Carbohydrate-rich foods such as whole-wheat bread -- which offers more complex carbohydrates then white bread -- are an important part of a diabetic's diet. Carbohydrates are broken down in the body to form glucose, which fuels the body. In order to maintain and control the glucose levels in the body, it is important for a diabetic to consume complex carbohydrates such as whole-wheat bread at every meal. But you do not have to purchase bread commercially -- you can control how much sugar, fiber and carbohydrates are in your bread by making your own right from home.
Step 1
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a baking sheet.
Step 2
Mix flour, wheat germ, baking soda and salt in a bowl. Add the egg and buttermilk to the bowl and stir until the batter is moistened.
Step 3
Flour a cutting board or counter lightly and place your dough onto it. Knead the dough about five times and make a ball.
Step 4
Pat the dough until it forms a 7-inch circle and place it on your greased baking sheet. Cut a big "X" over the top of the bread loaf with a floured knife.
Step 5
Bake the bread until the "X" on top splits open and the loaf makes a hollow sound when you tap the underside. This should take about 25 minutes.
Tips and Warnings
- MayoClinic.com recommends transferring your bread to a wire rack and allowing it to cool for about two hours before you slice and serve it. This will make it easier to cut.
- Because there is no sugar added to this diabetic recipe, the Diabetes UK website warns that the bread will not stay fresh for as long as traditional-bread recipes. This is because sugar is a natural preservative. To keep your bread from getting moldy, freeze unused portions and defrost them as you need them. Consult your doctor to determine how many carbohydrate-rich foods you can safely consume if you suffer from diabetes.
Things You'll Need
- Oil or cooking spray
- 2 cups whole-wheat flour
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus additional for kneading and dusting surfaces
- 1/2 cup wheat germ
- 2 tsp. baking soda
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1 lightly beaten egg
- 2 cups low-fat buttermilk
- Baking sheet
- Knife
- Wire rack
References
- "Sunset Magazine"; Irish Brown Bread; Cristina Faulkner; March 1997
- MayoClinic.com; Recipe: Irish Brown Bread; March 3, 2006
- Diabetes UK: General Cooking Tips
- Diabetes UK: Ten Steps to Eating Well
