I am an EMT so I am aware of diabetic emergencies and watching over him w meds (this should be fun). He has been per-diabetic for many, many years, just never followed the guidelines. He moved in a year ago and I have been trying to feed him appropriate but he buys the big tub of ice cream, eats the half bag of Doritos in one sitting (my go to snack that I had put away, he ate the other half the other day and hid the bag like I couldn't hear him eating it). He sneaks out for breakfast and lunch (I know he has to get out). So now it is up to me to be the gate keeper. He never listened to mom. I advised exercise, eating moderation all of it. I am sure he wont listen. At least it is a good excuse for me to eat better (we eat rather healthy, I do all the cooking). He thinks the pill will be the fix it.
Its enough I have a room mate now I have to be his personal cook (I really hate that). I remind him all the time to eat right. He won't listen. He will be away for a week back home and he will eat like a sailor on leave. His excuse is the whole family before him were diabetic..... yeah they all ate like crap because they did not know better.............. I have more cookbooks than most and am adept at cooking. the challenge will be to get him to eat regulatory. He needs to lose a good 80 to 100, I can stand to lose 40 (to get to my ideal weight). So it might not be bad for me.
Subbing oven fried for deep fried, 2% or skim milk for full fat and cream, using lite mayo, dressings and butter, increasing whole grains, (high fiber pasta is really quite good now) and decreasing processed foods and white flour are good first steps.
To quote the admins "Our team also includes elder care experts who actively participate in the caregiver community, answering your questions and sharing their expertise in all aspects of elder care."
A person with diabetes can eat corn on the cob and mashed potatoes and a dinner roll and buttered squash and a piece of chocolate cake. But not at the same meal, please! Same for a person who is trying to loose weight. A good, healthy diet for the average person is a good healthy diet for a person with diabetes, too -- with perhaps some adjustments. If your dad's clinic offers self-care classes for newly diagnosed diabetics, attend them with him if you can.
That is the answer to the easy part of your questions, tgengine.
This is the harder part: "I remind him all the time to eat right. He won't listen." I'd say stop reminding him. He is not your child that you are trying to teach. He is your father. As an adult he is entitled to make is own decisions about what he eats. You do all the cooking so you have a great opportunity to influence what is available to eat, without lecturing or reminding or nagging. You are not in charge of what he orders at restaurants, or how often he goes. Just let those things go. I'd encourage Dad to attend whatever courses his clinic offers, so he is making informed decisions, and so he is hearing it from objective professionals. But then it is up to him what to do with that information.
You didn't mention any mental impairments. That might change my answer a bit. But as it is, cook healthy meals the both of you can eat. And give up the idea that you are in charge of his food intake.
My doctors told me that there isn't a diabetic diet anymore. Just eat a moderate diet of all foods. Don't deprive yourself. Don't overdo it. Sugar free or low sugar is not what most people think. Sugar free candy still has carbs and carbs count for blood sugar purposes. Even sugar free recipes still have carbs. I don't bother with anything sugar free except for jello and soft drinks, which I try to limit.
I would encourage you to meet with a Certified Diabetic Educator. They can explain how the carbs and blood sugar work. You already have a medical background, so you may already know a lot about this. A nutritionist may also be helpful for you. I doubt your dad would get much from it.
HOWEVER, after saying all of that, I will also say that if a senior wants to eat poorly, there is not much you can do about it. I would stop trying to control your dad's diet. As a senior, it's my feeling that they should eat what they want. It's not easy being the cookie police. Trying to control his diet would seem to be very stressful and counterproductive. Nagging doesn't help. If you can't fix it, then why continue to cause anxiety? If he gets diabetes, he will go on meds or have his meds increased. It's one issue I would not put too much focus on. Encourage him to eat healthy and then let it go. It might make him less stressed and his food choices may improve. I'm not sure if he has dementia, but if so, then it's even more difficult to control, unless he's homebound.
And, if he is Type II, he may eventually need insulin, but most can just take pills.