Fit Fare

My husband and I are most definitely “foodies”. We enjoy finding the best meat, the freshest vegetables, and the tastiest wine available while avoiding processed foods as much as possible – a combination of philosophies found in books such as Fast Food Nation, Fat Land, and The Omnivore’s Dilemma.

But we both have diabetes. As you might imagine, this conflicts directly with being a foodie in some circumstances. What good is a foodie who has to limit desserts, potatoes, and bread products?

Before I explain the answer to that question, I should mention that my diabetes and my husband’s diabetes are different. I have type 2 diabetes, which means my body doesn’t use its own insulin properly to reduce the amount of glucose in my bloodstream after meals (and sometimes when a meal hasn’t been consumed in several hours). For the first couple of years following diagnosis, I managed my diabetes through diet and exercise alone. Earlier this year, I added medication to my regimen in order to stay healthy and complication-free.

My husband has had type 1 diabetes, formerly called juvenile diabetes, since 1986. That means that his pancreas does not produce any insulin. He must inject himself with insulin several times during the day. While people with type 2 may be able to control their condition without the need for medication or insulin, that is not true of those with type 1.

Through trial and error, we have discovered the foods that don’t spike our blood glucose levels with the assistance of our blood glucose meters. Some of these might be surprising – for example, pizza does not affect my levels negatively while oatmeal is disastrous.

Unfortunately, what works for one person may not work for another. This has led me to believe that following one exact diet plan to control diabetes isn’t necessarily the best treatment for everyone with diabetes, just as weight loss plans vary in their effectiveness from person to person. I think the basics behind weight loss are the same for everyone – avoid processed food, eat smaller portions, and exercise most days of the week. Where you go from there depends on your body’s metabolism.

Despite all of my good intentions, I still have a couple of vices. I enjoy diet soda entirely too much and have tried to wean myself from it several times. And I don’t always deprive myself of dessert, but still probably consume it more than I should.

I look forward to sharing what I have learned about healthy cooking and eating, along with some of my favorite recipes.