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 What
types of foods can be eaten on a diabetic diet?
A variety of foods includes: 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 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. For
example: In the bread exchange, one slice of bread may be
substituted for a 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 helps 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 like 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.
What about going out to eat?
Before eating out in restaurants, it's wise to make sure
in advance that a particular restaurant can accommodate
special requests. Diabetics should choose lean meat, chicken,
or fish that has been roasted, broiled or grilled. Vegetables
should be unbuttered and uncreamed. Lemon wedges may be
used for seasoning and fruit may replace dessert.
Is it okay to skip a meal if I'm not hungry?
In maintaining relatively constant blood sugar levels,
it's not okay to skip a meal and eat more at the next meal.
This is dangerous for a person on insulin.
How can the rest of the family help support
a diabetic's diet requirements?
Families can benefit from a diabetic diet because it's
based on wholesome, well-balanced foods that 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.
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