Holiday recipes make an early gift for diabetics

Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2001 | 8:29 a.m.

With the holidays upon us, what's a diabetic to do?

Candies, cakes and treats everywhere -- at the office, when visiting friends, laid out seductively at relatives' homes, just beckoning: "C'mon, it's OK. It's Christmas, you can indulge a little."

But for those who have to watch their blood sugar levels, a little snack here, a taste there -- a big piece of fruitcake after a high-fat-content holiday feast, complete with several glasses of wine -- can pose significant health problems, doctors warn.

To that end, PacifiCare, a health maintenance organization, has developed a series of holiday recipes that are healthy for those with diabetes, an incurable but controllable disease caused by the body's inability to break down sugars in the bloodstream.

"There are a number of things a diabetic can do to take the edge off hunger at holiday gatherings, like enjoy a healthy snack before going to a party and, once there, engage in a lot of conversation, which is calorie-free time," said Dr. Alan Blumenthal, medical director of PacifiCare of Nevada and a surgeon who has treated diabetics.

"Also, eat slowly and make only one trip to the buffet line."

The recipes include Asparagus/Mushroom Turkey Casserole by Mary Lovelady of PacifiCare in Costa Mesa, Calif.; Southwestern Turkey Gravy by Jennifer Vizzo of PacifiCare of Dallas; and Healthy Pumpkin Pie -- evaporated milk is replaced soft tofu -- by Catherine Batty of PacifiCare of Lake Oswego, Calif.

"The Asparagus/Mushroom Turkey (Casserole) has just 272 calories (per serving), has 34 grams of protein, is very low in cholesterol and saturated fats and has only 1 gram of sugar, which is next to nothing," Blumenthal said. "The Southwestern Turkey Gravy has only 1 gram of saturated fat and no sugars.

"One advantage of the holiday season for diabetics is that turkey is great, because it is high in protein, low in fat and it's tasty," he said.

There are two other holiday activities that diabetics must be highly concerned about, Blumenthal said: travel and alcohol consumption.

In the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the Federal Aviation Administration has tightened rules about sharp objects on flights, and diabetic supplies, such as syringes for insulin and lancets for pricking fingers to conduct blood sugar tests, have been swept up in those regulations.

Blumenthal warns that diabetic travelers should contact their airlines in advance to confirm airline policy, because prescriptions and notes from doctors are not always accepted at check-in due to the potential for forgery.

"Syringes and lancets will be allowed aboard planes if it is determined that there is a medical need," Blumenthal said. "But it is important that insulin is marked with a professional, pharmaceutical pre-printed label that clearly identifies the medicine. And lancets are acceptable if they are capped and in their original box."

Blumenthal warns that overindulging in alcohol is as bad or worse for diabetics than eating cake and candy because of the high concentrated-sugar content of alcoholic beverages.

"Drinking in moderation means one drink per day for an average woman and two drinks per day for an average man," Blumenthal said, noting that the glasses should be a normal size.

"Above all, it is important to remember during the holidays and throughout the year that diabetics have to take charge of their diabetes. They must become experts on diabetes care and do regular follow-ups with their physicians to control their diabetes."

About 100,000 Nevadans have diabetes. A person is a diabetic if his or her blood sugar count registers above 126. The disease can be diagnosed with a quick and simple blood test.

There are two types of diabetes: Type I, called "juvenile diabetes," which develops at an early age and requires insulin injections because the pancreas is not producing insulin; and Type II, "adult-onset diabetes," which usually strikes adults and is generally controlled by diet, exercise and some medications.

Type II diabetes is common among people who are overweight or have a family history of diabetes.

Asparagus/Mushroom Turkey Casserole

2 whole turkey breasts, skinned and deboned

1/4 tsp garlic salt

1/8 tsp pepper

2 Tbs olive oil

1 pkg. 10 oz. frozen or fresh asparagus (cooked)

1 can (10 3/4 oz.) cream of mushroom soup (light)

1/3 c. mayonnaise (fat-free)

1 tsp lemon juice

1/2 tsp curry powder (optional)

1/4 c. reduced-fat Monterey jack cheese (shredded)

Cut turkey into 2-by-4-inch strips. Cook in olive oil with garlic salt and pepper. Stir together soup, mayonnaise, lemon juice and curry powder. In a 13-by-9-by-2-inch glass baking dish, layer cooked asparagus and put turkey and soup mixture over it. Put shredded cheese on top. Bake for 30 minutes at 375 degrees. Makes six servings.

Per serving:

272 calories, 12 gm fat (3 gm saturated fat), 93 mg cholesterol, 629 gm sodium, 7 gm total carbohydrates, 34 gm protein, 1 gm sugar.

Healthy Pumpkin Pie

1 9-inch unbaked pie shell

1 12.3-oz pkg. soft tofu

2 c. cooked pumpkin (canned)

3/4 c. brown sugar

1 Tbs canola oil

1 egg

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

3/4 tsp ground ginger

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/8 tsp ground cloves

Drain tofu and blend in a food processor or blender until smooth. Add remaining ingredients, blend well. Pour into 9-inch unbaked piecrust. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for approximately one hour. Filling will be soft, but will firm as it cools. Chill and serve. Makes eight servings.

Per serving:

244 calories, 10 gm fat (3 gm saturated fat), 32 mg cholesterol, 136 mg sodium, 33 gm total carbohydrates, 5 gm protein, 21 grams of sugar.

Southwestern Turkey Gravy

4 c. chicken or turkey stock

1/4 c. cilantro (chopped)

1/2 c. flour

Deglaze the pan in which the turkey was cooked and remove the fat. Measure 1/4 cup of fat and return this to the baking dish to make the gravy. Add 1/2 cup of flour to the pan juices and scrape up the browned bits from the pan. Add the chicken or turkey stock and cook over medium heat until it begins to thicken. Reduce heat; add salt and pepper to taste. Add the chopped cilantro to the gravy just before serving.

Per serving:

(Serving size is 1/4 cup) 48 calories, 3 gm fat (1 gm saturated fat), 3 mg cholesterol, 120 mg sodium, 3 gm total carbohydrates, 1 gm protein, no sugar.

More recipes are available at PacifiCare's website (pacificare.com). Click the "members-Nevada" area then click the "taking charge" area to get to the recipes. Each recipe is approved by the American Diabetes Association.

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