Cherie Burbach & 21 Simple Things You Can Do To Help Someone With Diabetes

Today my good friend, Cherie Burbach, author of 21 Simple Things You Can Do To Help Someone With Diabetes, is stopping by Grab A Pan to tell us a little bit about her book. The purpose of the book is to help people who are unfamiliar with diabetes to better understand the disease, in order to help their loved ones better deal with the challenges the disease presents. In addition to an interview, Cherie is sharing her quick and easy recipe for Black Bean and Chicken Stew. Thanks, Cherie!

Eliza, at Homemom3, is giving away a copy of Cherie’s book. Head on over and enter her giveway here.

Grab A Pan: What role does diet play in the treatment of Diabetes?
 
Cherie Burbach: Diet and exercise go hand in hand with treating diabetes.  A diabetes diet is a healthy one.  It’s something everyone (diabetic or not) should strive for.  Diabetics especially need to watch their carbs and eat reasonable portions.  
 
Grab A Pan: Does a diagnosis of Diabetes mean that a person can no longer enjoy their favorite foods?
 
Cherie Burbach: Not at all.  It used to mean that.  But as research has found out more about the disease, they have discovered that there is no food that is completely off-limits.  That doesn’t mean you can have it all the time, but it means you balance it out with the rest of your diet.  If you consistently choose healthy foods and manage your diabetes well, you can have the occasional treat or enjoy your favorite foods.  Also, watch the portions.  You can have spaghetti, but if you eat a massive plate of it, your blood sugar is likely to go up too far.  It’s all about balance and eating in a reasonable way.
 
Grab A Pan: If I’m hosting a dinner party and I have a friend coming who has Diabetes, what do I need to know before planning the menu?

 
Cherie Burbach: This is a GREAT question.  First, make sure you tell your friend what time dinner will be and stick with that time to make sure she can time her diabetes med’s to coincide with the meal.  Then, make sure you have some sugar-free beverages on hand.  Your friend may have a glass of wine or beer (if that’s what they drink) but chances are they’ll want something sugar free after that.  Then, make a healthy meal as you normally would.  If you were planning on making dessert, go ahead and do it.  You don’t need to make a special dish for your friend.  If her blood sugars are doing okay she may want a piece of that dessert.  Or maybe she won’t.  But you don’t need to prepare something sugar-free especially for her.  Diabetics eat the same foods as everyone else.  We just try and make sure we stay on the healthy side most of the time.  (As everyone should!)
 
If you’re diabetic and think you have to give up taste (or carbs), don’t fret.  Carbs and even the occasional treat are all part of a healthy eating plan.  Everyone in the family should eat healthy, so there isn’t a special diet just for the diabetic.  Everyone should watch portion sizes (including too many carbs) and always opt for something healthy over junk food. 

For a quick and easy dinner, I have a really great recipe that fills you up and adds protein to your diet. 

 
Black Bean and Chicken Stew
 

·         2 cups white rice

·         2 cups cooked chicken, cubed

·         1 onion (any type, can be sweet, red, white, or yellow)

·         1 Tablespoon minced garlic

·         1 green pepper

·         1 (16 oz) can of black beans (juice included)

·         1 (14.5 oz) can of chicken broth

·         1/2 teaspoon oregano

·         1 Tablespoon olive oil

·         salt and pepper

 
Cook the rice as described on the package.  Set aside.

Heat oil in a Dutch oven pot, and cook the onion, pepper, and garlic.  Cook until onions are translucent, about ten minutes.

Add beans, broth, oregano, and salt and pepper to taste (1 tsp of each of if you’re unsure of what you prefer) and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to simmer, and cook for ten minutes.  Add cubed chicken and heat through.  Serve over rice.

******

Cherie Burbach is an author, blogger, poet, crocheter, and geek.  She loves football and is obsessed with anything having to do with the Green Bay Packers or Tudor history. 

A passionate diabetes advocate, Cherie has written the book, 21 Simple Things You Can Do To Help Someone With Diabetes. 

For more information, please visit Cherie’s website, http://helpsomeonewithdiabetes.com/ or follow her on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/brrbach.

Image credit: Amazon.com

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