It is not so much what you eat, but how much and when you eat that matters if you have diabetes. Diabetics can follow a diet plan pretty much like everyone else for healthful eating, but they need to make sure to control their blood sugar levels. Too much sugar in the blood can cause serious problems to diabetics, including heart disease and damage to the nerves and kidneys. Eating a healthy diet will help control blood sugar levels.
Sugary Snacks
Stay away from cookies, pies, cakes and ice cream. If you are allowed, according to your eating plan, eat these snacks in limited amounts, the Cleveland Clinic says. Sugary snacks contain a high amount of calories with few nutrients. Also be careful of sugar in fruits and juices. They can raise blood glucose levels. Discuss sugar substitutes and artificial sweeteners with your nutritionist or doctor. Sugar is fine for most diabetics, but they should be careful about how much of it they consume. Sweets should be eaten in small amounts, according to the American Diabetes Association, which recommends such serving sizes as ½ cup ice cream, one small cupcake or muffin, or two small cookies. Each person is different, so the amount of foods depends on your target blood glucose levels, which you can discuss with your doctor.
Starchy Foods
Breads, grains, cereal, pasta, corn and potatoes contain starches that are converted to sugar during digestion. Eat them in limited amounts so you can keep your glucose levels in check. Starches are good for everyone, including diabetics, according to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse. But you should keep them to limited amounts during meals, depending on your particular diet plan. The American Diabetes Association recommends 6 to 11 servings of grains and starches per day. Serving sizes as an example may include a slice of bread, ¼ of a bagel, ½ pita bread, one 6-inch tortilla, ¾ dry cereal or ½ cup potato, yam, peas, corn or cooked beans. The number of servings depends on your calorie and nutrition needs.
Salt
Small amounts of salt are fine to meet your nutritional needs. But keep it to a minimum. Too much salt can cause higher blood pressure. Diabetics already have an increased risk of getting high blood pressure. One good way to cut back on salt is to stop using table salt and stick to the salt that is already in your food. Reduce your intake of canned foods, frozen foods, ketchup, mustard, salad dressings, salty snack foods and processed foods. Look for items that are sodium free or low sodium. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables. Use herbs or spices to flavor your foods instead of salt.
Fatty Foods
Having diabetes also increases the risk of developing heart disease. So stay away from fat. Eat fat-free or low-fat foods instead. Avoid saturated fats found in animal products and processed fats that are often found in fast foods and fried foods. Also try to avoid mayonnaise, egg yolks, bacon and high-fat dairy products, the American Academy of Family Physicians advises. Do not eat poultry skin and trim any extra fat from meat.
Alcohol
Drinking alcohol can raise blood glucose levels. Alcohol also has calories but no nutrients. Your blood glucose levels will fall if you drink alcohol on an empty stomach. Alcohol can also raise blood fats. Talk to your doctor about how much you can drink.
