Diabetes can affect anyone, at any time

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes occurs when the amount of glucose in the blood is too high, and the body is not able to use it properly. Glucose is derived mainly from food. Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, is needed to convert glucose into the energy the body requires. If the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or if thebody cannot use the insulin it has, then diabetes occurs. There are 2 different kinds of diabetes. Insulin Dependent Diabetes (type 1) is usually diagnosed before the age of 40 and is treated by insulin injections and diet. The second kind is Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes (type 2) which is usually diagnosed after the age of 40 and is treated by either diet alone, or diet and tablets or, sometimes, diet and insulin injections. Diabetes, however, can affect anyone at anytime.

General Dietary Recommendations

The diet advocated for diabetics is not a 'special diet'. It is a healthy diet which is recommended for everyone. Everyone with diabetes has different dietary requirements depending on age, weight, activity. It is suggested that your GP refer you to the state registered dietition at your local hospital who will be able to give you more specific advice.

A summary of dietary recommendations made by the British Diabetic Association is as follows:

Avoid being overweight. It is more difficult to control diabetes if you are overweight.
Eat regular meals and a wide variety of foods. It is important to eat regular meals so that your blood glucose level does not swing from one extreme to another. This is particularly important if you are taking tablets or insulin for your diabetes.
Eat high fibre carbohydrate foods. e.g. brown rice, wholemeal pasta, wholemeal bread, oats, vegetables, fruit, beans and lentils. This will help control your diabetes.
Reduce your intake of sugar and sweet foods e.g. sweet cakes, chocolate and sugary drinks.
Reduce your intake of fried and fatty foods, which are very high in calories.
Avoid special diabetic products e.g. diabetic sweets, diabetic chocolate, diabetic biscuits. These are not necessary, contain the same amount of fat and are not signifcantly lower in calories than their non-diabetic counterparts.
Use salt in moderation for good general health.
Drink alcohol in moderation.

The following is a list of more detailed suggestions with regard to day to day eating patterns.

Fruit & Vegetables

Most people do not eat enough fruit and vegetables. So make sure you eat enough to obtain fibre, vitamins and minerals as well as maintaining a healthy digestive system. There is no fibre in animal products like meat, cheese and eggs. Fibre is also removed from foods as they become more refined so try to eat unrefined products such as wholegrain bread, brown rice, etc. Don't just add bran to refined foods because it does not contain the wholegrain nutrients. Try to eat at least 3-4 pieces of fruit per day. If you are eating tinned fruit buy the ones in fruit juice rather than syrup. Sweeten stewed fruit with artificial sweeteners. Eat small amounts of dried fruit as it is a concentrated form of sugar and it should be eaten in small amounts. Grapes and mangoes are quite sweet and if you eat them in large amounts this may affect your blood glucose level.

Carbohydrates

The basic foods themselves will mostly be those you have always probably eaten. It may be that you have heard that you should cut down on starchy carbohydrates such as bread, pasta, potatoes and chapatis. This is not true. It is the refined carbohydrate foods e.g. sugary cakes, that you should be careful about. Starchy foods, often known as complex carbohydrates, should form the basis of your meals. Eat these types of foods at every meal and make it the main part of the meal. Aim read more