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What can I eat?The Diabetes Guide to Heathy Food choices

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Posted 7/21/2008 5:17 AM (GMT 0)
I recently received a free 28-page Booklet from the American Diabetes Association called What can I eat?The Diabetes Guide to Heathy Food choices.

The contents are:about Diabetes,making choices,create your Plate,Carbohydrate counting,Glycemic Index,Non-Starchy Vegetables,Fruits,Milk,Grains & Starchy Vegetables,Meats & Meat substitutes,Fats,Sweets and Sugar Substitutes,Eating out,Physical activity,sample menus,Snack & Meal ideas & Resources (Back cover)..

Reading this Booklet tells me that it is OK to eat Carbs,Starchy Foods and Grains..

 

Posted 7/21/2008 1:18 PM (GMT 0)
Good morning, Sydnee.  The ADA food plan was formulated many years ago and like the Pyramid food plan will keep our blood sugar running high.  For a person without diabetes whose metabolism works the way it's supposed to, those food plans might be fine.  For someone who has high blood sugar (like me) or a diabetic on meds, those food plans will raise our blood sugar as I said.  The reasoning behind the ADA plan was that diabetics would probably not follow another plan with fewer carbs, so it's easier to recommend this diet and take prescribed meds to counteract the high blood sugar.  If you follow all the threads here from the various members, we have come to the same conclusion, to cut down on the carbs and have lower blood sugar.


Posted 7/21/2008 5:12 PM (GMT 0)
Sydnee,
It's ok to eat anything you want to eat... depending upon how attached you are to your eyesight and feet. Just look at our buddy, Wheelchair Bound, (I think her real name is Linda.) She followed that ADA diet for years and now has no legs. My doctor has recommended that I totally avoid starches except for occasional oatmeal, brown rice and whole barley. I derive most of my carbs from veggies, fruits, yogurt and salad dressings. I've been successful at keeping my sugars down, getting off insulin and losing some weight. All the ADA diet did was lead to increased drug dosages for me.

I wish there were some way to get diabetics to learn how to eat better right from the get go, instead of having to suffer neuropathy, kidney changes and eye problems before learning the truth.
Posted 7/21/2008 5:50 PM (GMT 0)

Jeannie,

I called the ADA an hour ago.Woman I spoke with told me avoiding Starches altogether is not recommended because they are Healthy,contain Vitamins,Minerals and Fiber (Starch is high in Fiber)..She said it's the choices of Starches and portion control that factor in eating Starches..

Posted 7/21/2008 6:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Sydnee:)

Yes, and if a diabetic can eat carbs, starches and grains, pigs do fly!! Look back on all the eating advice on this forum. I found this place right when I was diagnosed because the ADA diet was killing me. Jeannie, Lanie, gelchick and all the people here gave me advice on how to eat. Also to eat a food and test. test, test to see what it does to your bg. By listening to their advice I now have my bg is great control. A1C is down to 5.8 from 15.2 and daily bg is most always in 70' to 90's now. Goes up just a little with the pred dose. My bg was 828 when diagnosed and 400's when released from hospital with just some Metformin and no advice on what to do. Ended back in hospital for a week om IV insulin and ketoacidosis that just missed killing me. Wanted me on ADA diet and it sure didn't work for me, believe me! I came here and I believe the low carb diet saved my life. Next reading, I am hoping to get the A1C in the high 4's. Good luck:)
Posted 7/21/2008 7:18 PM (GMT 0)
sydnee,

The ADA folks and diabetic nutritionists are trained to say thise things about starches - what you should do is call back and ask them to send you a specific list of the vitamins, minerals, and fiber that you as a human require and that starches provide - my guess is that they will not be able to send you one. But if they do- go online and google the name of the nutrient and source

for example- Vitamin C, source

Then look to see if the ONLY source of the nutrient is a grain. I'd be willing to wager that you won't find even one. Otherwise it would be labeled as an essential carbohydrate and there are none.

As far as fiber goes- leafy greens and non-starchy vegetables are far better and far superior sources of fiber than grains- by the time you get to the grain, most of its beneficial fiber has been altered or stripped away. If you want fiber- eat your apples, and veggies with their skins attached.

I went to an ADA approved dietitian when I was first diagnosed- I have a PhD in protein biochemistry. I came prepared to discuss the essential amino acid, essential  fatty acid, and vital nutrients and how I could obtain them as a vegetarian and still maintain blood sugar control- she looked at me like I was speaking in a foreign language- could not address even the most fundamental biochemical questions.

She had my meal prescription all figured out- but could not tell me what in those 8 starches per day was so vital that I would perish without it. What she handed me was a prescription for blood sugars far out of the normal,  non-diabetic (70-100) range.  (The ADA approves of A1c levels up to 7.0 - which equates to average sugar levels of around 170! far higher than your body was designed for). Sugar levels that would guarantee I'd need to increase my medicines until I would eventually need to take insulin injections, and eventually develop the dreaded complications of this disease.

I may still one day develop those complications, but it won't be because I kept my sugar levels outside of a normal physiological range. And it won't be because I refused to eat the   high starch, low fat diet that made America fat, and diabetic- it'll be because it's hardwired into my genes.

If your goal is to achieve and maintain normal, non-diabetic sugar levels at all times, you won't find it in the ADA diet.

sandy

Posted 7/22/2008 3:33 PM (GMT 0)
Sydnee,
I don't know how old you are but I can tell you something from my ancient experience. First of all, listen to gelchick. She is highly educated and knows her stuff. She is way past all of us in understanding the blood glucose response and an extremely valuable member of our forum.

Second is this. When I was little there were "Four Food Groups". I remember the posters from school. Since I was a voracious reader and read everything put in front of me, I read the small print at the bottom of the poster. Milk got to be a food group because all of the posters were donated by the American Dairy Association!

I wish I could show you the baking industry magazines that I get for my business. The Agricultural Lobby is huge and they have pushed for grain to be included in a big way in the food pyramid. They even have spent time and money figuring out how to get donuts and "comfort" grains back in the American diet since low carb has become popular. The bad economy is an excuse to push their comfort foods to help them in these bad business times. Notice: To them it's all about business, not health!

The ADA is not blameless in this... They have drug companies, the Ag Lobby and overworked doctors pushing them for quick answers. You have to test, test, test for yourself and see which foods work best for you. Oh, and by the way. I take a vitamin-mineral supplement every day. That way I don't have to worry about the stuff that has been added back to the grains to try to make them healthy.
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