Newly diagnosed diabetics often wonder if they must cut out all sugary foods from their diets. Sweets raise your blood sugar faster than complex carbohydrates such as grains and vegetables, but you can still eat them occasionally if you use moderation. Remember to count them as part of your carbohydrate allowance for the day and make your other food choices as healthy as possible.
Diabetes
The bodies of diabetics do not produce enough insulin, a hormone that helps to convert glucose to energy. Type 1 diabetics, usually diagnosed in childhood or adolescence, must take insulin by injection or pump because they do not produce any of the hormone. Type 2 diabetics, usually diagnosed in adulthood, do not produce enough insulin or have become resistant to it, so they may need to take oral medication or insulin. Whether they take medication or not, all diabetics must regulate their blood sugar levels through diet and exercise.
Carbohydrates
Diabetics should eat at least 130 g of carbohydrates -- starches, fiber and sugar -- per day, according to the American Diabetes Association. Since carbohydrates affect blood sugar more quickly than fats and proteins, nutritionists set upper levels for carbohydrate consumption depending on their individual needs. Starches -- complex carbohydrates -- are found in potatoes, rice, dried beans, dried peas and whole grains. Fiber, the indigestible portion of plant foods, passes through the system without raising blood sugar levels.
Sugars
Diabetics may eat some simple carbohydrates or sugars occasionally but should avoid eating them regularly or in large portions. Sugar occurs naturally in fruit and milk products. It is also added to desserts and other sweetened foods. To determine the sugar content of a particular food, check the label for the amount per serving. Since this figure includes natural sugars, also check the ingredient list for added sugar such as sucrose, honey, cane sugar, brown sugar, fructose, molasses, maple syrup or confectioner's sugar on the labels.
Meal Planning
Nutritionists recommend that diabetics consume 45 g to 60 g of carbohydrates per meal, focusing primarily on complex carbohydrates such as vegetables and whole grains. An occasional sweet treat such as birthday cake can fit into your menu plan if you eliminate a serving or two of another carbohydrate food such as oatmeal or bread, keeping the total carbohydrate intake within your limits for the day.
Considerations
Avoid eating sugary foods frequently, as they provide little or no nutritional value to the body and in many cases are also high in fat. If you have Type 2 diabetes, gaining weight can worsen your symptoms and cause complications such as heart disease and stroke, so eat nutritious foods that fill you up without adding extra calories to your diet. If you are not sure how to plan your meals, ask your health-care provider or nutritionist for guidance.
References
- "Diabetes Care"; Nutrition Recommendations and Interventions for Diabetes; American Diabetes Association; January 2008
- MedlinePlus: Diabetes Diet - Type 1
- "TIME Magazine"; Diet and Diabetes: A Personalized Approach; Osama Hamdy, M.D.; Nov. 21, 2005
- American Diabetes Association: Carbohydrates
- "Diabetes Care;" Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes---2009; American Diabetes Association; January 2009
- American Diabetes Association: Sugar and Desserts
