A question, and a confession

[Luke]

First the confession.

I have a weakness that when I have a family get together or a party, and there are sweets there, I like to partake in them. I have caught myself using the excuse of "well, no one thought of me being diabetic and made a substitute, so I'm going to eat this" when is all reality, I could have prepared something myself.

With that being said, what are some good "snack food" and desert substitutes for us diabetics?

I have not always been serious about taking care of myself as a diabetic Part of it was denial, other parts was flat out being hard headed about things, but I want to get squared away, and have been doing a good job of doing so lately.

Thanks!

Luke

[Subby]

Hi Luke, beyond all the usual suspects such as veggies such as celery and cheese, nuts, diet jelly, perhaps small amounts of icecream, I don't have much in the way of practical foods.

What I was going to say is that many people now use a "carb counting" method to take a dose of insulin, with all carbohydrate foods. It doesn't mean that we should or can eat whatever carbs we want, but it does mean you've got a choice to make that's not as bad as before.

So, while I encourage you to eat healthily and stick to the best low-carb low-spiking options, I'm just going to mention how carb counting works.

Before, the choice is to eat party foods and either guess as an extra dose of insulin (do you do that currently?), or just eat it in the knowledge you're going to go high and you're doing the wrong thing for you BG levels.

On the carb counting method, you first have it worked out how many carbs are covered by a unit of insulin. This is like a "rating" that is generally constant, it's called you Insulin to Carb factor. It can vary wildly between people. Usually it's something that applies for you all the time, like your phone number. So you might have an I:C factor of 1:10 (means 1 unit insulin will counteract 10 grams of carbs).

It's important to say it's not perfect, and it can be thrown out by eating quick acting carbs that really beat the insulin and you go high anyway. But it can still be a lot more useful than guessing.

Then you consider the grams of carb in any food, whether it is pumpkin soup or chocolate, and using your I:C (Insulin to carb) factor, you calculate a dose that it going to be the most effective. You take the dose, and you eat the food.

You've still got the problem that many foods will still spike you, and that pigging out is usually a no-no, but at the same time using this method means the choice to try foods you don't eat every day is not so risky or damaging (assuming you are sensible about amounts and types of foods), and have a much better counteracting amount of insulin in your system.

Do you have a diabetic doctor or endo or diabetic educator you can see? If this sounds like a good move, I'd recommend you take it up with them. While I've tried to give a brief outline, there is a method that needs to be learned.

Otherwise, I also hope there might be some good suggestions for low-spiking party foods here as well. :)

[Subby]

Oh, I just saw in your signature in the other thread, that you are already on carb/cho counting. May as well ignore my carb counting spiel ;)

Ah well, maybe my response here will be of some use to someone else one day.

[jenb]

Hi Luke. I try hard to concentrate on fresh veggies and cheese for snacks, but have a weakness for fresh sourdough bread (yes, I even bake it - ouch) and heavenly, cruchy crackers. In a social situation, if I just can't resist my starchy adversaries, I add extra bolus doses and at least try to limit myself to a few nibbles. I keep track of it all and have definitely had my share of "eaters remorse", but my control's still good and life goes on!

Jen

[kgm0612]

I like to snack on carrot sticks dipped in ranch dressing, or eat a few slices of cheddar cheese. Nuts are always a good snack and great for you.

If you're missing desserts.............try a Hunt's Pudding Cup (they are either no sugar added or sugar free, I can't remember) with some whip cream on top.

Karen

[Luke]

Deserts are my weakness. I got so used to having desert while in the military, simply because it was all you could eat in the dining facility.

I am just trying to get a few ideas because I plan on running to the grocery store in a bit and getting a few things, LOL

[Cassini]

Whipping cream. Cool Whip. Fake is better as far as carbs go, but whipping cream with anything makes it more filling, so less craving fore more. A small piece of cake or brownie (2 in square) covered in Cool Whip, delicious, low GI load.

A quick trifle (this is pretty far from the actual trifle of British fame, or Irish even, so someone is going to give me grief!):D type recipe that is actually good for you. I also occasionally use ladyfingers in the traditional manner,(bottom of bowl, then jello and berries, then in the bowl vertically to line outside of bowl) they don't cause huge spikes for me.
Fresh berries (dark are better) laid in the bottom of a see through bowl, add s/f jello, let it half set, add more berries and some cool whip, keep layering until bowl is full (or even make single serving sized ones in old fountain drink glasses) If you tip the glass while the jello is setting, you can make funky geometric shapes and have everyone wanting YOUR dessert.

You can booze it up a bit if you want, just for the fun and flavour!:o

EatMyTrifleHelen:T

[TommyC1]

Cheese, Hold the crackers.
Veggies wth whatever dip there is. Watch out some are carb heavy.

I'm the same with sweets. Tough to stare them down. If you are going to eat them you just have to take enough insulin to cover the carbs.

Hey you're too skinny anyway! Wish I had that problem ;-)

Tommy

[IrishJoe]

Pah! you have to have fun too. One or two sweeties shouldn't be *too* bad

[dbc]

Pah! you have to have fun too. One or two sweeties shouldn't be *too* bad

Yeah, the problem is stopping after two!!! :D

I find a *sensible* helping of full cream icecream covered with 1 or 2 units apidra works pretty well for me. No sauces tho! :(

[LancetChick]

Whipping cream. Cool Whip. Fake is better as far as carbs go, but whipping cream with anything makes it more filling, so less craving fore more. A small piece of cake or brownie (2 in square) covered in Cool Whip, delicious, low GI load.

Watch out for Cool Whip --it is non-dairy, and is made of high fructose corn syrup, which packs a wallop of a glucose surge.

[Olidus]

Pah! you have to have fun too. One or two sweeties shouldn't be *too* bad
Here here!
Your diabetic - your not dead!
IMO Life is too short to cut out all the fun foods. That being said its not an everyday thing - and as long as you properly bolus to break down the carbs and adjust if need be, I don't see a problem with it every now and then.