Let’s Be Smart About Diabetes is for families who are exhausted by confusing nutrition advice and just want to eat in a way that keeps blood sugars steadier without making meals miserable. Chef Mark Allison writes from lived experience: his son Matthew was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 14 months, and his brother Michael has lived with type 1 since childhood. Mark has taught and demonstrated diabetes-friendly cooking for years, including launching a sold-out diabetic cooking class at Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte.

This book does not push a “special diet” that isolates the person with diabetes. Instead, it focuses on what works in real homes: cooking more often, reducing ultra-processed foods, choosing carbohydrates more wisely, and keeping portions realistic, all while making food enjoyable. The recipes are designed so the whole family can eat together, with less stress and more confidence. If diabetes has made food feel complicated or fear-based, this book brings clarity, comfort, and practical tools back to the kitchen.