University of Georgia Cooperative Extension

1
Eating Guidelines for Diabetes

• University of Georgia Cooperative Extension

2
Why Change Eating Habits?

• To prevent complications of diabetes
• by keeping control of
• Blood glucose
• Cholesterol
• Blood pressure

3
Why Change Eating Habits?

• To improve your health
• by making healthy food choices
• and being physically active

4
Carbohydrate and Diabetes

• Include foods containing carbohydrate from whole
  grains, fruits, vegetables and low-fat milk in
  your diet

5
Carbohydrate and Diabetes

• The amount of carbohydrate at a meal affects your
  blood glucose more
• than the type
• Sugar and starch have similar effects on blood
  glucose

6
Carbohydrate and Diabetes

• Consistency in carbohydrate intake is important
  from day to day
• For people not taking diabetes medication
• For people taking a fixed dose of insulin
• Insulin should be adjusted based on amount of
  carbohydrate at meals
• For people on varying doses at meal
• times

7
Carbohydrate and Diabetes

• Several things affect how much your blood glucose
  increases after you eat
• amount of carbohydrate
• type of sugar or starch
• cooking and food processing
• food form
• other foods in the meal that slow digestion

8
Carbohydrate and Diabetes

• Limited amounts of sugar or foods containing
  sugar can be used without affecting blood glucose
• when substituted for other carbohydrates at the
  meal
• Large amounts of sugar-containing foods are not
  recommended

9
Substituting Sweets

• Usual diet 45 grams carbohydrate (or 3
  Carbohydrates Choices)
• 1 slice bread
• 1/3 cup rice
• 1/2 cup fruit
• 3 ounces chicken
• Vegetable salad

• Substitute ice-cream for 15 grams of carbohydrate
  (or 1 Carbohydrate Choice)
• 1/2 cup ice-cream
• 1/3 cup rice
• 1/2 cup fruit
• 3 ounces chicken
• Vegetable salad

10
Carbohydrate and Diabetes

• To observe effect of new food on blood glucose
• check blood glucose 2 hours after meal for
  several days
• substitute food containing sugar for other
  carbohydrate in meal
• check blood glucose 2 hours
• after meal and compare

11
Sweeteners and Diabetes

• Sugar alcohols (polyols)
• sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol
• Used as sweeteners and bulking agents
• Safe to use
• May cause diarrhea, especially in children
• Fructose
• Not recommended as a sweetener

12
Sweeteners and Diabetes Low calorie
sweetenersare safe for people with diabetes
when consumed within recommended levels
13
Carbohydrate and Diabetes

• Fiber
• Fiber is encouraged for everyone
• 20-35 grams/day
• Good sources of fiber
• Whole grain cereals
• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Beans and peas

14
Carbohydrate and Diabetes

• Fiber
• Only large amounts (50 grams/day) have shown
  improvement in blood glucose and cholesterol
• Primarily soluble fiber (barley, oatmeal, beans,
  apples, broccoli)
• Side effects make this difficult for many people

15
Protein and Diabetes

• Protein has very little effect on blood glucose
• Avoid large amounts of protein
• may promote kidney disease
• Restrict protein only if you have
• early kidney disease

16
Protein and Diabetes

• Protein does not slow the absorption of
  carbohydrate
• Adding protein to snacks does not help prevent
  hypoglycemia
• Fruit or crackers are good snack foods

17
Protein and Diabetes

• Safety of high protein, low carbohydrate weight
  loss diets are unknown
• do not promote long-term weight loss
• may increase LDL cholesterol

18
Dietary Fat and Diabetes

• Primary goal - Lower LDL cholesterol by
• Eating less saturated fat and cholesterol
• Eating less trans fats

19
Dietary Fat and Diabetes

• Foods That Contain Saturated Fats
• Meat and meat fats (bacon, lard)
• Dairy products (whole milk,
• butter, cheese, cream, ice-cream)
• Palm and coconut oil
• Baked goods made from
• these fats

20
Dietary Fat and Diabetes

• Foods That Contain Trans Fats
• Formed when a liquid oil is made more solid
• Found in many types of stick margarine, fast
  foods, and baked goods like cookies, crackers,
  snack foods, pastries and croissants

21
Dietary Fat and Diabetes

• Foods That Contain Cholesterol
• All animal foods
• Organ meats like liver
• Egg yolks

22
Dietary Fat and Diabetes

• Choose monounsaturated fat in place of saturated
• olive oil, canola oil, peanut oil,
• olives, avocados, nuts

23
Dietary Fat and Diabetes

• Eat less total fat
• Low-fat diets can help
• with weight loss
• improve cholesterol and other fats

24
Dietary Fat and Diabetes

• Eat 2-3 servings fish per week
• contain a type of fat protective against heart
  disease
• fatty fish especially beneficial

25
Weight Loss and Diabetes

• A small amount of weight loss can
• improve insulin resistance
• lower blood glucose
• improve blood cholesterol
• reduce blood pressure

26
Weight Loss and Diabetes

• Successful weight loss usually requires
• a structured weight loss program
• education
• reduced fat and calories
• regular physical activity
• frequent follow-up

27
Vitamins and Minerals and Diabetes

• Vitamins and minerals from foods important
• High doses of vitamin and mineral supplements can
  be toxic

28
Vitamins and Minerals and Diabetes

• People who may benefit from a multivitamin
  supplement
• persons deficient in a vitamin or mineral
• elderly
• pregnant or nursing mothers
• strict vegetarians
• persons on calorie-restricted diet

29
Vitamins and Minerals and Diabetes

• No clear benefit from vitamin and mineral
  supplements except
• calcium for prevention of bone disease
• folate for prevention of birth defects
• Use of antioxidants is not advised
• vitamin C, E, selenium, beta carotene
• long-term safety and effectiveness unknown

30
Alcohol and Diabetes

• If you choose to drink, limit to
• 1 drink/day for women
• 2 drinks/day for men
• To reduce risk of hypoglycemia, consume alcohol
  with food

31
High Blood Pressure and Diabetes

• You can lower blood pressure by
• Eating less salt
• Losing a modest amount of weight

32
Preventing Diabetes

• Family members of people with Type 2 diabetes can
  prevent diabetes by
• Weight loss if overweight
• using a structured weight loss
• program
• Regular physical
• activity

33
The Bottom Line

• Your lifestyle affects your health

Eat healthy foods Daily Physical Activity