Diabetic Diet

This chapter only concentrates on diet for type 1 and type 2 diabetics. Refer to Gestational Diabetes Diet for information on diet modification in gestational (pregnancy) diabetes. Diabetes diet is equally important for both types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2.
Type 1 diabetes diet is more specific in timing of meals, because it closely interrelates with the timing of administering insulin injection to prevent hyperglycaemia or hypoglycaemia. The time when to inject insulin depends on the type of insulin and its acting time: short-acting, long-acting or biphasic.
Type 2 diabetes diet is one single measure how to control type-2 diabetes. Eating the right food, in the right amounts and at the right time prevents peaks in blood glucose levels and optimizes glucose control.



There is no one single special diet for people with diabetes.
It is generally advised to eat a healthy balanced diet low in fat, sugar and salt, and high in fibre, fruit and vegetables. It is recommended:
• To eat regular smaller meals and snacks rather than few big meals a day, or skipping a meals, for example breakfast.
• To reduce intake of unhealthy fat, especially unhealthy saturated fat such as oils found in fried foods, fast foods, cakes, pastries and pies.
• To choose low-fat dairy products.
• To replace intake of sugars with high glycaemic index (chocolate, chocolate bars, sweets, biscuits) for sugars with low glycaemic index such as starchy sugars - starchy carbohydrates (pulses, beans, lentils, pasta).
• To add dissolvable fibre found in cereal meals, wholemeal.
• To avoid adding extra salt to meals.




• To add fruit and vegetables to your meals, 5-a-day recommendation.
• To drink plenty of fluids in small amounts throughout the day.
• To check your intake of alcohol units per day/week and avoid binge drinking (alcohol increases levels of fats)