The 8 Best Diabetic Cookbooks of 2020

The title of this one says it all. With more than 400(!) recipes created specifically for diabetics, The Complete Diabetes Cookbook is a must-have for home cooks looking for low-carb recipes they’ll love. In addition to hundreds of cravable meals (think: one-pan pork chops with roasted veggies; lemony penne with chicken and sun-dried tomatoes; turkey tacos), this cookbook also offers helpful overviews of prediabetes, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and the effects of protein, fat, carbs, fiber, and sodium on each condition. Readers will also find info on topics such as the best low-salt versions of pantry staples, as well as an informative foreword from a leading nutrition scientist and cardiologist. 

If you’re someone who loves structure, this two-in-one wellness guide and diabetic cookbook is for you. Written by a registered dietitian, The Type 2 Diabetic Cookbook & Action Plan provides readers with a three-month food and lifestyle plan that includes healthy snack ideas, meal plans, pantry staples, and more than 100 good-for-you recipes. 

Flip through the book’s pages and you’ll find information on how to eat, exercise, and stay mentally healthy while living with type 2 diabetes. You’ll also learn tips and tricks for managing your diagnosis, such as which foods to eat and avoid for optimal blood glucose control. Best of all, this comprehensive cookbook includes seriously mouth-watering meals, from baked berry coconut oatmeal to salmon florentine.

Written by an MD and well-known proponent of plant-based eating for better health, Dr. Neal Barnard’s Cookbook for Reversing Diabetes takes a tasty approach to minimizing complications commonly associated with diabetes and controlling blood glucose levels. Every recipe in the book (there are 150 total) prioritizes whole food ingredients like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes. You’ll find recipes for yummy meals and snacks, including sweet potato breakfast bites, edamame-avocado pasta, and mango “nice cream.” No deprivation needed.

Looking for more ideas? Read our roundup of the best vegan cookbooks.

The Mediterranean diet is one of the most well-established healthy eating patterns, thanks in large part to its inclusion of anti-inflammatory foods like olive oil, fish, and nuts and seeds. Fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains are also key components of the heart-healthy diet, which has been shown to help protect against and manage conditions like cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes. 

 This cookbook from the American Diabetes Association puts a Mediterannean spin on diabetes-friendly recipes. Drawing inspiration from Italian, Greek, Turkish, and Egyptian flavors, this cookbook is full of flavor-packed dishes like chicken souvlaki, seafood paella, and a potato-artichoke torte. Get ready for a restaurant-worthy dinner, right in your home.

Want access to easy-to-make meals that won’t crush your daily carb allotment? This vibrant and visual cookbook from Diabetic Living contains 90 diabetes-friendly dinner ideas you’ll love. Every suggested meal provides three separate components: a half-plate of non-starchy veggies, a quarter-plate of protein, and a quarter-plate of whole grains or starchy vegetables.

Also nice: each dish contains 500 calories or fewer and is made from simple ingredients you won’t struggle to find. Even a dinner made of “skewer salad” with orange-miso vinaigrette (that’s your half-plate of veggies), peanut soba noodles (your quarter-plate of whole grains), and baked chicken breast (your quarter-plate of protein) dinner clocks in under 475 calories. You’ll also love the bonus sections that offer low-carb recipes for drinks and sweet treats.

Take a peek at our reviews of the best healthy cookbooks.

Written by a dietitian who specializes in diabetes education, this step-by-by guide to meal planning is made for people with diabetes who were recently diagnosed. With straightforward information and more than 100 insulin-friendly recipes, this cookbook takes the confusion out of eating with diabetes.

Pick up a copy for cravable recipes like easy chicken cacciatore, parmesan-crusted pork chops, and healthy carrot cake bites. Dishes in the book also come complete with helpful ingredient tips (for example: how to save time prepping kale), ideas for how to “complete the plate,” and comprehensive nutritional information so you’ll know exactly how many grams of protein, fats, and carbs you’re consuming at every meal.

The Diabetic Cookbook covers all the bases when it comes to eating (and cooking) for people with type 2 diabetes. Pick up a copy for more than 120 low-carb recipes for every meal of the day and helpful cooking tips. Best of all, it includes mouthwatering recipes for made over comfort classics, like Philly cheesesteaks and mac and cheese. Not surprisingly, reviewers find this cookbook helps control diabetes, without leaving you feeling deprived. Talk about a win-win.

The Diabetic Cookbook for Two is proof that no one needs to face a diabetes diagnosis alone. This book provides tips for cooking diabetes-friendly meals for you and your significant other, as well as meal planning guidance, and 125 low-carb recipes. From peach pancakes to sesame chicken-almond slaw and cheesy zucchini patties, this cookbook offers something for every palate. Plus, it’s written by a dietitian, so you can enjoy each dish feeling confident that it fits in your meal plan. The hardest part? Deciding which meal to whip up first!

Need more options? Check out our article on the best paleo cookbooks.