Cooking for diabetics - Date With a Dish

Ebony, March, 2002 by Charlotte Lyons

The number of people who are victims of diabetes is growing rapidly, and learning to eat well is an important part of managing the disease. Eating the right foods can help to keep your blood sugar at a proper level, which is the key to controlling diabetes and avoiding diabetes-related problems.

African-Americans experience a higher incidence of the disease, doctors say, and many don't know that they have the chronic condition in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin, the hormone that's needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy.

Although it's not known what causes diabetes, and there is no cure, it can be controlled, medical experts say, with diet, exercise and, when necessary, medication. When it comes to cooking for diabetics, there are a number of tasty, desirable dishes that contribute to a well-balanced diet. The recipes on the following pages are a collection of easy-to-make, diabetic-friendly delicacies.