Holly, WW is
very compatible with diabetes management---but counting points alone won't do it. If your friend is following 1 2 3, she'd probably do best to "eat by the numbers," with some modifications (such as avoiding foods known to cause rapid increases in blood sugar, or limiting them to within the context of a meal that will delay the release of glucose). This is similar to the diabetic exchange system, and helps ensure that points are spread across the food groups in the right proportion. (The recommended distribution of foods across food groups really isn't different for diabetics than it is for the rest of us; the AMA, AHA, ADA, and most of the major health-promoting agencies make virtually identical dietary recommendations in an effort to prevent disease.) Additionally, she might want to familiarize herself with the glycemic indices of foods---it makes it easier to assess whether a food is apt to cause a rapid increase in blood sugar.
If she has not already done so, it would be a really good idea for her to ask her physician for a referral to a registered dietician with LOTS of experience with diabetes (there are still a lot out there who cannot think beyond the pre-printed, aged diet handouts) or a diabetes educator. She should take her WW materials, past food journals and exercise records, and, if she keeps track, records of her blood glucose levels along with her so that the advisor has as much information at his/her fingertips as possible. Most HMOs have very good diabetes education programs, and can provide a wealth of information. The American Diabetes Association (1-800-DIABETES) can provide info, and the American Dietetic Association's website (
www.eatright.org) has a ton, too.
There are several things your friend might address with the dietician, diabetes educator, or doctor. Among these are the
timing of meals and snacks, which can really impact overall control. She might also discuss an appropriate exercise program---in non-insulin-dependent diabetics, exercise can be the most effective tool for reining in blood sugar. Other things to bring up with a qualified health professional: what to do on "sick days," when she cannot eat according to the recommendations; and how to adjust food intake to compensate for exercise.