Need help with Diabetes Approved EASY Prep meals

[everything*that*i*ever*wanted]

Hi Guys,

I am now caring for my Father In Law after we were able to get him into a Disability Housing Apartment. Due to his diabetes being mismanaged by his previous Drs he is now in early stage kidney failure and his eyesight is shot. We now have him on all the right meds and seeing the specialists he needs to see, but we can't get into a dietician for a couple of weeks. He is also going to be having further treatments to help with his cataracts and tunnel vision.

In the meantime...I am cooking alot of his meals for him and know what he can have and can't have as my mother was a diabetes educator and alot of our home meals were her testing diabetes approved ones on us. However, we want to help him maintain and improve his independence again so I am looking for EASY meals that he can still make for himself.

Because of his currently poor eyesight he does not feel safe using a griller, fryer (which he shouldn't anyway), and he is hesitant about using the stovetop as it is different to what he has been used to.

He has a Slow Cooker, an electric wok, microwave, sandwich / health grill & toaster. I am buying him a rice cooker tomorrow.

Does anyone have easy recipes or meal ideas for one person (or could be used for two consecutive nights) that he could use to cook for himself...that way he can have a break from my cooking / style.

He loves spicy stuff, curries, chillis and of course all the bad things for him. He has no food allergies.

I have already substituted his rice and pasta with brown varieties.

Thanks for your help guys. I will be in and out over the next couple of days because we are still getting him settled and off to specialists and meeting new people too. Apparently there is a group down here too that have indigenous cooking classes too so Aboriginal Homecare are looking at getting him into those too.

[everything*that*i*ever*wanted]

Oh and thick steaks and things too crunchy are out as he doesn't like his false teeth and we have to wait to get new ones fitted that he will use.

[kengillard]

most slow cooker recipes should be suitable, providing the ingredients are low GI.  and include enough carbos...Like chicken cacciatore with rice ,, or chilli con carne?

My OH has diabetes too. 

[kengillard]

is he on insulin?

[everything*that*i*ever*wanted]

He is on tablets and 2 different pens. The thing I like about slow cooker meals it that the meat breaks up whilst it is cooking too.

[kengillard]

yup would be great with his teeth probs at the moment. Does he take his blood sugar levels 3 times a day?

[everything*that*i*ever*wanted]

We have him on a random schedule so they can get a good profile. At the moment he is taking them first and last each day and after meals.

We had him at hospital yesterday coz he had a gastro bug and his BSL's went up to 22 and his BP was 208 /104 ! He had been vomiting overnight but didn't want to bother me because we had been doing so much running around getting him moved and settled. He just doesn't get it that I am his carer and that is my job. It was only that my gut instinct told me to go in and check on him as Kieran and I were on our way into town. The Ambo guy went off at him lol. As we said "We'd rather vomit than a heart attack anyday".

[sandypas]

I am diabetic and my doctor told me to take my bsl's as soon as I get up then randomly at least 2 hours after meals and just before going to bed.  Everyone's bsl, even non diabetics, will rise just after eating hence why you need to wait 2 hours.

[kengillard]

he should be being  checked on regularly.   My OH is stable.....but occasionally he doesn't eat enough carbos and has a hypo.......if I  wasn't here he'd be in a coma. and dead.  sorry but it's not something to muck about with.

How old is he? and has he been checked for vascular dementia?

[sandypas]

I can tell when my bsl drops too low and carry glucose jelly beans with me.  If you regularly check your levels, you will know if it's dropping.  I get a bit shaky and "floaty" and know to have a jelly bean.  He should be walking each day - even around the block.  Exercise is the best to bring levels down.  I have just been to have my hbaC1 (3 month average) today.  I was threatened with insulin so have worked extra hard the past 3 months and know it will be well down.  I am on byetta but that doesn't seem to make much difference.

I am interested in what your loved one's doctors are happy with.  My perfectionist doctor wants my average under 7, my cousin's doctor is happy if his is under 10 and a friend's uncle under 9.  My doctor is talking insulin because mine was 7.4.  My father lived with us for his last 17 years and the same doctor I have now was happy if his was under 12.  Conflicting beliefs.