Diabetic Diets

A careful balance of food and body chemistry…

Diabetics who take insulin must be especially careful to eat the exact amounts of food listed on the diet. Insulin is prescribed to take care of a certain amount of food, and if the correct amount of food is not eaten, an insulin reaction can occur.

If you or a member of your family has diabetes, preparing meals may, at first, seem overwhelming. Question: Why is a special diet needed for diabetes? Answer: the body does not produce enough insulin to use the sugar obtained from digesting food. A diabetic diet includes well-balanced meals and snacks to help control blood sugar levels.

What types of foods can be eaten on a diabetic diet?

A variety of foods include: milk, vegetables, fruits, breads, cereals, meats and fats. Your doctor will prescribe a diet with a certain number of calories and specific amounts of protein, carbohydrates and fats. A registered dietitian or diet counselor can help plan a diabetic diet.

What about diabetic diet exchanges?

Foods for the diabetic are divided into lists of similar types of foods called exchange lists. These exchange lists include the meat, bread, milk, fruit, vegetable and fat exchanges. Foods within each exchange group may be substituted for one another if the appropriate serving size is used. Example: In the bread exchange, one slice of bread may be substituted for one-half cup of grits.

Why Must Diabetics measure the amount of food they eat?

Foods must meet, but not exceed, the prescribed number of calories and amounts of protein, carbohydrates and fats. The amount of food prescribed will help to make sure that weight stays at normal levels and that blood sugar levels are controlled.

Most diabetic diets are made up of about 50% carbohydrates, 20% protein and 30% fat. The carbohydrates on a diabetic diet are primarily complex carbohydrates, including fruits, vegetables and whole grain breads and cereals. These complex carbohydrates in prescribed amounts are thought to produce relatively small changes in blood sugar levels.

Why are sweets restricted?

Simple sugars found in most desserts are usually thought to produce rapid rises in blood sugar levels that require a large dose of insulin to control.

Can low-calorie sweeteners be used safely?

Two low-calorie sweeteners— saccharin and aspartame - are on the market. They should be used in limited amounts because they contain small amounts of dextrin or lactose, which are natural sugars. Saccharin has also been reported to cause bladder cancer in animals. Ask your doctor about using low-calorie sweeteners.

Dietetic sweets like candies, cakes, ice cream and pastries are not recommended for diabetics because they may actually contain more calories than products sweetened with sugar. Many dietetic products contain fat, flour and sweeteners that should not be eaten on a diabetic diet and, when they are eaten, must be calculated in the diet.

Before eating out in restaurants it's wise to check to make sure that a particular restaurant can accommodate special requests. Diabetics should choose lean meat, chicken or fish which has been roasted, broiled or grilled. Vegetables should be unbuttered and uncreamed. Lemon wedges may be used for seasoning. Fruit may replace dessert.

To maintain relatively constant blood sugar levels, it's not O.K. to skip a meal and eat more at the next meal. This is dangerous for a person on insulin.

Families can benefit from a diabetic diet because it's based on wholesome, well-balanced foods which include all of the exchanges. If everyone in the family eats the same foods as the diabetic, it is easier for the person preparing the food and more enjoyable for the diabetic. Diabetic recipe books have a variety of recipes with exchanges for the whole family to enjoy.

For more information on diabetic diets, contact your local county Extension office.