Diabetic Diet Sheet

If you ask the average person who doesn’t suffer from diabetes what foods a diabetic shouldn’t eat, most people would say “food without sugar”.  While this is a common believe it’s one that’s actually untrue.  In fact there isn’t any real dietary requirement a diabetic should follow that differs from any other healthy eating guide, just as long the condition is correctly controlled.  In fact most diabetic associations would agree that diabetics should follow a healthy diet just like anybody else.  That said, anybody who has recently been diagnosed as having diabetes should consult their doctor to workout a diet plan specifically catered for them. 

It’s very common that people with diabetes especially type 2 diabetes are overweight.  This is no coincidence either, you are more likely to suffer from this form of diabetes in later life and especially if you are obese and do not exercise regularly in the first place.  Unfortunately, being over weight and having type 2 diabetes are strongly linked.   

However, losing weight as a diabetic needn’t be a massive problem but you should always consult your doctor before embarking on any new diabetic diet sheet.

Although it’s ok for people with diabetes to consume the odd dessert periodically, sugar still is a type of carbohydrate and as such can be substituted for any other starch food such as pasta or bread.  However, it’s common for a lot of sugary foods to contain very few nutrients and increased levels of calories.

Fat:

We all know that consuming too much fat isn’t good for anybody, let alone a diabetic.  Unfortunately people with diabetes have an increased chance of developing heart disease by consuming too much food that has rich levels of both fat and cholesterol.  Since our purpose is to lose weight and not increase it, we need to keep a careful eye on how much fat we consume.  Try introducing skinless chicken and lean cuts of meat, fish is excellent also. You should also switch to low fat milk and replace butter with a low fat margarine.  Remember, little changes to your diet can make a massive change to your life.

Salt:

As a diabetic you are more likely to develop high blood pressure so keeping an eye on salt levels is a must.  Cut down on salty foods like take-a-ways and convenience foods such as crisps and snacks.  These types of foods are rich in salt and should be limited in your diet.  Also, try not to add salt to your cooking.  Instead, replace salt with alternatives like herbs or garlic.

Fibre:

Although fibre is a type of carbohydrate and it’s great for filling you up.  Try introducing a whole grain cereal for breakfast.  You should also eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, both are rich in fibre.  By doing so you should you reach your daily intake of between 25 to 35 grams of fibre a day.  Keep mealtimes to three times a day and never go to bed on a full stomach.

Alcohol:

Again, alcohol is bad, especially if you are trying to lose weight.  It’s high in calories and low in nutrients.  Most diabetic are still permitted to consume alcohol, but make sure you speak to your GP for advise first.  Consuming moderate levels of no more than two drinks a day for a man and one a day for women will be okay for most diabetics.  However, if you can cut this down, so much the better. 

Final Thoughts:

This diabetic diet sheet is intended to help you maintain a healthy diet by focusing on the main categories associated with weight gain in diabetics.