What A Diabetic Person Can Eat
August 26, 2007 by Max Peykar
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Loading ...Don’t despair just because you have got diabetes. You can go on enjoying life as usual but now you 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.
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 dietician or doctor before embarking on any diet changes.
Posted in Diets And Diabetes
September 29th, 2007 at 11:08 pm
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
December 27th, 2007 at 7:24 am
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!
December 30th, 2007 at 6:29 pm
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.
September 9th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
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.
September 10th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Jeanette,
Congrats, I am really happy for you and wish you success in your life.
November 8th, 2008 at 5:38 am
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..
February 3rd, 2009 at 11:50 pm
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
March 21st, 2009 at 8:19 pm
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 : )
March 29th, 2009 at 4:27 am
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.
April 11th, 2009 at 5:11 am
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.
April 19th, 2009 at 11:55 pm
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
April 21st, 2009 at 6:14 pm
i need to know if honey is good or bad for a diabetic that is on insulin shots please let me know
May 7th, 2009 at 6:45 am
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.
May 25th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
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.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:38 am
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.