Diabetics need to follow a healthy diet that includes a variety of nutritious foods in moderate amounts to help control their blood sugars. If you have diabetes and a history of oxalate kidney stones, you may also need to avoid foods with high levels of oxalate to prevent a recurrence of your stones. Consult with your doctor before making any changes to your diet.
Diet Guidelines
Foods containing carbohydrates -- starches, bread, fruits, milk and yogurt -- raise your blood sugar levels. Setting a limit to the amount of carbohydrates you eat at each meal can help you manage your blood sugar. Talk to your doctor about your carbohydrate needs. The American Diabetes Association suggests you start at 45 to 60g of carbohydrates per meal. A low-oxalate diet limits your daily oxalate intake to 40 to 50mg a day by avoiding high-oxalate foods.
High-Oxalate Foods
Oxalates are found in a number of foods. Foods to avoid on a low oxalate diet include beer, black tea, chocolate and chocolate products, soy products, nuts, seeds, nut butters, high-fiber cereals, whole-wheat products, buckwheat, taro, berries, figs, kiwis, carrots, legumes, beets, collards, eggplant, potatoes, squash, soy sauce and black pepper.
Breakfast
A diabetic, low-oxalate breakfast may include two slices of white toast with 2 tsp. of margarine, a scrambled egg, 1 cup of nonfat milk and 1 cup of cubed cantaloupe. This meal contains 405 calories and 60g of carbohydrates. Use food labels to help you count and track your carbohydrate intake. You can also use the diabetes exchange list as a carbohydrate reference guide.
Lunch
A carbohydrate-controlled, low-oxalate lunch meal may include 2 cups of low-sodium chicken noodle soup with five whole grain crackers, a 4 oz. banana, 1 oz. of low-fat string cheese. Serve this with an entree salad consisting of 2 cups of lettuce, 1/2 cup of sliced cucumbers, 3 oz. of grilled chicken and 1 tbsp. of salad dressing. This meal contains 575 calories and 60g of carbohydrates.
Dinner
For dinner, you may have 4 oz. of grilled salmon with 1 cup of white rice, 1/2 cup of cooked peas with 1 tsp. of margarine and 1 cup of steamed cauliflower. This meal contains 615 calories and 60g of carbohydrates.
