How
should I change my eating pattern? When
you are first diagnosed with diabetes, your doctor should arrange for you to see
a state registered dietitian who will give you individual dietary advice and discuss,
if needed, how to change your meals to make them healthier. In the meantime here
is some information to get you started. We
have divided the foods up into 6 categories: Carbohydrates
Fat Sugar Salt
Alcohol Diabetic
food Carbohydrates
- Base meals
on carbohydrate foods such as bread, pasta, rice, chapatis and potatoes. These
foods are filling and not fattening (provided you don't add extra fat). Where
possible choose high fibre varieties of these foods, like wholemeal bread.
- Eat regular
meals.
- Eat
more fruit and vegetables, aim for 4 or 5 portions a day. This will give you fibre
and vitamins.
Fat
- Cut down
on fried food, fatty foods and fatty red meat, choose lean meat, skinless chicken/poultry
instead.
- Choose
lower fat milk. Skimmed milk is virtually fat free and lower in calories but still
contains all the protein and calcium found in full fat milk. Semi-skimmed milk
is half-fat and also lower in calories than full cream.
- Use
low-fat cooking methods such as grilling, microwaving and barbecuing. Trim excess
fat and skin off meat before cooking.
- Choose
low fat versions of margarine and cheese.
- If
you need to use an oil in cooking, use an unsaturated one such as olive, sunflower
or corn oil. Try using less oil too.
Sugar
- You don't
need to avoid sugar all together. However, food and drinks that contain a lot
of sugar can make your blood sugar go up very quickly, especially if eaten on
their own.
- Change
to low sugar and sugar-free foods such as low calorie fizzy drinks, diet squash,
low sugar jams and diet yoghurts.
- Artificial
sweeteners can be used to sweeten drinks and foods instead of sugar. They are
virtually carbohydrate and fat free and do not affect blood sugar levels. Its
recommended that you use a variety of sweeteners and not to consume too much of
any type.
Salt
- Reduce
your salt intake gradually so that you can get used to the taste change. Adding
herbs and spices may help.
- Use
as little salt as possible in meals and cut down on salt added at the table.
- Eat less processed
foods such as tinned and packet foods, salty meats, crisps and salted nuts.
Alcohol
- Drink
alcohol in moderation only. For men that's 3 units a day and for women it's 2
units a day. If you're trying to lose weight then this should be less.
- Never
drink on empty stomach as it can increase the likelihood of hypoglycaemia
Diabetic
food - Do
not buy "special diabetic foods". They are very expensive and contain
no less fat or calories than other foods. They will not help if you are trying
to lose weight.
- Often
such foods can cause diarrhoea.
Next
>> Diabetic Recipes <<
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