As a hardworking mom, no doubt your Crock-Pot has become a mealtime lifesaver. If you've been recently diagnosed with diabetes, you may worry this means the end of your Crock-Pot days and the beginning of your new life as a slave to the kitchen making special complicated meals. But you don't need to further complicate your life with special foods and special meals. In fact, people with diabetes should follow the same healthy diet recommended for everyone, which means a balanced diet filled with more fruits and veggies, whole grains, healthy proteins and oils. So, unpack your Crock-Pot and start filling that cookbook with healthy slow-cooker recipes like these.

Carbs aren't your enemy when you have diabetes, but you don't want to overdo it. This recipe cuts carbs by replacing the noodles with veggies. To prepare, slice zucchini and eggplant lengthwise, and slice red peppers and red onions into rounds. Place veggies on a paper towel to drain some of the moisture. Season with salt, pepper and oil and broil or grill. For the cheese filling, mix cottage cheese with eggs. Coat the Crock-Pot with oil and start your lasagna layering with sauce, veggies, cottage cheese and mozzarella cheese. Repeat the layering process two more times. Cover and cook on high for 3 hours.

Ground white meat turkey is a very lean protein, but if you must, substitute 93 percent lean ground beef. This recipe is so delicious you won't notice it's turkey and not beef. First, brown the turkey in a nonstick skillet with onions and garlic. Transfer the turkey mixture to your Crock-Pot and add canned whole tomatoes, canned kidney beans, low-sodium chicken broth, a can of tomato paste, chili powder, garlic powder and black pepper. Stir to combine and cook on low heat for 4 to 5 hours.

Soggy broccoli can be a downer in a beef and broccoli dish, but this healthy veggie will stay crisp and delicious if you keep it out of the mix until the last 30 minutes of cooking. In your Crock-Pot, add thin-sliced sirloin steak, beef broth, soy sauce, sesame oil, minced garlic and a touch of brown sugar. Cover and cook on low for 5 hours. Then, make a slurry with cornstarch and water and add to your beef mixture, along with the fresh or frozen broccoli florets. Stir and cook for another 30 minutes. Serve with brown rice.

You can cook seafood in your Crock-Pot, but because seafood cooks faster, it's not something you can cook all day. This recipe may be super simple, but it makes a great Saturday night meal that looks super fancy. Pour a bag of frozen mixed veggies in your Crock-Pot and top with salmon, soy sauce, honey, lemon juice and sesame seeds. Cook on low for 2 to 3 hours. Halibut, cod and shrimp also work with this recipe.