What can diabetics eat?
diabetic food
UPDATE (April 11, 2011): Please read latest article about List Of Food For Diabetics here.
Don’t despair just because you have got diabetes. You can go on enjoying life as usual but now you, as a diabetic person, possibly can’t go on with your uncontrolled food habits. You will have to be a little regimented and watchful regarding what you can eat. If you carefully plan and change your food habits you can control all types of diabetes, type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes.
You must have full control on your calories intake and diabetic diet if you have type 1 or type 2 or gestational diabetes. You should try taking a low carbohydrate diet. There are innumerable recipes for diabetes on the net. You can even find special diabetic dessert recipes!
The “diabetic food pyramid” which is now called “My Pyramid” has been designed especially keeping in mind the special diet requirements of diabetes type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes.
There are six groups in the Diabetes Food Pyramid. The bottom group consists of beans, grains and starchy vegetables and you must have them the most and least of sweets, fats and alcohol, which are at the peak of the diabetic food pyramid.
Therefore you, as a type 1 or type 2 diabetic person, need to avoid foods that are on top of diabetic food pyramid such as french fries, starch, colas, fatty protein, and alcohol.
Everybody knows that we need carbohydrates for energy. Whole grains like whole wheat bread, oatmeal and rice (especially brown) give you carbohydrates. These food categories help in controlling type 2 diabetes by keeping your hunger in control. Hence you should try having carbohydrate rich food like ¾ cup dry cereal; ½ cup cooked cereal, yam, peas, corn, or cooked beans, ¼ of a bagel (1 ounce) and1/3 cup of rice or pasta and other similar food.
You can even have plant oil, which is at the base of the food pyramid. But you must take care to have only plant oil like olive oil, soy, canola, and corn, peanut, sunflower and not all types of fat. The plant oil helps you in improving your cholesterol levels and keeping your heart fit.
You can have fruits like oranges, strawberries, apples, peaches, bananas, grapes and apricots 2-3 times a day and also have vegetables like chicory, Swiss chard, spinach, cabbage, sorrel, bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, carrots, cauliflower, kale and lettuce etc.
Poultry, Fish, and Eggs are important sources for protein and are good for you if you have them 0-2 times a day. Try to have fish, poultry and lean meat and avoid visible fat meat.
Milk is high in protein and calcium so you should have non-fat or low fat dairy products. Try to have fish, poultry and lean meat and avoid visible fat meat, but only 4-6 ounces in a day. You can also have turkey and chicken because they are very low in saturated fat.
Even eggs are better than fat soaked dishes. However you should stick to low-fat or non-fat products. Legumes and Nuts (1 to 3 times) are rich means of getting minerals, vitamins, fiber and protein. Most nuts contain good fats are very good for your heart.
In any case you must work out closely with your dietitian or doctor before embarking on any diet changes.
Tags:diabetic diet, diabetic food, foods to avoid, gestational diabetes, low carbohydrate diet, whole wheat bread
I think I might have diabetes. I am afraid to go in and get it confirmed though. People I know with diabetes get depressed often, since they can not eat many foods they used to enjoy. I am also concerned with the pre-existing health issue thing. I am worried that If they find out for sure I have it, and if I ever loose my job with insurance then it will be a pre-existing condition and I will not get any help from the insurance company. I also have a slight concern that it may have gone on undiagnosed too long, and I might be close to it being to far gone. I have had the nausea, the numbness, pain, headaches, etc. I am not sure what else it could be.
I have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes for over a year now. I did get depressed because I felt old and didn’t want to give up my favorite foods. I also got a divorce and felt I didn’t have the money to get my medications since I didn’t have insurance anymore. I should have investigated farther. Instead I said I would eat what I want and if I die I die happy. The stupidest thing I ever said. I got extremely ill. My blood pressure was dangerously high and I felt awful. I finally broke down went to the doctor and found my worry about the cost was unfounded. Walmart has the pill I now take 2 times a day is on the 4 dollar list. He also started me on a blood pressure medicine in an attempt to protect my vision and kidneys also on the 4 dollar list. I feel so much better. You have to address this issue. It will not just go away.
so everyone thinks that type ones cant eat sugar!!! This is wrong! There isn’t a single time that have not joined my friends while they were eating ice cream, candy of chocolate cake. All you have to do is account for the carbs. I’m tired of people telling me that I can’t eat certain things. Type ones DON’T LISTEN!
I was diagnosed with Type 2 2 1/2 months ago and I was terrified. My doctor knows that I obsess over things so he said that he wanted me lower my levels “unmonitored”, meaning that I was to never test my blood sugar levels with a meter. I thought he was crazy, but I went with it. I looked up the disease and developed a baseline. I started exercising 5-7 days a week, changed my eating habits. I was 182 lbs when I started and am now 159lbs! I got a fasting blood test and am now within the normal range and it looks like I will be off my Metforin in about another month! I’ve never eaten this much in my life!! I understand some of your frustrations. I felt the same way too! I’m not as strict as so many of these sites say to be. I use common sense and it has yet to fail me. Moderation is the key. I LOVE my wine and have a drink about twice a week. I learned to substitute some of my vices with healthier options. I was very surprised at how many sugar free desserts tasted so good. Here is an average daily meal for me:
Breakfast:
Plain oatmeal sweetened with Splenda and blueberries or Multi Grain cheerios with light soy milk. If I’m still hungry, maybe an apple. Almost forgot, my coffee with 2 splendas!
Snack: Handfull of almonds.
Lunch: Spinach salad with Rotisserie chicken breast and Shoprite organinc Sesame ginger dressing and a small sweet potato.
Snack: Dannon Light n Fit yogurt with some cereal.
Dinner: Grilled Chicken, Steamed Fish, or Sushi with brown rice and Lots ov veggies.
Dessert: sugar free jello pudding.
Snack: handfull of pistashios.
Hope this helps!
Really appreciate for sharing your experience with us.
Wish you all the best, Chris.
I am also left in the dark with type 2 my doctor just gives me pills and says avoid these and eat these. But my levels are still high usually around 200 or so.
To everyone out there, I feel your pain. There are ways to live with it, its all about portion control. I recommend the best thing is getting yourself to a dietician. There are places that offer free service, u just have to look. I have suffered with gestational diabetes and fear diabetes alone when I am not pregnant, just never wanted to face it. Its hard at first, but then u get use to it. I can still eat pretty much anything, I just have to be careful how much I eat. Its hard I know, but it can be done; just look for a dietician asap and they will give u a meal plan.
i need help i just found out i have type 2 diabetes i did not know until I went to the er couse i was feeling sick i just need help in what to eat for breakfast and stuff like that for dinner and lunch if u guys could give me tips pls thank you
eloisa,
for breakfast eat fruits (strawberries, blueberries, etc.) for lunch eat salad with low fat dressing and for dinner it is recommended to eat fish, chicken, turkey and lean meats. Eat in moderation (meaning small portions). Limit sweets, you can still have some but a very very small amount and limit serving to once every other day or once a week. You should speak with your doctor about getting together with a Diabetes Educator.
I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes about 4 years ago and have been in the dark. I recently changed doctors and he has helped me a lot. He started sending me to a Diabetes Educator that my insurance pays for most of it. She gave a a book from LillyDiabetes.com called “Daily Meal Planning Guide” This has a list of foods from each group and also the amounts that equal 1 point from each group on the “MyPyramid”. She put me on a 1500 calorie diet and this is the points I am allowed for that many calories.
Breakfast
2 starch
1 fruit
1 milk
2 fat
1 meat
I make my breakfast and a mid meal out of these points.
Lunch
2 starch
3 meat
1 veggie
1 fruit
2 fat
1 milk
I also make lunch and a mid meal out of this
Dinner
2 starch
4 meat
2 veggie
1 fruit
2 fat
1 milk
Evening Snack
1 starch
1 milk
I hope this helps some people. It sure helped me. I have never eaten so much food in my life and I’m losing weight!
Everything I eat raises my sugar level. My doctors have told me NOTHING about controlling this disease. They even started out by putting my on Nystatin (for something else ) which was giving me 24g of liquid sucrose a day and among other drugs Glipizine (or something like that) which is a class of drug I am allergic to. Every food group just keeps me around 500.
I just want to eat everything now and die from this shit. I’m sitting around using this useless meter seeing it go higher and higher. The hospital on the weekend I was diagnosed and came in twice with levels of 800 and 600 yelled at me for thinking they would manage my diabetes. This is from the Friday and Saturday i was initially diagnosed in the ER.
I even had a regular dr, appt on Monday! So now I can’t go back there no matter what. And my Family Dr. is a 250 mile round trip that I can only afford about once a month. I am just completely screwed.
you need to see a specialist, and a dietician to use up glucose ride an exercise bike after eating.
I’m type 1 and unsure on the types of foods I should be regularly eating. Does anyone have a website they can direct me to? Also I’m vegetarian so I do eat a lot of bread and fish products.. any advice?
The post is wonderful.I am also agree with the Max that the pharma companies are making more money by confusing people.
It is hard for a man or woman who was spending a healthy life and had a habit of uncontrolled food.Its really painful for him or her to take control on his desire of eating in a uncontrolled manner.
I am having a hard time losing my last 20 pounds, can anyone suggest a way to break past this block?
control ur intake; easy equation, the more u eat the more u gain, the less u eat the less u gain.
Are sugar free sweets better for you? If you have diabetes/sugar addiction, Sugar-free Sweets sound like a Good Idea.
my mum went to hospital and it was discovered that her sugar level was high. we werent told it was diabetes. but about a month ago her blood sugar went up so high plus high blood pressure and she suffered a mild stroke. Im at loss as to what she can eat and still stay healthy.
I AM 17 WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES AND THIS IS THE SADDEST THING THAT HAS HAPPENED TO ME IN 2010. 2010 SUCKS ! EVERYTHING CONTAINS SUGAR, EVEN IF ITS 1G OF SUGAR IT STILL CONTAINS SUGAR. OMG.
Hi, Lynn. Honey, do not dispair! That is how the disease gets us mentally down. Check with your dietian every week. Weigh yourself every day and take your blood sugar twice a day. Learn what foods spike your sugar and avoid them like the plague. Try some of Amy’s frozen foods if you do not like to cook. read labels and stay away from High fructose corn syrup and its derivitives. That is the sugar that is in everything. Sign up for on line training and go to your local HMO (I assume you have that as your care facility ) and ask for an exercise program. Kaiser has one free of charge. You need to make this work for you by controlling everything you eat. You can bring for example foods you need to the restaurant and just order a salad and you can still join in the fun. I am also on a gluten free diet. So, in addtion to sugar issues, I cannot eat wheat or grains. I am just fine and I have never felt better in my entire life. I am 62 and in control. Good luck, hon, and remember,t he biggest battle is our attitude. Lynn
Lynn I also have celliac and have been feeling horrible I suspect my blood levels are off due to symptoms of extreme thirst naseau and weakness I also have sever digestive disorders I had a colostomy bag for 3 months and have had several resection surgeries so I can not eat salads or seeds and nuts do you have any suggestions on foods I can eat?
I too was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes back in November of 2010. It is hard to deal with; esp with not knowing what is safe or not safe to eat. I am always afraid that I am eating the wrong foods, so I know how you feel. Just exercise regularly, stay away from the sweets and eat vegetables and fish and poultry. Try using artificial sweetner such as sweet n low or ideal(meant for diabetics). I hope everything works out for you!
At the age of 27 and just diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, I’m finding it much harder to think of what I can eat and what I cannot eat. Thanks to having my mom around who is also diabetic, it really has helped to see what is good for me or not. It’s been really recent since I’ve found out, but it’s really been an eye opener for me and my family that I’ve developed it at a pretty young age. Changing the habits of eating healthy isn’t just for diabetics, it’s for everyone. It’s all a matter of eating right and exercising at least moderately. I’ve got lots of hope of reversing this disease with control and hopefully live a healthier life in hopes I won’t have to go on medication for a while (diet and exercise). Good luck to you all and my prayers are with you.
Ps. Almonds are amazing!
I really feel good when I see this much hope and energy in you, I am sure you will be an example to all diabetics people as a person who live happily with diabetes.
Wish you all the best Marsha
Hi , I was just told im pre-diabetic and im 43 , i got to admit i ate anything and everything because of the bachelor lifestyle and had not even walked outside , its a good kick in the butt when my doc said that so im going to do this slowly and hopefully not fall off the healthy eating style i need to do now .
Hi..My husband was just diagnosed with type 2 as well.
Ya’ll check out a site called worlds healthiest foods .com and do a search on diets for diabetics..Schroll down and you will see type 2 diabetes on this list..click on the different links about it..It list the different foods that are good for someone with diabetes and why..and they list sources for this information.It also list the different nurtients specifically that are important for a diabetic to have.
For instance it will tell you to eat dark or red fruits such as cherries.And the nutrient that is in it that makes them red has been shown in clinical test to increase your production of insulin.
It doesnt talk about counting carbs that I saw or the gi index and all that just simply what nurtients have been shown to be very benefical to diabatics and how and what are good sources of foods to get the most of those nutrients.
Things like chili peppers ..and cinamin..and garlic..and soy…salmon..even things like shrimp is good source for vitamin D which I never knew.
Legumes..like beans..(all kinds like kidney and black beans and so on)..eaten with other foods helps your body require less insulin to deal with the sugar..it said even in a subsequent meal the same day the legumes you ate keep working to help you regulate the sugars you eat later.
So rather that its a matter of what NOT to eat that will hurt you..Its a matter of what you shoudl try and eat more of that will help your body funtion as if you had no diabetes at all.
Even though they do talk about what to avoid.Like foods high in saturated fat and too much iron is bad so to limit red meat intake etc..
I wish ya’ll all the luck in the world and God bless you…
MY HUSBAND WAS JUST TOLD HE HAS DIABETES, AND I’M THE COOK AND TRYING TO HELP HIM WITH HIS COICES. DOES IT TAKE A ROCKET SCIENTIST TO TELL US HOW MANY CARBS ARE SAFE FOR A DAY, WHATS GOOD AND WHATS NOT
ETC. IF I CAN’T GET CLEAR INFORMATION, HOW IN GOD’S NAME AM I GOING TO HELP HIM? MANY THANKS, AND HANG IN!
my mother just got diagnosed with diabetes and they did’nt give her anything but presciption when she left the hospital and she have good insurance i think the hospital should give you everything you need when you are diagnosed for the first time.
Hello All,
I like Ninah have been labeled a pre-diabetic 4 months ago and my blood sugar levels continue to rise no matter what I do or try to stabilize my levels below 125. I am in agreement with others that their is not adequate information in regards to food items appropriate for any level of diabetic persons. Additionally, I am predisposed to have diabetes due to family history but can prolong the envitable.
I am conducting my own experiments, with the help of a blood glucose monitoring system, to track when my blood levels rise and fall depending on what I eat and when I excercise. I also have been taking 10 mg of Avandia with no side affects and based upon my recent 3 month blood test follow-up the medication along with eating low to non-fat foods, and excercising, my blood sugar level count has increased slowly compared to 4 the last two tests. I am finding out that it is best for me to excercise immediately after eating and that can mean running on the elipical trainer, taking a brisk walk, or skipping rope for 15 minutes. Thus, working out for 45 minutes a day at minimum which my doctor says is a great start.
My last thoughts for everyone including myself: EXCERCISE, EXCERCISE, AND MORE EXCERCISE.
I am four months pregnant and I have been classified as a prediabetic which my doctor says is all the same as a diabetic. I had a history of gestational diabetes with my first baby and since then, my sugar levels have swung but never dropped to their old low levels. I have seen four diabetic experts for my problem and they all recommend that I take medication. I am desperate and nearly in tears. I do not want to go under insulin. Aside from medication being so very expensive, I also do not want to become dependent on it. I have tried dieting and nearly collapsed because my baby’s nutritional demands have obviously raised my intake needs. I have been exercising a lot but I do not know if it will work for me. I have two weeks to lower my sugar or else I will go under medication. Of course I will submit to my doctor’s recommendations for my baby’s sake but this is all so frustrating for me.
i need to know if honey is good or bad for a diabetic that is on insulin shots please let me know
Just diagnosed with type 2 last week. Thanks FDA for making my medication the equivalent to buying an ounce of gold. Id hate to see what is like for someone without health insurance i hope you can sleep well at night. Sincerely Pissed off in Wisconsin
I was diagnosed with type 2 also. I called the pharmacy to find out how much my meds would cost and was shocked. If you have an insurance plan where you can mail away for 3 months of meds call them. The savings are incredible
There are some wonderful diet guidelines and great recipes for diabetics at lowglycemicrecipes.net. They list carb amount, calories, fat, fiber content, Glycemic Index (GI), Glyco Load (GL). I haven’t seen any other sites that offer the GI and GL together in their recipes. Good site if you’re looking for new ideas and good info.
I’ve had diabetes for over 5 years and it’s hard to find the right foods to eat.My sugar goes up on anything I put in my mouth.I don’t know to eat these days.I lost 30 pounds last year and managed to keep it off.But it’s hard to find the right foods to eat to keep your sugars running normal.I don’t know what to do.
Thank you!!! My dad was recently diagnosed and he is coming to visit. I work in a Dr.s office and familiar with dm but wasn’t sure of certain foods. I looked on many websites but this is the only one that gave me specific foods that I had questions about. I want to help my dad not inable him…..thank you again : )
My fiancee just got diagnosed and I need help trying too convinve him that I know what I am taliking about my dad lost his lr\eg too the disease 7 years ago and I am very knowledgeable pls help
My Dad just got diagnosed with type 2 diabetes… can’t say I’m surprised, because his mother also has diabetes, I take after my father in things like this, so I feel like i’m just biding my time until I develop it too.. I’ve been trying to research a healthy diet, to try and adjust for when I make trips home to visit my parents (and to better prepare myself for something I feel may be inevitable), but as a few of you have already stated, what his Doctor said and what I have found online seem to be contradictory. How ridiculous that millions of people have no clear idea on what to eat, how much, how often, the world is basically clueless about an incurable disease affecting, almost everyone it seems nowadays.. To those of you who have been diagnosed with Diabetes, good luck trying to figure out some sort of healthy dieting system, my heart goes out to you. Keep your chins up and do not fret about the foods you are “missing out” on, be glad you don’t have cancer or AIDS or something much worse… Good Luck to you all..
I have recently after several years got off my diabetes medicine. I joined a program where I only ate things not processed. I did have cereal, whole wheat toast (make sure it says whole in the first word of the ingredients, if it says enriched you may as well eat white bread) No carbonated beverages. Fruit will satisfy your sweet taste and vegetable salt. Also exercise at least 45 minutes to one hour a day. You can start slow — go for a walk then build up to a better program. Don’t short yourself on abilities — you can do more than you think. Also count calories eat 1400 a day, 400 for breakfast, 400 for lunch, 400 for supper also have 2 100 calorie snacks a day. After your first two weeks of nothing processed add some back in — very limited but the 100 calorie snack packs you can have if you stick to everything else.
Jeanette,
Congrats, I am really happy for you and wish you success in your life.
Hi,
I have lost 23 pounds from April to June by eating right, watching my food portions , and also walking at least 40 minutes a day !! It does work when you eat the right way, and in watching what you eat really pays off. I have 35 carbs for b/l/d and 15 carbs for snacks. I went from a size 10-12 to a size 8 !! And with prayers to GOD who knows us all..anything can be done.
my grandma lost 100 pounds and she is a diabetic
Judy,
I agree with you 100% that pharma companies are taking advantage of people confusion to make more money, I think this is one of the resons why companies that manufacture medicine including medicine for diabetic people are so wealthy.
I can imagine how difficult is for an excellent cook which loves peanut butter toast and milk to control her diet
Please take care.
I’m beginning to think that the pharma industry wants us to be confused so they can make money off the 21 million diabetics. Is there any other disease with such lack of clear information? I was diagnosed three weeks ago and am already dizzy with the contradictions and dead ends. I’m eating a lot of peanut butter toast and milk simply because I can’t think of anything else, and that can’t be good. And I’m an excellent cook with a huge cookbook collection!
After being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes 8 months ago, I’ve been determined to avoid being insulin dependent — No alcohol, exercise (lost 40+lbs)and change of diet. Trying to get a consensus of opinion on proper diabetic nutrition has left me angry and frustrated. Between the advice of my doctor and the many websites and books on ‘safe’ foods for diabetics, there appears to actually be very little that I can eat in any quantity without putting myself at risk of complications, including much of what your article states as acceptable. Apparently, foods that should be considered OFF LIMITS include — All bread and wheat products(including whole wheat,according to glycemic index numbers)all rice, pasta, potatoes, peas, corn, carrots, oranges, apples, watermelon, bananas, grapes, beans (except green beans) and on and on. The heated controversy over glycemic index vs glycemic load does little to help us make decisions we can have faith in. Diabetics (even those who stringently follow the rules of nutritional intake) are also at an elevated risk of kidney failure if they eat the same amount of protien as ‘normal’ people. If I can’t have much in the way of either carbs or protein, what the hell is left? D C