita sandwich with hummus (I make it) red bell pepper, bean sprounts (not alfalfa), and just a little hot sauce. (I can make 6 wedges out of 1 Pita).

He also loves quiche, so I make little mini quiches in large muffin tins, only half depth with just a medalion of whole wheat piecrust on the bottom. They freeze really well.

When I make him fruit salad, I always include nuts (amonds, pecans, pistachios). Then he doesn't get the big BG jump. He just loves fresh peaches and pecans, I caramelize them in a small skillet so they taste sweeter and toasts the pecans.

Pretty much every time he eats, there is some high quality protein.

So far so good, he's maintaining about 110 BG instead of peaking at 260-300 multiple times a day.

We've found that, for him, rice really gives him a huge bump. So if he just has to have it, it's mixed with MEAT. That keeps it reasonable.

[Marci Sloane]

It sounds like you are doing a terrific job keeping the diabetes in control. It is quite fascinating when you see how much food choices can affect the individual person in different ways. Food combining and "mini meals" every 3-4 hours seems to be the best recipe to level out glucose.

[Gladys]

At first, it seemed like there was nothing he could do that helped. It also seemed like Type 2 Diabetes had taken over his life.

It's been a long year. We've charted BG levels and meal times and I still don't really have a handle on the whole exchange thing.

Doesn't ANYONE just have a chart somewhere with all the exchanges? And god forbid you actually want to COOK your food instead of eating out of packets.

I make my own baking mix (similar to bisquick), so I started experimenting with making it whole grain. I had to change the proportions a bit, but I got it to work. I've also started canning fruit with no sugar (not easy, btw).

The only thing I sort of miss is sitting down to a nice big evening meal together. So, instead . . . we sit with the kids while they eat. We have a mini meal.

I've been thinking of doing minimeals for them too. I'm doing it a little with their snack items.

I sort of eat what DH does, that way he's not always eating alone.

[Marci Sloane]

For a food exchange list do a search for the National Heart Lung Blood Institute - Food Exchanges. I tried to copy and paste the website for you but I couldn't do it.

[Gladys]

Not only did I find the food exchanges basic list, but I found something BETTER from a link on their pages. A comprehensive list that includes ACTUAL measurements of key nutritional amounts and shows how the exchanges compare.

I can use this and the info in the ol' Joy of Cooking to actually figure out what's what.

National Heart Lung and Blood Institute Exchange List (http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/lose_wt/fd_exch.htm).

American Dietetic Association Exchange lists with nutritional info (http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/nutrition_13961_ENU_HTML.htm).

Why do they make it so difficult?

[Marci Sloane]

I'm so glad you found additional information. It can be a bit challenging to locate information or the resources to help you but that's why ADW is here!