Fragile diabetic

[sichuan dingdong]

a close friend of mine recently moved his mother into his home because she is now a fragile diabetic and mostly blind. he is going to great effort to keep her blood sugar under control. she is on a strict diet that he perpares for her 3 times a day. she is stabilizing but hates the food. do any of you know tasty recipes that could help her enjoy eating again without putting her at risk? thanks for any replies even if you do not have a recipe, maybe just some tips.

 

[kitchenelf]

I assume he knows her calorie intake, etc.

As far as adding flavor, if you look up the member name filus, you will find she posted many recipes giving diabetic exchanges. I think the key is herbs/spices/vinegars, etc. for flavor.

All I can tell you is I did a Google search for diabetic recipes and cooking for a diabetic and found some stuff that should help.

 

[sichuan dingdong]

thanks for the reply.

he knows her calorie intake and her nutritionist has provided a day to day meal plan. i.e. 2 pieces bread or 1/2 cup rice, 4 oz. lean meat, 1 piece of fruit, for lunch.
i will keep searching the web and see whats out there.

 

[simplicity]

A suggestion - your friend might ask his mother what she wants to eat and adapt diabetic menus to her wishes. Sometimes this can be a control issue. For instance, if she wants red jello and he makes green she is apt to blow up. Difficult for us to understand, but it may be the only choice she has control of all day.

Another version of this is for them to go to a dietician, again asking the mother for her food preferences, then suggesting to son how to adapt them.

Your concern for your friend is admirable! He's in a tough spot.

 

[kitchenelf]

I'm sorry I wasn't anymore help. I truly think though that if uses different herbs and spices and even vinegars he will succeed in adding more flavor. This looks like some good reading...as does this.

I always hate to recommend "Google" - it sounds like I'm trying to get out helping - but it's the best thing I can think of. He can wade through the recipes he already knows she won't eat but then again, may find a recipe that has more flavor that she will like. While reading I'm sure he'll run across some great flavoring tips!

 

[kadesma]

The dietitian is a good idea. Explain to her that mother is bored and very unhappy with her meal plan..Ask for ideas to give mom a change and make it more fun to eat. Even some sugar free jello might help . I know many who love the sugar free puddings but I find them a problem as the milk used is a lactose and that raises blood glucose... If I can help in anyway I'll be glad to, but the best thing to do is ask your doctor for a referal to a dietitian and insist on a meal plan for mom that will get her interested again.
kadesma

 

[sichuan dingdong]

wow, thanks for all of the replies!
i have been there for meal time and he always asks her what she wants. she had an accident earlier in life that caused some mild brain damage, now with the blood sugar effecting her thinking she often changes her mind after being asked. she does not really understand why she can't eat whatever she wants like she used to. i was trying to help him find stuff that would at least remind her of what she used to eat. any splenda cookie recipes out there that might work? i'll keep loking and checking back here as well. i'm pretty sure he made an appointment with the nutritionist to address her displeasure with her meals.

 

[kitchenelf]

It sounds like he's just going to have have a lot of patience and love...and patience.......and patience. Roasted chicken is roasted chicken - she may recognize that as a comfort-type food. Stuff the cavity with thyme and lemons - it will only add flavor and nothing more. A simple pan sauce with a little pat of butter in the whole lot shouldn't hurt anything as he's not going to use much. Just don't totally disregard that small amount of butter when it comes to the rest of the meal.

My hat is off to him - he's just got to "love her" through mealtime.

 

[kadesma]

wow, thanks for all of the replies!
i have been there for meal time and he always asks her what she wants. she had an accident earlier in life that caused some mild brain damage, now with the blood sugar effecting her thinking she often changes her mind after being asked. she does not really understand why she can't eat whatever she wants like she used to. i was trying to help him find stuff that would at least remind her of what she used to eat. any splenda cookie recipes out there that might work? i'll keep loking and checking back here as well. i'm pretty sure he made an appointment with the nutritionist to address her displeasure with her meals.

I'll look and see what I can come up with. YOu must remember though that it's not just the sugar you have to watch it's also the flour..Carbs are what we need to avoid in large quantities..
kadesma

 

[babetoo]

wow, thanks for all of the replies!
i have been there for meal time and he always asks her what she wants. she had an accident earlier in life that caused some mild brain damage, now with the blood sugar effecting her thinking she often changes her mind after being asked. she does not really understand why she can't eat whatever she wants like she used to. i was trying to help him find stuff that would at least remind her of what she used to eat. any splenda cookie recipes out there that might work? i'll keep loking and checking back here as well. i'm pretty sure he made an appointment with the nutritionist to address her displeasure with her meals.

go to splenda and you will find many desserts, including cookies. i am diabetic but not to that degree. i go there and always find something very good to make.

babe

 

[Michael in FtW]

Your friend has my sympathy, understanding and admiration. Although they were not diabetic - I went through something similar with my dad for a year and then my step-mom for the next 12. And, your friend is dealing with more than just a diabetic diet ... although that does complicate things.

As people get older their taste changes (perception of flavors). Different medications can mute or alter flavors. It also sounds like there is some dementia (either from age, disease or past brain damage). And, I sure know about asking what they wanted to eat before I started cooking (even if only 3-minutes to heat in the microwave) they could change their minds before I got it on the table.

Before any of us can logically suggest recipes for your friend we really need to know:

1) What foods does she like?
2) What food does she not like?
3) What foods did she used to cook?
4) What foods does she eat that she does not complain about?

Being able to recreate dishes his mom likes (even adjusted to the diabetic diet) may trigger "comfort" memories that will get her to eat ... no guarantee, but it's a good place to start. Armed with a list of foods/dishes she likes and dislikes - I bet you/he will get a lot of ideas that are more relevant and less speculative. The more your friend can remember - the more options he has to work from.

 

[Dave Hutchins]

Your friend has my admiration for taking care of his Mother. I am very familiar with aged persons changing their mind before the dish hits the table. My late wife was that way and it was extremely hard to cook for her, what she liked today she would all but throw it at me the next time I fixed it. Tell your friend to have a big helping of patients and understanding that aged folks do not operate the way they used to and it can be very hard to cope with them.

 

[sichuan dingdong]

i have not been able to find out what she was used to eating so that has not been a big option lately. just to update, she has been doing better. now more family has been involved to keep her happy and interested in feeling, eating and basicly getting well. all of your posts have helped in some way so thanks again.

 

[Michael in FtW]

Thanks for letting us know what is going on! I was wondering ...

 

[Claire]

My husband's doctor says if he and the dietician hadn't diagnosed him themselves they wouldn't believe the results. But the problem is motivation, and with an older person sometimes it just isn't there. hubby hates needles, and I have very shaky hands (a genetic disposition). Trust me, no one in their right mind wants me to put a needle into them. For him it was more a case of spreading the food out. 1/2 c carbs for breakfast and lunch, 1 at supper (this is assuming pasta, potatoes or rice. for bread you have to check the carb count on the pkg). Fruit mid-morning and mid-afternoon; triscuits with PB before bed. He isn't eating less, just spreading it around, and eating that ****ed fruit whether he wants it or not. But if someone isn't motivated to improve the problem, it's hard to force them.

 

[lovergrill]

do any of you know tasty recipes that could help her enjoy eating again without putting her at risk?

Two of the many facets of maintaining good health as a diabetic are:
one- what you take in (eat)
two- how you treat what you take in (insulin required)

Appropriately monitoring both should result in little or no risk.

Speak to the treating endocrinologist about a sliding insulin scale and/or the use of a combination of slow and fast acting insulin. This can give more play in what foods can be served and add a little spontaneity in food choices.

The use of a glucometer is highly recommended, as well as keeping accurate records of her blood sugar levels.
A consultation with a certified dietician will certainly help round out the plan for good eating and good health.

now with the blood sugar effecting her thinking

I do not think that blood sugar affects thinking in this manner.
Her thinking may only be affected if her blood sugar is way too low or way too high.
In both cases her diabetes is not in control and at this point I really would not pay much attention to what she ask to eat but rather pay attention to bringing her blood sugar levels back into line with what is normal as quickly and safely as possible.

Over time diabetes affects the circulatory system and this may result in diminished blood flow to the brain. This will affect thinking.
It is a secondary affect of diabetes and not the affect of normally fluctuating levels of blood sugar.

IF you believe her thinking is affected beyond the mild damage she has already suffered it is a good idea to get in touch with a geriatric specialist to have her assessed. As well the doctors that treat geriatric patients and their associated staff can also help you to communicate more effectively with the patient and lessen some of the difficulty and frustration.

Good Luck

 

[kitchenelf]

lovergrill - I don't think the OP is that involved with this person but your answer is very much appreciated. She is getting proper care through her doctors, etc. That is not being overlooked. The OP was simply looking for some miracle recipe to spark her passion for eating again - something familiar...something she wouldn't "poopoo" and complain about

 

[lovergrill]

lovergrill - I don't think the OP is that involved with this person but your answer is very much appreciated. She is getting proper care through her doctors, etc. That is not being overlooked. The OP was simply looking for some miracle recipe to spark her passion for eating again - something familiar...something she wouldn't "poopoo" and complain about

Thanks for your take on that.

#1
The OP states "she is on a strict diet"
I wanted to highlight some techniques to lessen the rigidity of her menu.
The senior citizen in question does not like what she's being given to eat.
Under appropriate supervision, the ability to be a little more spontaneous with her food choices would go along way to giving her back some quality of life.

#2
I wanted to dispel any myth or suggestion that somehow blood sugar levels in diabetics affect their thinking.
A lot of diabetics would be very upset by that.

#3
Isn't this the Health, Nutrition and Special Diets forum

#4
You admins jump in a lot on this board.

Just my 2 cents again
Cheers Mr. Elf

 

[kitchenelf]

Sorry, but it's not Mr. Elf.

Like I said, your info, as stated, was appreciated. But the OP is not involved in her personally. For example:

Speak to the treating endocrinologist about a sliding insulin scale and/or the use of a combination of slow and fast acting insulin. This can give more play in what foods can be served and add a little spontaneity in food choices.

This just isn't going to happen. Her family is on top of her medical attention and the OP is not her family. You are more than welcome to go into a lengthy explanation though.

I wanted to dispel any myth or suggestion that somehow blood sugar levels in diabetics affect their thinking.
A lot of diabetics would be very upset by that.

Did you read the part of the thread where this woman had an accident and suffered mild brain damage? Maybe you missed that, I don't know. My mother was a diabetic and I can assure you she wasn't thinking right when her blood sugar levels were off so IMHO it does affect their thinking AND actions. Mean comes to mind

Admins jump in as anyone else would.

 

[lovergrill]

Sorry, but it's not Mr. Elf.

Like I said, your info, as stated, was appreciated. But the OP is not involved in her personally. For example:


This just isn't going to happen. Her family is on top of her medical attention and the OP is not her family. You are more than welcome to go into a lengthy explanation though.



Did you read the part of the thread where this woman had an accident and suffered mild brain damage? Maybe you missed that, I don't know. My mother was a diabetic and I can assure you she wasn't thinking right when her blood sugar levels were off so IMHO it does affect their thinking AND actions. Mean comes to mind

Admins jump in as anyone else would.

Sorry about that Ms. Elf

Yes I read the posting and the OP states:
"now with the blood sugar effecting her thinking"

This is utter nonsense!

A diabetic is exactly the same as anyone else when their blood sugar is within the normal range.
If the sugar levels are so off that the persons thinking is affected it is time to call 911 and then go out and get a proper education on diabetes and diabetic care.

I get the feeling you did not read my posting.
I know others will and maybe, just maybe they will use the information to better the quality of life for someone they love.