Diabetes

[PennBF]

It is interesting that statistics show that a very large number of people have diabetes (1 or 2) and yet there are very few stores that actually recognize this and have food cooked, baked or grilled for the high number of diabetics.
Go to the bakeries and everything is loaded with sugar, (e.g.Fresh Farms) with maybe one product without sugar. It is another case of a business missing an opportunity. Some try to fool the buyer with "low fat" claims, etc.
When there are attempts at providing something without sugar they use "molitol" which again is a poor excuse for kidding the buyer. If someone looks hard they may see a very few products using "Splenda" but these are very far and few inbetween. :sad:

[RichieB]

When it comes to food for diabetics, if it tastes good, it's probably not good for you.

For breakfast, I used to HATE Cheerios as a kid, but now I eat a ton of it. Cheerios are good for you, Multi Grain Cheerios are even better.

[pooh]

The area is still growing. Maybe more stores will start to provide low sugar treats, however, it's not up to the stores to monitor the diet of their customers. I know, it would be nice to be able to pick up something with fewer carbs for those who are dealing with blood sugar issues, but remember it's not just plain sugar that's the culprit, it's low fiber carbs also that can cause spikes in blood glucose.

Not really sure if stores where I left provided lots of treats available for diabetic customers. Did where you come from, do that?

As Rickie said, if it tastes good, it's probably not good for you....and as a kid, I really didn't like Cheerios either, now it's the only cereal in our household.

[2BNTV]

I agree that stores are missing the boat without considering the diabetic population as it is a epidemic in this country. I am in CT and the local Stop and Shop has recently stocked muffins that are "lower in fat" and use Splenda so the sugar is ok but they come in a four pack. If I am going to cheat, I would like it to be a one shot deal as oppossed to a daily regiment. Diabetics need to look at labels when purchasing something.

Low fat means that that it doesn't have the same amount of fat of the regular item of choice. I have been informed that a healthful choice should not contain fat more than 30% of the the total calories. Carbs and protein are other factors for healthy coices.

I also look to see if the labels is serving more than one portion so I would have to double the numbers. I ty not to eat anything with more than 10 grams of sugar.

It would be nice if stores took inot consideration the diabetic population but we have to deal with the fact that we are responsible for our choices.

[RichieB]

When it comes to food for diabetics, if it tastes good, it's probably not good for you.

For breakfast, I used to HATE Cheerios as a kid, but now I eat a ton of it. Cheerios are good for you, Multi Grain Cheerios are even better.

These were almost direct quotes from my doctor. I lowered my a1c level from 7.2 to 5.9 over a four month time period. He is tickled !!

I also found that food for diabetics is mostly on the bland side :yuck: But, you put up with it.

My biggest disappointment is that I enjoy beer, and now the most the doc will "give" me is a beer or two around Christ,as and New Years.

[JenAjd]

A person needs to be proactive and read labels and also fix their menu's accordingly. When eating out...cut out the "whites"...white rice, white flour and potatoes. It's really all about carbs. You can find low carb items in the grocery store (again read labels for hidden sugar). You can have these in very limited amounts however. It's possible! BUT if one has that sweet tooth it's hard to break old habits. I'm speaking from experience as I have type 2 diabetes. There are "educational classes" on how to address this, that are available in T.V. (you'll need a doctor's referral) and I'm sure there are classes in other areas of the country as well.

[2BNTV]

These were almost direct quotes from my doctor. I lowered my a1c level from 7.2 to 5.9 over a four month time period. He is tickled !!

I also found that food for diabetics is mostly on the bland side :yuck: But, you put up with it.

My biggest disappointment is that I enjoy beer, and now the most the doc will "give" me is a beer or two around Christ,as and New Years.

I went from 7.1 A1C reading when diagnosed to 5.8 in three months.

So I said to the doctor, "the A1C is below 6.0 which means I am no longer a diabetic.

He replied, "you have to think of it like being an alcoholic, you can get sober but you can't ever go back to drinking".

I agree that if it taste good, it must be bad for you like ice cream.

Fiber One cereal taste like cardboard but you get used to it. Mind over matter, "if you don't mind, it don't matter".

It still would be nice if there were more options out there as it gets boring trying to stick to a limited amount of healthy choices especially for those who don't cook. :)

[PennBF]

The area is still growing. Maybe more stores will start to provide low sugar treats, however, it's not up to the stores to monitor the diet of their customers. I know, it would be nice to be able to pick up something with fewer carbs for those who are dealing with blood sugar issues, but remember it's not just plain sugar that's the culprit, it's low fiber carbs also that can cause spikes in blood glucose.

Not really sure if stores where I left provided lots of treats available for diabetic customers. Did where you come from, do that?

As Rickie said, if it tastes good, it's probably not good for you....and as a kid, I really didn't like Cheerios either, now it's the only cereal in our household.

I don't believe you truly understood my remarks. They were not directed to a store monitoring a customers diet. It was directed to the point that some
business's are missing an opportunity for incrementally increase in their revenue's. I am pretty familiar with diets restrictions, and recommended
food intake. Again, I don't think my note addressed these points as anyone interested in the note would most likely understand a diabetic's dietary constraints. It does not matter where I "came from" or where I am as there is little difference in the opportunity. I would exclude places like NY City where there are a number of shops that cater to the diabetic. :popcorn:

[2BNTV]

I personally would like to see a business open that caters to the diabetic community. I believe I posed a question a while back about, "are there any places that better serve the needs of a person with diabetes"?

All answers were helpful but in conclusion, the standard answers was to watch what you eat. Some places just had better choices if one were to eat out.

It would be nice if it happened some day. :)

[laryb]

One thing I'm sure of is that maltitol is not a good sugar substitute. It may taste alright, but the reaction you'll get from it is substantial. It will give you the worst case of gas imaginable. I bought gummy bears made with it and gave it to a fellow worker who would always make a pig of himself when ever someone brought something in to share. I put a bowl of them out and warned the other guys what was going on. He proceeded to empty the bowl. He had explosive gas to start, and then finished up with, well, I'll let you use your imagination. Someone gave me a 5 lb bag of the gummies, and the grandchildren would sneak in to the pantry closet and eat them so they could have "gas wars". All you would hear was strange noises and mad laughter.:laugh:

[pooh]

One thing I'm sure of is that maltitol is not a good sugar substitute. It may taste alright, but the reaction you'll get from it is substantial. It will give you the worst case of gas imaginable. I bought gummy bears made with it and gave it to a fellow worker who would always make a pig of himself when ever someone brought something in to share. I put a bowl of them out and warned the other guys what was going on. He proceeded to empty the bowl. He had explosive gas to start, and then finished up with, well, I'll let you use your imagination. Someone gave me a 5 lb bag of the gummies, and the grandchildren would sneak in to the pantry closet and eat them so they could have "gas wars". All you would hear was strange noises and mad laughter.:laugh:


I have a friend who lives in Washington state. She was driving quite a distance to her home one evening and decided to buy some Jelly Bellys made with the sugar substitute you're talking about. Half way home, the "madness" hit. She was beyond the first stage and all the time she was fighting cramps and pain, she kept popping those jelly beans into her mouth...never realizing that they were causing her extreme discomfort. Poor Kim...

[pooh]

I don't believe you truly understood my remarks. They were not directed to a store monitoring a customers diet. It was directed to the point that some
business's are missing an opportunity for incrementally increase in their revenue's. I am pretty familiar with diets restrictions, and recommended
food intake. Again, I don't think my note addressed these points as anyone interested in the note would most likely understand a diabetic's dietary constraints. It does not matter where I "came from" or where I am as there is little difference in the opportunity. I would exclude places like NY City where there are a number of shops that cater to the diabetic. :popcorn:

Maybe I don't, Penn. Some businesses might be missing the boat, but I'm sure it's thought of as a gamble. (Not sure if you're talking just food specifically or if you're suggesting other types of stores for diabetic needs. )

[PennBF]

In a number of countries products that include Maltitol must indicate on the label that it may have a laxative effect. The US does not require this warning. :ohdear:

[lightworker888]

We have been using cinnamon caps @ 1000-2000 gms depending on what carbs have been eaten. My husband is pre-diabetic and w/out watching his carb and sugar intake he could easily slip into a diabetic zone. We use organic sugar when necessary (which isn't often) and are pretty much gluten free. The cinnamon bark seems to work well and is well documented as a blood sugar regulator. Some people sprinkle it on everything rather than just using caps.

LW888

[2BNTV]

I have a friend who lives in Washington state. She was driving quite a distance to her home one evening and decided to buy some Jelly Bellys made with the sugar substitute you're talking about. Half way home, the "madness" hit. She was beyond the first stage and all the time she was fighting cramps and pain, she kept popping those jelly beans into her mouth...never realizing that they were causing her extreme discomfort. Poor Kim...

"What a revolting developement" as Jackie Gleason would say. :boom: :jester:

[JohnN]

This thread may be better on the Medical forum instead of general,
but be that as it may, there are a lot of diabetics in TV (and in this forum) with a lot of good tips. I've reducted my A1C from 7.9 to 5.7 in a year's time just by being very careful with sugar and starches.

If you want to see the tips, I really suggest doing a search on diabetes or visit the medical board.

[CMANN]

I can't really blame restaurants and bakeries for not catering to diabetics. In all probability we wouldn't buy the stuff anyway. It tastes like crap and we think that because it's good for us that we see plenty of it, then you gain weight and are more diabetic.

I can assure you that with the exception of Dunkin doughnuts and a few others I can find food that is on my diet just about anywhere. Sometimes I have to do without. Sometimes there is plenty. I keep my A1C around 6.

So, if you cannot find enough diabetic food out there, there is plenty of people food that you can have.

[2BNTV]

I can't really blame restaurants and bakeries for not catering to diabetics. In all probability we wouldn't buy the stuff anyway. It tastes like crap and we think that because it's good for us that we see plenty of it, then you gain weight and are more diabetic.

I can assure you that with the exception of Dunkin doughnuts and a few others I can find food that is on my diet just about anywhere. Sometimes I have to do without. Sometimes there is plenty. I keep my A1C around 6.

So, if you cannot find enough diabetic food out there, there is plenty of people food that you can have.

I find it very limiting to eat the same foods every day as I have been in control for five years. I will be the first to agree that cheating leads to more cheating so one must pick their spots in eating something not good for them if their type of diabetes allows that sort of wiggle room.

It might not be feasible for any bakery/store/restaurant to make a living just with diabetic type foods. I just would like to see a little more options in foods that can taste great and still not be terribly bad for diabetics. I have found that real foods dimishes one's taste buds for the junky processed foods.

This is a complex disease as everyone's condition needs to be addressed in a way that is good for them.

[Villages PL]

When it comes to food for diabetics, if it tastes good, it's probably not good for you.

For breakfast, I used to HATE Cheerios as a kid, but now I eat a ton of it. Cheerios are good for you, Multi Grain Cheerios are even better.

It all depends on how healthy you want to be. And it depends on what you are comparing Cheerios with. Cheerios are healthy if compared to a slice of white bread toast or a donut.

The problem with Cheerios is that they are made from finely ground oat flour. If it's multi grain, it's still made from finely ground flour. Then there are additives.

Steel-cut oats is the best way to get the benefit from whole grain. It will give you a slow release of energy into your blood stream and keep you satisfied longer.

:)

[Villages PL]

It is interesting that statistics show that a very large number of people have diabetes (1 or 2) and yet there are very few stores that actually recognize this and have food cooked, baked or grilled for the high number of diabetics.

The very people who have diabetes are probably the ones who crave processed foods the most. That's likely the reason they got diabetes in the first place. The best thing to do, in my opinion, is to get over it. There isn't any processed food that's going to do you any good. And the stores already sell lots of foods for diabetics: These foods are called, "fresh fruit and vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes and whole grains etc..


Go to the bakeries and everything is loaded with sugar, (e.g.Fresh Farms) with maybe one product without sugar.

Sugar or no sugar, you'd be much better off not to eat any baked goods made with white flour.

In my opinion, there's no such thing as a healthy processed food and it would be a fraud to say that there is such a thing.

:)