Diabetes Dateline

CHID Online: What's New?

CHID Online, the Combined Health Information Database, is the result of a cooperative effort among several Federal agencies that combined their resources to offer a single source of health information. The database contains thousands of summaries of professional resources and patient education materials about diabetes and other diseases.

To view descriptions of the many books, pamphlets, journal articles, videos, and manuals in the diabetes subfile, go to http://chid.nih.gov on the Internet. Following are two recent additions to the diabetes subfile.

What To Eat When You Get Diabetes: Easy and Appetizing Ways To Make Healthful Changes in Your Diet. Book (English). Carolyn Leontos, M.S., R.D., C.D.E. 2000. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, New York. 240 pages.

For many years, Carolyn Leontos, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator, has been teaching individuals and groups about how food affects health. This book draws on her experience and gives people with type 2 diabetes a step-by-step guide to making informed eating choices.

Leontos covers the basics—weight loss, the food pyramid plan, counting calories, portion size, sugars and carbohydrates, fats, eating out, ethnic foods, comfort foods, and balancing food and medication. The author uses three true-life stories to show how her practical suggestions can be easily incorporated into a variety of daily living situations.

The book takes a positive tone to encourage people with diabetes to help take control of their blood glucose levels and still enjoy eating.

Forbidden Foods Diabetic Cooking. Book (English). Maggie Powers, M.S., R.D., C.D.E., and Joyce Hendley, M.S. 2000. American Diabetes Association, Alexandria, Virginia. 230 pages.

When people are newly diagnosed with diabetes, their first concerns are often about food. They may be under the mistaken impression that they must give up their favorite foods to take care of their diabetes. Everyone has favorite foods associated with family, celebrations, and good times. Maggie Powers and Joyce Hendley recognize the importance of showing people with diabetes how to modify unhealthy recipes and include favorite foods in meal plans.

The authors provide a variety of recipes, including snacks, main dishes, and desserts. Recipes traditionally high in fat, sugar, or salt have been modified to be healthier without sacrificing taste. For example, the authors lowered the fat content of deviled eggs by replacing some of the egg yolks and regular mayonnaise with pureed fat-free cottage cheese and a small amount of reduced-fat mayonnaise. All recipes list diabetic exchanges and standard nutrition information (calories, calories from fat, total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrate, dietary fiber, sugars, and protein). An introduction outlines tips for increasing flavor and reducing fat, sugar, and salt.

This book provides what many people with diabetes are seeking—a way to continue enjoying favorite foods while taking care of their health.

Energize Yourself and Your Family! Brochure (English). Weight-control Information Network. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. National Institutes of Health. NIH Publication No. 01–4926. March 2001. 14 pages.

Energize Yourself and Your Family! provides tips to African American women with families on becoming physically active, preparing healthy and tasty meals, and eating right despite a hectic lifestyle. It discusses the reasons for eating better and being physically active in positive tones, and gives practical tips to help women succeed in making lifestyle and behavioral changes. The "how-to" advice includes reading food labels, making healthy meals taste good, and making good food choices when eating away from home.

This booklet is part of the Weight-control Information Network's Sisters Together: Move More, Eat Better, a program helping African American women maintain a healthy weight by being active and making healthy food choices.

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