| It is easy enough to follow any diet for a short time but | | | | you are going to do before the event. For example, |
| when you are faced with following a life-long diabetes | | | | you could decide to have a small piece of gateaux |
| diet you will find that there are a number of barriers | | | | and simply adjust your diet for the remainder of that |
| which will frustrate you in your efforts. The secret | | | | day to compensate. Another option might be to decide |
| therefore to starting a diabetic diet is to understand | | | | that it is better to eat before you go out or to take |
| just what those barriers are and to focus your | | | | along your own favorite snack, plus a little bit extra for |
| attention on the benefits of your diabetes diet. | | | | others to try. |
| The sort of barriers that you are likely to encounter | | | | However you decide to tackle these barriers, they will |
| might include: | | | | need to be faced and overcome. This should not |
| Cost. Buying fresh fruit and vegetables is not cheap, | | | | prove too difficult with a little bit of thought and effort, |
| particularly when you are buying 'out of season' | | | | but it will also help if you focus your attention on some |
| imported products. But don't forget that, as you | | | | of the benefits of following your diabetes diet: |
| increase your intake of fresh fruit and vegetables, you | | | | Feeling better. Without your diet there is a good |
| are also cutting back on expensive convenience foods | | | | chance that you will overeat, or eat the wrong foods, |
| and snack items like potato chips, so the two will tend | | | | raising your blood sugar level and making you feel tired |
| to balance out. | | | | and generally unwell. With your diabetic diet however |
| Culture. Food is a lot more than just sustenance and | | | | you will feel a whole lot better. |
| for many of us it is also very much an expression of | | | | Better weight control. With your diabetic diet you will |
| our culture. Fortunately, there are many different ways | | | | avoid overeating and eating foods which are likely to |
| to prepare food and you will find many excellent | | | | lead to weight gain, allowing you to keep your figure |
| diabetic cookbooks focusing of food from particular | | | | and also reducing the risk of other health problems like |
| cultures. | | | | heart disease and stroke. |
| Family, Family members might find it difficult to adjust | | | | Reduce your risk from low blood sugar levels. We |
| to a different diet and they may be less than happy | | | | tend think of diabetes in terms of high blood sugar |
| with your 'alternative' macaroni cheese. Here it is best | | | | levels but many diabetics also experience the |
| to simply sit down with the family and talk about your | | | | difficulties associated with low blood sugar levels, such |
| diabetes and just what it means in terms of your diet. | | | | as dizziness, weakness, sweating and irritability, and |
| In the vast majority of cases your family will be more | | | | can even fall into a diabetic coma. You diabetic diet will |
| than supportive once they understand your position. | | | | keep you on a regular eating pattern which will reduce |
| Social Pressure. Bringing your family on board should | | | | this risk dramatically. |
| be quite easy but it may not be quite so easy, or | | | | With the right diabetic diet, as well as a little bit of |
| practical, to bring others on board. Of course it should | | | | exercise, you will find that you can keep your diabetes |
| be simple enough to tell your wider family and close | | | | under control and live a full and normal life. |
| friends about your dietary needs and help to avoid | | | | provides information on all aspects of diabetes including |
| embarrassment at dinner parties and other events | | | | the barriers and benefits of diabetic diets. We also |
| where food is served, but there are always going to | | | | provide a number of free diabetic recipes and review |
| be times when you find yourself in a social situation | | | | diabetic cookbooks such as The New Soul Food |
| and are tempted to try a slice of home-made gateaux. | | | | Cookbook For People With Diabetes. |
| Here it is a case of planning ahead and deciding what | | | | |