EAT WELL WITH DIABETES

Managing blood sugar is the key to living well with diabetes, and eating well is the key to managing blood sugar. But what does it mean to eat well? Simply put, eat healthy foods that give you the nutrition you need. Eat those foods in the right amounts at the right times so your blood sugar stays in your target range as much as possible.

You don’t have to give up your favorite foods to eat well—tasty food can be one of life’s greatest pleasures. But you will need to balance the proteins, fats, and carbs you eat to manage your diabetes and feel your best. Work with your dietitian or diabetes educator to create a healthy eating plan, and check out the resources in this section for tips, strategies, and ideas to make it easier to eat well.

There are different types of diabetes, and no two people with diabetes are the same. So there isn’t a one-size-fits-all way of eating for everyone with diabetes. But we’ve come up with tips that you can use to help you make healthier food choices. 

These healthy eating tips are general and can help you manage your blood glucose (sugar), blood pressure and cholesterol levels. They can also help you manage your weight and reduce the risk of diabetes complications, such as heart problems and strokes, and other health conditions including certain types of cancers.

What does eating right mean for you?

​If you have Type 1 diabetes,  carbs counting is really important to keep your blood glucose levels steady. This is where you estimate how many carbs are in your meal and match it with how much insulin you need to take.

If you have Type 2 and you’re overweight, finding a way to lose weight is important as it really improves diabetes management. This is because it can help to lower your blood glucose and reduce your risk of other complications. There are different ways of doing this like the low-carb, Mediterranean or very-low-calorie diets. Losing weight can help you lower your blood glucose levels, and we now know that substantial weight loss can even put some people’s  Type 2 Typdiabetes into remission.

Whether you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, you might need to lose, gain or maintain your current weight but it’s important to make healthier food choices while you’re doing it.

TIPS FOR HEALTHY EATING WITH DIABETES

1. Choose healthier carbohydrates

All carbs affect blood glucose levels so it’s important to know which foods contain carbohydrates. Choose the healthier foods that contain carbs and be aware of your portion sizes.

Here are some healthy sources of carbohydrate:

• whole grains like brown rice, buckwheat and whole oats
• fruit
• vegetables
• pulses such as chickpeas, beans and lentils
• dairy like unsweetened yoghurt and milk.

At the same time, it’s also important to cut down on foods low in fiber such as white bread, white rice and highly -processed cereals.  You can check food labels when you’re looking for foods high in fiber if you’re unsure.

2. Eat less salt

​Eating lots of salt can increase your risk of high blood pressure, which in turn increases the risk of heart diseases and stroke. And when you have diabetes, you’re already more at risk of all of these conditions.

Try to limit yourself to a maximum of 6g (one teaspoonful) of salt a day. Lots of pre-packaged foods already contain salt so remember to check food labels and choose those with less salt. Cooking from scratch will help you keep an eye on how much salt you’re eating. You can also get creative and swap out salt for different types of herbs and spices to add that extra flavor.

3. Eat less red and processed meat

If you’re cutting down on carbs, you might start to have bigger portions of meat to fill you up. But it’s not a good idea to do this with red and processed meat, like ham, bacon, sausages, beef, and lamb. These all have links with heart problems and cancers.

Try swapping red and processed meat for these:

• pulses such as beans and lentils
• eggs
• fish
• poultry like chicken and turkey
• unsalted nuts

Beans, peas, and lentils are also very high in fibre  and don’t affect your blood glucose levels too much – making them a great swap for processed and red meat and keeping you feeling full. Most of us know that fish is good for us, but oily fish like salmon and mackerel are even better. These are rich in something called omega-3 oil, which helps protect your heart. Try and aim to eat two portions of oily fish a week.

4. Eat more fruit and veg

We know eating fruit and veg is good for you. It’s always a good thing to aim to eat more at mealtimes and have them as snacks if you’re hungry. This can help you get the vitamins, minerals, and fibre your body needs every day to help keep you healthy.

You might be wondering about fruit and if you should avoid it because it’s sugary?  The answer is no. Whole fruit is good for everyone and if you have diabetes, it’s no different. Fruits do contain sugar, but it’s natural sugar. This is different from the added sugar (also known as free sugars) that are in things like chocolate, biscuits, and cakes.

Products like fruit juices also count as added sugar, so go for whole fruit instead. This can be fresh, frozen, dried or tinned (in juice, not in syrup). And it’s best to eat it throughout the day instead of one bigger portion in one go.

5. Choose healthier fats

We all need fat in our diet because it gives us energy. But different types of fat affect our health in different ways.

Healthier fats are in foods like unsalted nuts, seeds, avocados, oily fish, olive oil, rapeseed oil, and sunflower oil. Some saturated fats can increase the amount of cholesterol in your blood, increasing your risk of heart problems. These are mainly found in animal products and prepared food like:

• red and processed meat
• butter
• lard
• biscuits, cakes, pies, and pastries.

It’s still a good idea to cut down on using oils in general, so try to grill, steam or bake foods instead.

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6. Cut down on added sugar

We know cutting out sugar can be really hard at the beginning, so small practical swaps are a good starting point when you’re trying to cut down on excess sugar. Swapping sugary drinks, energy drinks and fruit juices with water, plain milk, or tea and coffee without sugar can be a good start.

You can always try low or zero-calorie sweeteners (also known as artificial sweeteners) to help you cut back. Cutting out these added sugars can help you control your blood glucose levels and help keep your weight down. If your diabetes treatment means you get hypos, and you use sugary drinks to treat them, this is still important for your diabetes management and you shouldn’t cut this out. However, if you are having regular hypos it is really important to discuss this with your diabetes team.

7. Be smart with snacks

If you want a snack, choose yogurts, unsalted nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables instead of crisps, chips, biscuits, and chocolates. But watch your portions still – it’ll help you keep an eye on your weight.

8. Drink alcohol sensibly

 Alcohol is high in calories, so if you do drink and you’re trying to lose weight, think about cutting back. Try to keep to a maximum of 14 units a week. But spread it out to avoid binge drinking, and go several days a week without alcohol.

If you take insulin or other diabetes medications, it’s also not a good idea to drink on an empty stomach. This is because alcohol can make hypos more likely to happen.

8. Don’t bother with so-called diabetic food

To say the food is a “diabetic food” is now against the law. This is because there isn’t any evidence that these foods offer you a special benefit over eating healthy. They can also often contain just as much fat and calories as similar products, and can still affect your blood glucose level. These foods can also sometimes have a laxative effect.

10. Get your minerals and vitamins from foods

There’s no evidence that mineral and vitamin supplements help you manage your diabetes. So, unless you’ve been told to take something by your healthcare team, like folic acid for pregnancy, you don’t need to take supplements.

It’s better to get your essential nutrients by eating a mixture of different foods. This is because some supplements can affect your medications or make some diabetes complications worse, like kidney disease.

Don’t forget to keep moving

​Being more physically active goes hand in hand with eating healthier. It can help you manage your diabetes and also reduce your risk of heart problems. This is because it increases the amount of glucose used by your muscles and helps the body use insulin more efficiently.