Type 2 Diabetes - Looking For Advice

[slo]

So….my DH was just recently diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes and it’s time for him to start eating better.

First….does anyone have any advice or words of wisdom with this?

Second….one way to eat better is to start eating Salmon, but I have literally never cooked salmon in my life. There’s tons of recipes online, but I’m coming to you for simple easy recipes. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Also, what do you serve with it? If anyone has any good side recipes that’s good for type 2 diabetes I would appreciate you posting them.

Third…..Can DH treat himself sometimes to some treats or no?

I’m feeling like a fish out of water with this and it’s important to me to help him as much as possible. If he can’t eat something, then we both don’t eat something - I wouldn’t eat something he can’t have in front of him - it’s just not something I would do.

Thanks for your advice, wisdom and suggestions

 

[mjkacmom]

One of my favorite ways to make salmon is in a foil pack with lemons and dill, about 25 minutes at 400 or so, although I do love it and have made it many different ways (love an Asian salmon).

 

[TwoMisfits]

So….my DH was just recently diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes and it’s time for him to start eating better.

First….does anyone have any advice or words of wisdom with this?

Second….one way to eat better is to start eating Salmon, but I have literally never cooked salmon in my life. There’s tons of recipes online, but I’m coming to you for simple easy recipes. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Also, what do you serve with it? If anyone has any good side recipes that’s good for type 2 diabetes I would appreciate you posting them.

Third…..Can DH treat himself sometimes to some treats or no?

I’m feeling like a fish out of water with this and it’s important to me to help him as much as possible. If he can’t eat something, then we both don’t eat something - I wouldn’t eat something he can’t have in front of him - it’s just not something I would do.

Thanks for your advice, wisdom and suggestions

Fresh salmon filets - 350 degrees for 15 minutes in oven til it's opaque and splits with press of a fork (if you like it more well done, leave it in 3-5 extra minutes).

As for what to put on them - if I was going very low carb, I'd use as a pre-cook glaze:
1. jarred or homemade pesto with a little extra salt
2. lemon/olive oil/dill/salt/pepper
3. dijon mustard/olive oil/salt/pepper

Any of the 3 take 5 minutes to apply and keeps the cook the same.

PS - I never cook frozen salmon - the directions are for the fresh stuff.

 

[TwoMisfits]

As for good sides for salmon, I love Asian cucumber salad or avocado/cucumber salad, depending on the glaze selected.

My other favorites are a roasted broccoli or asparagus.

 

[pinkxray]

I buy the frozen individual portions of wild salmon at Costco. I usually toss it in the oven @400 for around 20 minutes. (I prefer all my proteins well done so normal people might do 15) I cover it with lemon slices, a little salt and pepper. I typically eat it with roasted Brussels sprouts and asparagus since I can toss it in the oven at the same time. Just use a little olive oil and salt and pepper.

Good luck to your Dh. It’s hard to change eating habits. Dh never eats vegeatables and finally at 41 decided he needs to eat better. Last night I made him my typical grilled chicken with roasted asparagus and brussel sprouts. He ate it but didn’t look happy about it.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Best advice I have (having had a father in law diagnosed as type 2 during Covid) is balance and simplicity. Just like I mentioned on the eating cheaper threads, taking a 1950's eating concept updated to a lot more veg is probably the best way to eat for him right now.

Toss the processed foods, the sugary marinades, the treats, the juices/sodas etc...and go back to olive oil, salt, and pepper for the base...and simple meals which are protein and veg heavy...

And if he's not doing it already, daily low impact exercise. Start slow and work his way up - you have to do that slowly, but it will pay off.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

May I ask what his Hemoglobin A1C was?

 

[JLTraveling]

I can't help with the salmon, but my dad's had Type 2 diabetes for over a decade now. I STRONGLY suggest your husband take a diabetes education class. My dad took one right after diagnosis and it really set him on a good path to understanding carb counting, the interactions between different types of nutrients (proteins/healthy fats/etc), and how to control his blood sugar in different situations (a day of sitting on the couch is not the same as a day at Disney which is not the same as a day of yard work).

Your husband will need to get his exact target numbers from his doctor or diabetes educator. For my dad, the general goal is 60-75 grams of carbs per meal, eaten about five hours apart, with a snack between each meal. And a carb is a carb is a carb. So yes, your husband can have treats. In fact, he can eat anything he likes. BUT he has to balance it so that he doesn't get too many carbs in one sitting or too many total in a day. And he needs to balance with proteins, fiber-rich foods, and healthy fats.

Is your husband on any diabetes meds? If so, he'll need to be careful about lows. Dad used to go into what we called "black rage" (never violent or anything, just a really short fuse and prone to yelling) when he went low. Once he learned what was going on, and how to tell if he was starting to go low, he knew to immediately have a few carbs (he was told 12-15 grams as rescue carbs, which could be full-sugar soda, orange juice, candy, glucose tablets, whatever). Your husband should ALWAYS have rescue carbs with him. And he'll want to eat a proper meal within an hour or so of consuming the rescue carbs, since pure sugar doesn't stick with you long.

It's a lot. And restaurants can be super confusing when you're first diagnosed, because you can't read labels on a restaurant meal. But over time, you'll both learn about how many carbs are in how much of whatever food, and you can eyeball it at a restaurant. Just keep in mind that most restaurants serve WAY more than a single serving of food. Dad usually eats about half a portion when dining out.

Again, look for a diabetes education class. I think Dad's was about four weeks (one class a week) and in a group setting, so that everyone could learn from each other's experiences and questions. It's overwhelming at first, but carb counting quickly becomes second nature.

ETA: One of the biggest changes my dad had to make was learning to like diet soda, along with learning to drink way more water. It's shocking how many carbs are in most beverages, and they all count. So if your husband learns to enjoy zero carb drinks, he'll have a lot more room to play with his diet and eat the things he loves.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Look for Mediterranean diet recipes (especially for healthy salmon recipes). My family members that have diabetes follow many of those recipes and have lost weight while still enjoying what they ate. There are plenty of books, websites and videos that you can explore. I personally enjoy the Mediterranean diet (and I don’t have diabetes).

 

[slo]

May I ask what his Hemoglobin A1C was?

His number was 7.something (I don’t remember exactly)

 

[slo]

Thank you to everyone for taking the time to reply. Very helpful posts - much appreciated!

 

[mjkacmom]

I recently started making what I call my soup of good intentions. After buying fresh vegetables I mean to prepare, and don’t, I sauté carrots, garlic, celery and onions, then add herbs, tomato paste and all of my vegetables, and broth, and make a big container of soup. It’s pretty good!

 

[lanejudy]

First….does anyone have any advice or words of wisdom with this?

Portion sizes. Increase veggies. Decrease starches. It takes time, but he'll get used to it. Presumably he has a recommended carb intake for each meal/snack. It doesn't take long to figure out what size portion hits that mark (or what size bumps way up!).

Third…..Can DH treat himself sometimes to some treats or no?

Yes! Desserts are not completely no-no. Presumably he's testing regularly. He'll see how his meals and snacks impact his readings. Then he can figure out treats, maybe adjusting his dinner serving or such.

Good luck to him (and you)!

 

[china mom]

Ask his doctor if he can prescribe a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) He will be able to get immediate feedback about how each food affects his blood sugar and can adjust his behavior based on that knowledge.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Agree with so many of these posts, having both Type 1 and 2 diabetics in the family. This news is likely going to change the way your DH looks at food the rest of his life. It's not just a matter of eating better, but better understanding what it is he's eating. Carb counting is something we do in this family before having members over for dinner. Sugar-free options or low-sugar options are always on the table. You'll learn things about food you never knew before - you'll be reading labels in the grocery store! But it's absolutely worth it, and it'll become a norm.

The best advice above is getting educated - and being willing to listen to what experts tell him are best for his health. It's a dangerous, but manageable disease in 2023. All the best to him...

 

[EilonwyWanderer]

Second….one way to eat better is to start eating Salmon, but I have literally never cooked salmon in my life. There’s tons of recipes online, but I’m coming to you for simple easy recipes. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Also, what do you serve with it? If anyone has any good side recipes that’s good for type 2 diabetes I would appreciate you posting them.

I don't like fish so let me tell you a GREAT salmon recipe that I eat and my kids eat! And it's easy and fast! But i do not know if it's particularly diabetes-friendly:

3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 cloves garlic (minced)
1 pound salmon fillet (skin on)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Remove the salmon from the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature while you prepare the other ingredients. Line a 9x13-inch baking dish with foil or parchment paper (for easy clean up).

In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, olive oil, honey, Dijon and minced garlic.
Place salmon, skin side down, in the prepared baking dish.
Pour about 2/3 of the sauce over the salmon, reserving the remaining 1/3 sauce.
Bake for 15 minutes and then brush on the remaining sauce.
Bake 2-5 minutes more, until internal temperature of the thickest part of the fish reaches 145 degrees on an instant read thermometer.

 

[HeatherC]

I would suggest concentrating on real foods…those with no ingredient list. Focus on lean proteins and lots of vegetables. Use only extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil. And exercise. Taking a walk after meals can help keep insulin levels from spiking. Best of luck to both of you!

 

[JLTraveling]

Taking a walk after meals can help keep insulin levels from spiking. Best of luck to both of you!

Yes, this! I can't find it now, but I read a study not too long ago that said that just two minutes of walking right after a meal reduces spikes by 60%. So even if he's at work or whatever and can't go for a full walk, he may be able to pace for two minutes.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

His number was 7.something (I don’t remember exactly)

That’s not too bad, which means he doesn’t have too far to go, especially if they started him on medication.

Has he seen a nutritionist yet? That would help, and be sure to go with him. They’ll do an assessment of what he’s been eating and show him how to make changes.

@sam_gordon had a long diabetes thread a year or so ago, but I can’t find it. Will keep looking and post it here.
Found it! https://www.disboards.com/threads/diet-exercise.3842631/

Many people eat too many carbs with their breakfast. That’s starting the day off with elevated sugar. Try to change some of those over to protein sources like hard boiled eggs, yogurt with higher protein content, and even a slice of turkey or something like that. Think about doing that throughout the day.

Others have said whole foods and I agree with that. Try to lower portion sizes. You asked about a treat. Once he gets his sugars back in control, he could choose something as part of his overall diet plan. If he’s checking his blood sugars he could see how that affects them and decide if it’s worth it. If he likes sweets, an orange, or a sugar free pudding can be something he gets used to. He shouldn’t have a lot of cakes, candy and ice cream, etc. (or his A1C on recheck probably won’t be too good).

Exercise helps burn sugar so if he could start a walking program, that would also help.

Good luck! I like that you say you’ll do it with him. That’s always why I like to include families when I talk to people about this type of thing. Most are more than willing to help, as long as they know what they have to do.

 

[tazdev3225]

My husband has had diabetes for about 16 years. It is an adjustment for everyone, He will not touch fish so no help there.

I learned to portion control and since he is no longer able to drive I see his doctor with him. Before that he was taking the advice of his buddies at work.. If he isn't using it already try and get the Freestyle Libre 2 monitor. It has helped his doctor with trying to get and keep his numbers under control. Not an easy task with my husband since he is a Yo-Yo diabetic. One thing we learned is moderation and he has a cheat day. Trying to stop everything was not productive so he now has one day a week where he can have some candy or a piece of cake.

My best advice is make sure he sees an eye doctor yearly to watch for Diabetic Retinopathy. My husband had it for 5 or 6 years before I knew about it because he didn't pay attention to drs. He now has lost a good deal of his eyesight. The other thing is to get a good foot doctor. Diabetics are prone to neuropathy as part of the disease. Again from personal experience my husband has neuropathy. He has no idea how bad because he can't feel anything. He has had several foot ulcers and diabetics do not heal quickly or easily. The last one led to a bone infection and part of his toe had to be amputated.

Diets help and moderation, lower carbs plus more protein and vegies as others have said are helpful with the numbers.