Diabetes is a serious condition which alters a person's ability to use insulin, which moves sugars from the bloodstream into the cells. If you cannot move sugars out of the bloodstream, blood sugars can rise to dangerous levels, causing side effects like fainting and vision problems. Foods which contain carbohydrates raise blood sugar levels, and for that reason many diabetics are put on special, low-carbohydrate diets. Many diabetics need to work hard to lose weight, yet some diabetics on low-carbohydrate diets actually need to gain weight and have trouble doing so.
Step 1
Meet with a registered dietitian to discuss your specific health needs and how much weight you need to gain. Registered dietitians have clinical training and experience in diabetics and other medical conditions and are also knowledgeable about different diets like the low-carbohydrate diet. She will be able to take your weight and come up with a numerical value for how much you should gain, as well as how quickly you should do it.
Step 2
Increase your intake of healthy, unsaturated fats. It is important to eat fats if you are trying to gain weight since fats contain more calories per gram than carbohydrates. Yet diabetics are at a higher risk of diseases like heart disease so they need to make sure to eat the right types of fats. The American Heart Association explains that saturated fats, as found in foods like whole milk, beef, pork and butter should be limited as they raise cholesterol levels. The AHA recommends an intake of no more than 7 percent of daily calories from saturated fat. Instead, focus on eating plenty of unsaturated fats from foods like nuts, seeds, fish and olive oil.
Step 3
Eat a whole grain food at least twice a day. Whole grains are complex carbohydrates which contain dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals. Depending on how many carbohydrates you eat on your low carbohydrate diet, you may be able to eat several servings every day. Whole grains like brown rice, whole wheat bread and whole wheat pasta are calorie-dense but raise blood sugars slower than refined grains like white bread or white rice.
Step 4
Snack every three hours instead of eating three square meals a day. The National Institutes of Health recommends eating small, frequent meals in order to help maintain your blood sugar levels. Eating often will also help you to take in more calories throughout the day, without feeling too full since the calories are spread out.
Step 5
Consider a diabetic-friendly nutritional supplement if you are having a hard time gaining weight. There are numerous over the counter nutritional drinks created for diabetics that are low in carbohydrates yet high in calories to promote weight gain.
Things You'll Need
- Foods with unsaturated fats like nuts and fish
- Whole grains like brown rice and whole wheat bread
- Diabetic weight gain supplements
