Last week, I decided to join a diabetes support group. It was time to give back even more than these articles and to share with even more people. It is also a blessing to stay in touch with newly diagnosed diabetic people. As I got involved more with this group, I was amazed at how much emotion I felt reading about peoples’ triumphs and challenges. The main emotion I got out of the group was a real feeling of support and community.
I was diagnosed four years ago. I just joined a support group. I've been reading, consulting with multiple medical professionals, and studying for years. I've had my own experiences, so I’ve seen people wanting to sell to diabetics. I’ve even been taken advantage of paying way too much for a month’s worth of meal plans, $200. I really wanted to make sure I was finding a reputable group. One of the websites that has provided me with a wealth of excellent information is Healthline. It was just natural and a perfect fit for me to join their group Bezzy T2D. I’ve really found a great group! Thank you for the support and welcome to Health Worx.
When I was first diagnosed, I was so lost! The denial, anger, shame, and depression are real. When I read a member’s current struggle voiced exactly the same way, I almost cried. I felt so much emotion that I couldn’t stop myself from writing a support message sharing this website. He really needed to know that he wasn’t alone and is in a place to find honest informed information about his new diagnosis. Most important is the fact that there is no shame in being diabetic.
Many of us have a support system. Friends and family have our best interests at heart. Still even the most intelligent people struggle to understand diabetes. Otherwise, the doctors and healthcare professionals would have found a cure. It’s OK. It is frustrating when friends and family members tell us one day that they don’t understand our diabetes. The next day, they tell us what we can’t eat. I would suggest that you softly discuss this with them. It’s just a matter of rephrasing their concern for you. Maybe they would want to say, “I’d like to learn a little bit more about diabetes. How does that food choice affect your blood sugar?” It won’t be as likely to get you upset. It may even open a dialogue for you two to discuss diabetes. It may challenge you to think about how food affects you. This thoughtful approach is the path to change and a healthier version of you.
This recipe may be right up your alley. I take normal recipes and make them healthier. The inspiration for this week's recipe was a bit rich and had grits. It also had bacon. It needed a healthy make over; and I needed a new breakfast recipe.
I adjusted this recipe with healthier ingredients and woke up to a low blood sugar of 79. For you guys and gals needing to watch your cholesterol, I removed the bacon and cut the butter down to 1/8 found in some casserole recipes. Instead of using bacon drippings, I used coconut oil. If you have issues with dairy, I recommend the Daiya brand with the cheese made from cashews.
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp. of coconut oil
- 14 oz pkg. Coleslaw, shredded
- 2 chicken bouillon cubes
- 1 cup of water
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp. pepper
- 1 pkg. of Daiya brand cheddar cheese sauce
- 1 tbsp. soy free butter, Earth Balance
- 4 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1/2 cup almond milk
- 2 cups Daiya cheddar, grated
- butter cooking spray
- 8" x 11"Pyrex dish
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Melt the coconut oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
Add the coleslaw and cook for 7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Bring a cup of water to a boil; and add the bouillon cubes. Make sure the bouillon cubes dissolve completely.
Add the bullion, garlic powder, and pepper to the skillet. Cover and cook for 7 minutes.
Melt the butter and Daiya cheese sauce. Blend it well. Remove the skillet from the heat.
Beat 4 eggs; and blend in almond milk.
Add the egg mixture to the cooled skillet.
Coat the Pyrex dish with butter spray; and transfer the casserole to it.
Cover with the casserole with shredded cheddar; and place it in the oven to cook for 45 minutes.
Remove from the oven and allow it to cool for 10 minutes before serving.
Note: If you're not a fan of coleslaw, you can swap 2 1/2 cups of cauliflower, riced. Just toss the cauliflower into a food processor and pulse until the cauliflower is the size of rice.
In the beginning, my main struggle was understanding how food affected my body. I used to fear going into grocery stores! I decided I needed more knowledge, so I became a health and life coach. I also study nutrition every week. I spend way too many hours in grocery stores reading food labels. I'm a regular at the local health food store and discuss natural remedies with the herbal department. I've seen doctors, had lab work done, had my eyes checked, and consulted a dietician with good and frustrating results.
I like to work with natural remedies: vitamins, amino acids and minerals. By working with my doctor and doing lab work, I am able to supplement my body to correct any deficiencies that might have adverse effects on my health and increase my blood sugar. This gives me time to do research and learn which foods have these vitamins naturally. That way I can attempt to add that food into my diet.
The challenge is that every diabetic is unique. There is no guarantee that what works for one diabetic will work for you or me. We also all have different tastes. These weekly recipes are just ideas. If you don't like this week's choice. It's ok, there will be another one next week, so I’ll talk to you soon. You can also look back at previous weeks' recipes. Soon a few recipes will come down off the website and go into a digital e-book. I'll keep you updated. Meanwhile please comment, like, share, and come back next week for more recipes, ideas, and tips. Subscribe to the website, you will receive a weekly email reminder when a new recipe comes out.
Disclaimer: This is not medical advice, but a compilation of research from medical sites. Make sure to see your doctor and have up-to-date lab work.