Senior Citizen, What to eat if have diabetes?

Today received a question from a friend asking on behalf of a senior citizen who in currently under regular follow up due to diabetes. She loss her appetite lately and was drinking Milo morning and mid night. The family ask if there is optional snacks available for diabetes senior citizen?

Answer: My suggestion is to increase vitamin and mineral via food approach to help her to increase her appetite and at the same time to control her blood sugar.

Senior citizen may find it hard to swallow hence we want to make sure we offer lots of liquids such as:

1. Vegetable juices (if want to add fruit only one portion per serving) e.g. cucumber + celery + pegapa (gotu kola) + apple (one small).

2. Porridge with dice vegetables and minced meat (vegetables like carrot can be diced and added in early however green leafy vegetables should add last: e.g. spring onion or coriander). Remember if she has denture difficulty, texture is just as important as young children for senior citizens.

3. Stew or soup. I would suggest more stew. Stew is another great way to cook for elderly and is generally containing less liquids than soup. Consider small appetite for elderly, soup might make them easily full as contains lots of liquid. Hence stew is another option to get more nutrient dense food. *Note: this is my personal experience but subject to her medical conditions and taste bud too. We want a sustainable diet for them to follow.

4. Cucumber stick or carrot sticks with hummus (watch the portion of carbs in beans and legumes but should be all right as a dip) if her teeth or denture is still good function.

5. Vietnamese roll with lot of vegetables (purple cabbage, salad, prawn)

6. Sweet potato can be consumed but mindful of the portion as high in carbs. One fist size interchangeable with rice.

7. Omelet with diced mushroom, tomato

8. Sardine or tuna roll

9. Broccoli and cauliflower can use food processor to cooked with minced chicken or beef.

10. Tofu sumbat (if she like them with shredded cucumber or carrot). There are lots of options available so remember variety is the key.

Get personalized nutrition consultation from health professional, dietitians, nutritionist or medical officer, diabetes educators. If in doubt, always get second opinions.

Hope these family recipe can spark some ideas for your reference too.

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