HTML Preview Diabetes Diet page number 1.
This is a consensus document from Dietitian/ Nutritionists from the Nutrition Education Materials Online, "NEMO", team.
Disclaimer: http://www.health.qld.gov.au/masters/copyright.asp
Reviewed October 2012
Due for Review: October 2014
Healthy Eating for Diabetes
What is diabetes and why is it important to manage it?
Diabetes occurs when there is too much glucose in the blood. Learning how to manage
your diabetes will help you feel better and help to prevent health complications caused by
high blood glucose levels. Healthy eating and knowing how food affects your blood
glucose levels plays an essential role in you managing your diabetes.
To help manage your diabetes
¾ Know the foods that contain carbohydrate
¾ Eat regular meals, do not miss meals.
¾ Include carbohydrates at most meals. Discuss this with an Accredited Practising
Dietitian.
¾ Limit foods/drinks high in sugar such as lollies, chocolates, cakes, biscuits. soft
drink, cordial and juices
¾ If you are overweight, try to lose some weight
¾ Reduce fat intake by choosing low fat or reduced fat products and by limiting deep
fried and battered foods, pastries, cakes, biscuits and take-away food.
¾ If you drink alcohol, limit yourself to 2 standard drinks a day.
¾ Being physically active can make it easier to manage your weight and your
diabetes. Find an activity that you enjoy and aim for 30 minutes of physical activity
each day. Always check with your doctor before starting any physical activity.
What is carbohydrate?
• Carbohydrate is one of the building blocks of food. Foods that contain carbohydrate
are the best source of energy for the body.
• When carbohydrates are digested, they break down to form glucose in the
bloodstream. Glucose is then moved out of the blood stream by the hormone insulin
so that it can be used for energy by the body.
How does carbohydrate affect my blood glucose levels?
• It is the carbohydrate in food that directly affects blood glucose levels (BGLs).
• Eating regular meals and spreading carbohydrate through the day can help you
manage your diabetes, appetite, and weight.
• Too much carbohydrate at one time will increase your BGLs.
• If you take insulin or some other diabetes medications and you don’t eat enough
carbohydrate or miss a meal, your blood glucose can go too low (hypoglycaemia or
hypo).