What can diabetics do as they face the challenge of the Thanksgiving meal? Start by surveying the food selections for the meal before making a plate, said Cynthia Ledbetter, MSN, CDE, nurse practitioner at Southern Illinois University Department of Family Medicine.
What can diabetics do as they face the challenge of the Thanksgiving meal?
Start by surveying the food selections for the meal before making a plate, said Cynthia Ledbetter, MSN, CDE, nurse practitioner at Southern Illinois University Department of Family Medicine.
_Place whole grain starch products in the lower right.
"You can also select a low fat dairy and fruit with your meal," Ledbetter said.
Kathy Levin, RD, CDE, dietitian at Memorial Medical Center, suggests diabetics should watch their portion size when eating the Thanksgiving meal and also stay on their meal schedule.
"It is important for diabetics to not skip meals for the big dinner," Levin said.
She also cautioned diabetics to watch for food that is high in carbohydrates.
Foods to watch out for include pumpkin, potatoes, stuffing and cranberry sauce.
"If you have these, just take small portions," Levin said.
As far as the turkey goes, avoid the skin, which is high in saturated fats and contributes to plaque buildup in the coronary arteries, Levin said.
Casseroles and stuffing are common for Thanksgiving but are high-carbohydrate foods.
Levin stresses again to just take a little. Even a half a cup of a casserole can have 15 grams of carbohydrates and a half cup of stuffing can have 15 to 20 grams of carbohydrates.
She said that diabetics could fill their plate with hefty portions of low-carbohydrate vegetables such as green beans, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce salad and asparagus and not high-carbohydrate vegetables such as corn, potatoes and peas.
As far as having a dessert, Ledbetter and Levin recommend waiting a bit after the meal.
Exercise after the meal is key to lowering those blood-sugar levels and help the body use its insulin.
Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.
Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted.
Choose the plan that’s right for you. Digital access or digital and print delivery.
