WHAT DO I EAT if i have DIABETES?
What do I eat to help control diabetes and daily blood sugar levels ?
It’s common to have many questions about your food intake and diabetes control.
One size doesn't fit all for the dietary management of diabetes.
The type of diabetes you have, how long you've had it for, your age, any diabetes medications, food preferences and lifestyle all affect the diet advice you should follow.
If you have been recently diagnosed
It's common to be confused, and have many questions at this time.
What do I eat to help control my diabetes?
What is the best diabetes diet?
What should I put in my shopping basket?
Can I eat carbs?
What foods should I avoid with diabetes?
How do I read a food label?
If you have had diabetes for a while
You may have had diabetes for many years. The information provided in the past, your health, medications and lifestyle may have changed. A dietary review will keep you up to date with to help control your blood glucose.
What to eat. When to eat. How much to eat.
When food is eaten, it has a number of short, and long term effects.
After eating, foods can affect blood glucose levels, and your appetite.
The longer term effects of eating include cardio metabolic effects (lipids, blood pressure), and weight. Just because there is no immediate increase in blood glucose after eating a meal or food, does not mean this food is not in some way affecting your health.
There are a number of pieces of the puzzle for the right diet for diabetes. These include what to eat, how much to eat, and when to eat.
Fats, fibre, salt, protein, the amount (including carbohydrate counting) and type of carbohydrate (glycemic index), including sugar, are all important pieces of this puzzle.
Eating Behaviour
As well as the details of what to eat with diabetes, eating behaviour is a large focus of eating well with diabetes. This includes meal planning, shopping, meal preparation, mindful eating, where you eat, non hungry eating, eating out socially etc.
Individual Dietary Advice Specific for you
Whether diabetes is new to you, or you’ve had it for some time, you want more than just numbers, measurements, and jargon. You want guidance to improve your intake, with the flexibility to fit into your lifestyle.
Some clients require a structured meal plan, including weighing and measuring foods. Some people just need some education and guidance with their eating.
What is the best diet for diabetes?
What is important, is that dietary advice is appropriate for you, can be sustained, and ultimately enable food choices to be made confidently by you. That’s why we focus on lifestyle rather than short term diets.