Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat for Diabetes
A Mindful Eating Program for Thriving with Prediabetes and Diabetes
Published by Am I Hungry? Publishing
P.O. Box 93686
Phoenix, AZ 85070-3686
Copyright 2012 Michelle May, M.D. Second edition 2017
All rights reserved under all copyright conventions.
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher.
Distributed by Am I Hungry? PLLC
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Based on the Am I Hungry? Mindful Eating for Diabetes Program.
Visit www.AmIHungry.com for Mindful Eating for Diabetes Training and other resources.
Second edition, 2017
Library of Congress Preassigned Control Number: Pending
ISBN 978-1-934076-47-7
Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat with Diabetes UPDATED (pbk)
ISBN 978-1-934076-49-1
Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat with Diabetes UPDATED (pdf e-book)
ISBN 978-1-934076-48-4
Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat with Diabetes UPDATED (epub)
IMPORTANT NOTICE: PLEASE READ
In view of the complex, individual nature of health and fitness issues, this book, and the ideas, programs, processes, and suggestions are not intended to replace the advice of trained medical and behavioral health professionals. All matters regarding ones physical and mental health require medical supervision.
The authors roles are strictly educational in the context of this book and course materials. The authors are not providing any assessments, individualized therapeutic interventions, or personal medical advice. Seek medical advice from your personal health care provider regarding your personal risks and benefits insofar as adopting the suggestions of this program.
The authors disclaim any liability arising directly or indirectly from the use of this book or course.
May these words unlock the prison of restrictive eating and open the door to mindful diabetes self-care.
Also by Michelle May, M.D.
Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat:
A Mindful Eating Program to Break Your Eat-Repent-Repeat Cycle
Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat:
A Mindful Eating Program to Break Your Eat-Repent-Repeat Cycle
Audiobook
Am I Hungry? Mindful Eating Program
Companion Workbook and Awareness Journal
Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat with Diabetes:
A Mindful Eating Program for Thriving with Prediabetes or Diabetes
Am I Hungry? Mindful Eating Program for Bariatric Surgery
Companion Workbook and Awareness Journal
Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat for Binge Eating:
A Mindful Eating Program for Healing
Your Relationship with Food and Your Body
Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat for Students:
A Mindful Eating Program to Fuel the Life You Crave
Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat for Athletes:
A Mindful Eating Program for Sports and Life
Available from www.AmIHungry.com
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
E at What You Love, Love What You Eat with Diabetes might seem like a strange name for a book about type 2 diabetes. You may even be thinking, Eating what I love is what got me into this mess in the first place! or I already love to eatthats my problem!
The truth is, although many people say they love to eat, they dont act like it. They may eat too fast to even notice the flavor after the first few bites, or eat while doing other things, like watching TV, working, or driving. They may eat out of habit: because its time to; because the food looks good; or because theyre stressed, bored, or any of a thousand other reasons. They may choose food they like, but feeling stuffed and miserable afterward ruin the meal. These habits have serious consequences when you have prediabetes or diabetes.
You are not alone. About 30 million people had diabetes and 84 million people had prediabetes in the United States in 2015. Fifty-eight percent of people with prediabetes can prevent the onset of diabetes by making sustainable lifestyle changes. As powerful as this fact is, few people can follow a restrictive diet long term. Being diagnosed with prediabetes or diabetes doesnt suddenly change that.
WHY MINDFUL EATING?
Mindful eating is an ancient yet innovative approach to making changes. This definition of mindful eating from The Center for Mindful Eating (at www.tcme.org, cofounded by Megrette) highlights the benefits of this approach:
Mindfulness helps focus our attention and awareness on the present moment, which, in turn, helps us disengage from habitual, unsatisfying, and unskillful habits and behaviors. Engaging in mindful eating practices on a regular basis can help us discover a far more satisfying relationship to food and eating than we ever imagined or experienced before. A different kind of nourishment often emerges, the kind that offers satisfaction on a very deep emotional level.
Mindfulness is awareness of whats happening right now. While that sounds pretty simple, its not always easy. Its common to check out rather than notice physical sensations, thoughts, and emotions. For example, you may be distracted by television or the Internet, preoccupied with memories of the past or fantasies about the future, or unconsciously responding to triggers you learned years earlier. The tendency to ignore and even distrust whats happening right now forces you to act out of old habits and fear instead of using the most current information to make decisions. This tendency to disconnect from what youre experiencing right now affects every aspect of your lifeincluding your diabetes self-management.
HOW THIS BOOK HELPS
Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat with Diabetes is a comprehensive, mindfulness-based guide to understanding and managing prediabetes and diabetes. This practical mind-body approach shifts the conversation from rigid nutrition rules and strict exercise regimens to awareness of beliefs, thoughts, physical states, and habits for long-term lifestyle change.
With down-to-earth language and uncommon sense, Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat with Diabetes offers a rare prescription for managing prediabetes and diabetes: eat mindfully and joyfully with diabetes. WeMichelle, a family physician, and Megrette, a certified diabetes educator and dietitianprovide mindful eating strategies and insights for making conscious choices toward optimal blood sugar management.
Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat with Diabetes will help you:
Make sustainable lifestyle change the foundation of your diabetes care
Rediscover when, what, and how much to eat, without restrictive rules
Embrace blood sugar monitoring with an attitude of curiosity instead of fear
Learn the basics of nutrition in clear, practical terms
Understand why medications are an important part of diabetes care
Discover how to make exercise a get to instead of a have to
Become proactive at preventing the complications associated with uncontrolled diabetes
Experience the pleasure of eating the foods you lovewithout guilt or bingeing
Develop powerful patterns of thinking so you can live the balanced, vibrant life you crave