Diabetic diet

Question
Hello Amanda,

I have recently been kind of put in charge of my 85 yr old grandmother's diet.  She is obese and diabetic.  I cook for her and my grandfather (who is, btw, under weight) once a week and offer advise on what she should be eating.  I am not an expert by any means but in our family I think they know I am the most health conscience and so they have asked me to do this.  I've been familiarizing myself with the glycemic index.  Do you have any suggestions for me as I take on this challenge?  

Your advice is greatly appreciated.

Kind Regards,
Krista

Answer
Hello Krista,
Thanks for your question.    
That's great that you are familiarizing yourself with the glycemic index - it is definitely something to consider when cooking/designing meals for your grandparents.  The first thing I would like to point out is that each individual is unique and has unique nutritional needs - so I always suggest meeting with a nutritional consultant or other holistic health practitioner in order to properly assess your grandmother and determine her nutrient imbalances in order to correct them in the body and bring her back into balance.  Having said that, there are definitely general guidelines you can follow when designing a healthy eating regimen for someone with diabetes.
It is ideal to omit as many processed foods as possible - this especially means the elimination of white and refined products - including breads, pasta, rice and other processed foods that are virtually void of natural nutrients.
These high-glycemic foods are quickly converted into blood glucose during the digestive process and cause insulin levels to spike.    
Eating small, balanced meals (complex carbohydrates, protein and a bit of fat for each meal & snack) throughout the day will help to keep blood sugar levels stable - so instead of eating 3 large meals it would be better to eat smaller meals every few hours.  Also, increasing fibre intake is essential - fibre not only helps to keep someone regular, it also helps to balance blood sugar levels and increases the elimination of toxins in the body.  Good sources of fibre are flaxseeds, psyllium, vegetables, whole grains - such as brown rice, quinoa, amaranth, buckwheat, oats - and fresh fruits.  It is wise to eat a large portion of vegetables and fruits raw because cooking them can destroy important vitamins.  
Provide mainly lean protein such as chicken, fish, and legumes and to keep total dietary fat on the lower end.  Some good fats are essential for health, but don't overdo it.  Healthy sources are olive oil, avocados, nuts,
seeds, and oils such as flax, sesame, pumpkin and sunflower.  Do not cook with these oils as they can turn rancid.
Remember that we should focus on eating "whole" foods for a "whole" body.  Some meal examples would be grilled chicken with brown rice and fresh leafy-green salad, boiled egg on whole rye bread with fresh cucumber slices, chickpea salad with steamed broccoli, oatmeal with flaxseeds and raisins, and fresh fruit salad with organic low-fat plain yogurt and flaxseeds.  
If you stick to mainly whole foods and try to balance each
meal, it will help to keep blood sugar levels more stable.
I hope some of this information helps you in your quest for optimal health for your grandparents.
Good luck and be well!
Amanda

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