Pioneer Woman, Meet Diabetic Woman

A big hurray to Catherine Price, whose wonderful essay on being a type 1 diabetic appeared in yesterday’s New York Times Well Blog.  It’s a beautifully written piece, and Catherine describes life as a type 1 just right.  If you haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend doing so.   And speaking of reading…a few days ago I received the book, The Pioneer Woman Cooks, in the mail from its publisher, William Morrow/Harper Collins.  If you don’t know Pioneer Woman, her name is Ree Drummond and she writes the hugely popular website thepioneerwoman.com.  I’ve been going through Ree’s book to find recipes that we diabetics can use.  And guess what?  It’s not so easy to find them…but there are some…a few…

Ree is a suburban woman turned ranch wife.  What surprised me most as I went through Ree’s book was learning that despite the very big differences in our diets and lifestyles, Ree and I actually have some things in common.  For example, Ree and I each met our husband-to-be for the first time in a smoky bar.  Ree married and left her sushi-eating-city-life behind to become  a rancher’s wife.  I married and left my pizza eating life behind to become a diabetic’s wife (and then became one myself… is that proof of true love, or what?)

Ree calls her husband Marlboro Man.  I call mine Marathon Man.

Ree and I both have websites that feature family recipes.

Ree and her family love bacon.  I have never tasted bacon, but if I did, I’m sure I’d give it a big thumb’s up.  (I have tasted fake bacon bits/ smells like cat treats).

Ree has a lot of cattle.  I have a dog who is as big as a cow.  Aw…Pinky, you’re such a good girl.

Ree has to launder clothes splattered in mud and manure.  It drives her insane.  I have to launder muddy clothes too (three boys in the house plus Marathon Man who loves to go running in the rain).  My cats sometimes poop on our beds = I go mad.

Ree and I are both crazy about our kids.

What I’m learning from Ree is that cowboys eat a lot of carbs.  That’s definitely not good for us diabetics, especially if we’re not out ranching and working them off.   But Ree does have some interesting meat dishes and side dishes which I hope to get permission to share with you after Thanksgiving.  Until then, enjoy the holiday.  I know it’s hard to resist all the big meals… Do the best you can.  If you eat more than you should, an after-dinner walk is probably a great idea.  A happy and safe Thanksgiving to all!

Jessica Apple

Jessica Apple grew up in Houston. She studied Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Studies at the University of Michigan, and completed an MA in the same field at the Hebrew University. She began to write and publish short stories while a student, and has continued to write essays and fiction while raising her three sons (and many pets).

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Jessica Apple

Jessica Apple grew up in Houston. She studied Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Studies at the University of Michigan, and completed an MA in the same field at the Hebrew University. She began to write and publish short stories while a student, and continues to write essays and fiction while raising her three sons (and many pets). Jessica’s work has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, The Financial Times Magazine, The Southern Review, The Bellevue Literary Review, Tablet Magazine, and elsewhere. She is the diabetes correspondent for The Faster Times. In 2009 she and her husband, both type 1 diabetics, founded A Sweet Life, where she serves as editor-in-chief. Jessica loves spending time with her sons, cooking with her husband, playing with her cats, reading, biking, drinking coffee, and whenever possible, taking a nap. Follow Jessica on Twitter (@jessapple)