Living With Diabetes

What's to Eat? Living With The Diabetic Diet?

If the person with diabetes and his family follow the diabetic diet, they will follow a meal plan recommended by the United States Department of Agriculture, the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, the American Diabetes Association and the American Dietetic Association.

Let's examine how each of these guidelines applies to the diabetic diet:

1. Eat a variety of foods - No single food provides all the nutrients needed by the body. By including the correct portions of food from each of the five food groups, (dairy, meat, starch, fruit and vegetable, and fat) the ideal amounts of protein, fat, carbohydrate, vitamins and minerals will be consumed.
2. Maintain a reasonable body weight -If you are overweight, losing weight may improve control of Type II diabetes. Cutting calories by 500 - 1000 calories a day can lead to a weight loss of one to two pounds a week. Exercise-if your doctor prescribes it-will help maintain weight loss. "Reasonable" body weight may not be "ideal" body weight. A reasonable body weight is one a person can live with comfortably over time.
3. Avoid too much fat, saturated fat and cholesterol - Too much fat increases the risk of heart disease, cancer and gall bladder disease. Fat is very high in calories. Frequent eating of high fat foods makes weight control hard. Animal fats contain cholesterol and saturated fat. High intakes of cholesterol and saturated fat have been linked to increased risks for heart disease. People with diabetes are twice as likely to develop heart disease as people without diabetes. Trimming fat, adding less fat to food, and broiling or baking will help cut fat and cholesterol.
4. Increase complex carbohydrates and fiber - Some people believe all carbohydrates (starches and sugars) are harmful to the person with diabetes. Controlled starch intake is not bad for the diabetic. Many starches are low in fat and can be high in fiber. Certain types of fiber help to control blood sugars and increase the feeling of fullness after lower calorie meals.
5. Avoid too much sugar - Diabetics need to limit high sugar foods. Reading labels will help discover hidden sources of sugar. Limit foods which have sugar as one of the first ingredients on the label or which have several sources of sugar listed.
6. Avoid too much sodium - The American diet contains eight to 10 times more sodium than is recommended. Sodium can raise blood pressure. Having high blood pressure increases the diabetic's chances for heart disease or stroke. Table salt and processed foods are major sources of sodium in the diet. Limit the use of salt and processed foods to lower your sodium intake.
7. If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation - (Your doctor will tell you if you can drink alcohol). Alcohol is high in calories and low in nutrients. On an empty stomach alcohol can lead to a low blood sugar reaction. Alcohol blocks the liver's production of glucose (blood sugar) and enhances the effects of insulin. If alcohol is allowed, only small amounts should be drunk slowly while you eat food.

Keep in mind, eating good food can help a person with diabetes become healthy and stay that way.

Developed by:
Connie C. Crawley M.S., R.D.

Reviewed by:
Gwen Gore, M.S., R.D.
Ann Peisher, D.P.A.
Thomas Huff, M.D.
Max Stachura, M.D.

The Cooperative Extension Service, The University of Georgia College of Agriculture offers educational programs, assistance and materials to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex or handicap status.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER F & N

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, The University of Georgia College of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating.

C. Wayne Jordan, Director

Fort Valley State University