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What Do I Eat Now?: A Step-by-Step Guide to Eating Right with Type 2 Diabetes
Any person diagnosed with diabetes has one simple question: What do I eat now? When diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, doctors typically tell their patients to start eating healthy. But what does that mean? If figuring out what to eat seems like taking a test, here’s the solution, the American Diabetes Association book,
What Do I Eat Now?
. Written in clear, concise, and down-to-earth language that takes the mystery out of confusing nutrition recommendations, this indispensable guide can help readers make lasting changes in as little as a month. In only 4 weeks, readers can eat better, improve their diabetes management, and live a healthier lifestyle. With
What Do I Eat Now?
, readers will be able to:
Start off fast – quickly turn their diet around
Do It Right – learn what to eat and when
Cut to the Chase – follow easy, straightforward advice from diabetes experts
Leave Confusion Behind – learn essential nutrition tips everyday
For those simply looking to be told what to eat, What Do I Eat Now? has everything needed to take the guesswork out of healthy meal planning. Start eating better today!
Start off fast – quickly turn their diet around
Do It Right – learn what to eat and when
Cut to the Chase – follow easy, straightforward advice from diabetes experts
Leave Confusion Behind – learn essential nutrition tips everyday
For those simply looking to be told what to eat, What Do I Eat Now? has everything needed to take the guesswork out of healthy meal planning. Start eating better today!
136 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
271 people are currently reading
173 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 28, 2020
I've made great changes to my husband's diet after some high A1C tests. The experiment was to see if we could modify his diet permanently in order to escape a diabetes diagnosis, if I could teach him to control his sugar intake. It's been a hard journey that certainly isn't over yet. My husband is doing great and has been very dedicated to preserving his health.
Along this journey his friend has been very objectionable to the changes I've set for my husband because he has diabetes and so eats all sorts of thing he really shouldn't because he has the daily medication and testing that is now his life. He doesn't understand that I am trying to keep my husband from the fate of being required to take medication and do testing for the rest of his life.
I tell you this, so you'll understand my next comments. This book right away talks about how important it is to make dietary changes so that you DON'T get diabetes in the first place. Many of the things that are suggested for diabetics are best practices for all of us. I appreciated that this book made it very clear from the start that the best thing we could do for our lives is not put our health in a peril in the first place and that diabetes isn't always inescapable. Now, I realize some people are more prone to it because of genetics and what not, I understand that. However, that does not mean that all people who have ever had diabetes in their family get diabetes...much of the time their childhood taught behavior about food is what precipitates a lifelong journey racing toward diabetes.
This book highlights the importance of understanding how different foods play together in our bodies and what that does to our sugars and how to keep the sugars level. In other words, instead of just eating what our eyes want and fixing it with medication later, maybe use your brain and think about the consequences of your food choices beforehand so you don't have to rely on medication to keep living.
It's one of the best diabetes books I've read so far and has confirmed all the changes that I've made to my husband's diet as the healthiest options to keep sugars stable for the long term.
Because of my husband's diligence, he has been able to bring his A1C levels down from 7.2 to 6.6 in just two weeks and his doctor is so impressed he has encouraged him to keep it up and do another test in a few weeks to see how much lower it is then.
I'm not saying it's easy. It has been hell for my husband who is a sugar junkie and previously lived on Coke and chocolate and bread. So, this has been really hard on him. However, at 52 he is finally taking ownership of the care he takes of his body and is doing his very best to give his body the fuel it needs to work properly for the long term.
Along this journey his friend has been very objectionable to the changes I've set for my husband because he has diabetes and so eats all sorts of thing he really shouldn't because he has the daily medication and testing that is now his life. He doesn't understand that I am trying to keep my husband from the fate of being required to take medication and do testing for the rest of his life.
I tell you this, so you'll understand my next comments. This book right away talks about how important it is to make dietary changes so that you DON'T get diabetes in the first place. Many of the things that are suggested for diabetics are best practices for all of us. I appreciated that this book made it very clear from the start that the best thing we could do for our lives is not put our health in a peril in the first place and that diabetes isn't always inescapable. Now, I realize some people are more prone to it because of genetics and what not, I understand that. However, that does not mean that all people who have ever had diabetes in their family get diabetes...much of the time their childhood taught behavior about food is what precipitates a lifelong journey racing toward diabetes.
This book highlights the importance of understanding how different foods play together in our bodies and what that does to our sugars and how to keep the sugars level. In other words, instead of just eating what our eyes want and fixing it with medication later, maybe use your brain and think about the consequences of your food choices beforehand so you don't have to rely on medication to keep living.
It's one of the best diabetes books I've read so far and has confirmed all the changes that I've made to my husband's diet as the healthiest options to keep sugars stable for the long term.
Because of my husband's diligence, he has been able to bring his A1C levels down from 7.2 to 6.6 in just two weeks and his doctor is so impressed he has encouraged him to keep it up and do another test in a few weeks to see how much lower it is then.
I'm not saying it's easy. It has been hell for my husband who is a sugar junkie and previously lived on Coke and chocolate and bread. So, this has been really hard on him. However, at 52 he is finally taking ownership of the care he takes of his body and is doing his very best to give his body the fuel it needs to work properly for the long term.
December 4, 2015
Really good read. Definitely going to be buying this for myself to reference when I'm getting off track. I don't have diabetes, but was recently diagnosed pre diabetic so it's time to get some work done on losing weight!
July 11, 2018
What Do I Eat Now? 2nd Edition by Tami A. Ross and Patti Geil, this book is part of the American Diabetes Association book list.
I found this book to be very, very basic information on how to eat healthier than the average American. The focus on broader lifestyle goals is also a wise move. There is no such thing as a ‘diet’ without isolation – our lifestyle choices will always influence how we eat and must play a part in any sustainable food management program. This book tries to set an achievable goal for people who have been recently diagnosed with Type 2 diabetics, (I'm assuming) already have a weight problem, and are on a restricted diet.
This book is not for everyone, for the T1D who has managed their diabetes for many, many years, this will not be helpful. One of the things I've learned over the years is to research the different types of "diets" if you truly want to understand nutrition: Vegetarian, Vegan, Low Carb, Sugar Free, Low Fat, Low Sodium, Weight Watchers, Ketogenic, Balanced, Organic, Paleolithic, Gluten Free, Juicing, etc. IT'S A WONDER: There are so many diets, what is great for one person, is not necessarily great for another. You have to choose which diet you can sustain for the rest of your life.
I found this book to be very, very basic information on how to eat healthier than the average American. The focus on broader lifestyle goals is also a wise move. There is no such thing as a ‘diet’ without isolation – our lifestyle choices will always influence how we eat and must play a part in any sustainable food management program. This book tries to set an achievable goal for people who have been recently diagnosed with Type 2 diabetics, (I'm assuming) already have a weight problem, and are on a restricted diet.
This book is not for everyone, for the T1D who has managed their diabetes for many, many years, this will not be helpful. One of the things I've learned over the years is to research the different types of "diets" if you truly want to understand nutrition: Vegetarian, Vegan, Low Carb, Sugar Free, Low Fat, Low Sodium, Weight Watchers, Ketogenic, Balanced, Organic, Paleolithic, Gluten Free, Juicing, etc. IT'S A WONDER: There are so many diets, what is great for one person, is not necessarily great for another. You have to choose which diet you can sustain for the rest of your life.
July 12, 2025
This was a passable book and if you have just been diagnosed with diabetes, it is probably a good place to start. It is written under the auspices of the American Diabetes Association, so the information in it can be trusted. This is the 2nd edition, which was published in 2015, so it could be that some of the information may be outdated. The best source is probably going to the American Diabetes Association website, where the information is constantly being updated. That being said, the information presented is good, solid advice that is not preachy. I thought the 1st half of the book was excellent. However, I felt that it then turned into a "diet" book rather than a book about how to deal with diabetes. Yes, I know that controlling diabetes and controlling your weight go hand in hand, however, if you have just been handed the juggernaut of a diabetes diagnosis being counseled on carbohydrate intact, portion size, label reading, etc. is daunting enough without being given information about salt intake, cholesterol control, fiber needs, blood pressure maintenance etc. Yes, that is all important stuff, but maybe lets eat the elephant bite by bite instead of trying to swallow the whole thing at once. It's easy to get discouraged when everything is being thrown at you all at once.
October 16, 2021
Disclaimer: I don't have diabetes, but my doctor recommended I cut down on sugar, so I picked up this book looking for recommendations.
A lot of the information is geared towards people with Type 2 Diabetes (obviously) so only part of the book was helpful. That being said, it was useful. The main idea was not that you can't eat sugar anymore, but to be moderate about it. I liked that. I did not like how frequently it repeated itself, however. If the authors took out all the repetition, it would likely be half as long. They did do a good job of explaining basic nutrition and how to read labels, though.
Overall, a decent book and a good introduction to nutrition, but not something I would keep as a reference or read again.
A lot of the information is geared towards people with Type 2 Diabetes (obviously) so only part of the book was helpful. That being said, it was useful. The main idea was not that you can't eat sugar anymore, but to be moderate about it. I liked that. I did not like how frequently it repeated itself, however. If the authors took out all the repetition, it would likely be half as long. They did do a good job of explaining basic nutrition and how to read labels, though.
Overall, a decent book and a good introduction to nutrition, but not something I would keep as a reference or read again.
May 7, 2021
Good basic book for diabetics
This book discusses all things related to eating for diabetes. There are only a few recipes, but a lot of advice. Topics cover "sugar-free" and sweeteners to proteins and fiber. There is advice on eating out , portion control, glycemic index and other topic related to food. It is also fairly easy to read.
This book discusses all things related to eating for diabetes. There are only a few recipes, but a lot of advice. Topics cover "sugar-free" and sweeteners to proteins and fiber. There is advice on eating out , portion control, glycemic index and other topic related to food. It is also fairly easy to read.
May 28, 2019
No surprises. Eat vegetables, fruits, whole grains. There, now save yourself some money.
December 4, 2020
The information helps whenever I have diabetic company visiting, to plan compatible meals ahead and have appropriate snacks on hand.
June 6, 2021
Informative
August 1, 2021
Extremely helpful definitely worth the read. Portion and tips were extremely helpful.
October 13, 2021
informative. A helpful tool.
June 25, 2025
So confused figuring how to be diabetic, and eat! This book is clear, and very informative and helpful.
September 10, 2012
this was not good. it was the same general nutrition info you can get everywhere. nothing new. it did NOT tell me what to eat. it was basically, you can eat everything! just count carbs! whee! well, super duper paratrooper. the book was marketed as a book that would tell people like me--people who hate food and hate thinking about food and hate they they now have to spend even more of their lives thinking about food--exactly what to eat. it did not. and the little recipes SUCKED.
if you have never picked up a nutrition book before or looked at a magazine or the internet, this will probably be helpful, otherwise save your money.
if you have never picked up a nutrition book before or looked at a magazine or the internet, this will probably be helpful, otherwise save your money.
January 11, 2015
When you have type-2 diabetes, eating becomes a minefield. What to eat. When to eat it. How much to allow yourself.
The chapters in WHAT DO I EAT NOW? lead the reader step-by-step to setting goals for monitoring and controlling this chronic condition. The information is straightforward and clearly presented. There aren't many recipes, but the ones provided are realistic and easy to prepare.
The layout of each chapter--with bullets, info boxes, and sidebars--can make it hard to read the text in an uninterrupted flow. Also, some of the information presented might be a little basic for those who have been living with diabetes for a while.
Overall, a useful hands-on manual.
The chapters in WHAT DO I EAT NOW? lead the reader step-by-step to setting goals for monitoring and controlling this chronic condition. The information is straightforward and clearly presented. There aren't many recipes, but the ones provided are realistic and easy to prepare.
The layout of each chapter--with bullets, info boxes, and sidebars--can make it hard to read the text in an uninterrupted flow. Also, some of the information presented might be a little basic for those who have been living with diabetes for a while.
Overall, a useful hands-on manual.
July 15, 2017
This was a great introduction book. Thing were explained in detail, but at the same time in plan, straight forward language that I found easy to digest. There were pointers to help you incorporate some of the changes that are needed. I especially loved the way they constantly reminded me to make small changes and also, no one is perfect. I really enjoyed this book and feel I learned a lot.
July 31, 2015
Easy to read and understand with a few good recipes, including one for a Cherry Walnut Oatmeal that is very, very tasty!
November 8, 2016
The only thing I learned from the book is to count carbs not sugar.
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December 7, 2017Eh.
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March 8, 2018If you’ve been recently diagnosed with diabetes, you may be confused about what you can or cannot eat. The American Diabetes Association and authors Tami A. Ross, RDN, LD, MLDE and Patti B. Geil, MS, RDN, CDE, MLDE, FAND, FAADE, have collaborated on this book providing a step-by-step guide to eating right with Type 2 Diabetes.
Given that I’m about a marry a man with Type 2 Diabetes, I’ve experienced an increased interest in the topic of diabetic-friendly cooking. This is the first in a series of reviews of books on this topic.
You can read my full review here: https://www.carmascookery.com/diabete...
Given that I’m about a marry a man with Type 2 Diabetes, I’ve experienced an increased interest in the topic of diabetic-friendly cooking. This is the first in a series of reviews of books on this topic.
You can read my full review here: https://www.carmascookery.com/diabete...
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews