Diabetic Diet

Diabetic Diet questions and answers

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Q: Diabetic diet???
What is the best diet that a Diabetic can follow? Can you also mention the possible fruits that a diabetic patient is allowed to eat, of course in small quantities? The sugar substitutes like Zero sugar, Equal etc... aspartame/saccharine... do they pose any side effects?

A: Read this site for diet plan : http://www.endocrineweb.com/diabetes/treatment.html And here a very good site that give you complete list of what fruit you may eat and how much. And answer all of your question. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/diabetes-diet/DA00070

Q: Is a diabetic diet with lots of low GI foods generally healthy for anyone?
My doc said I'm borderline diabetic and that I should lose weight. Didn't say anything about changing my diet though.

A: Yep, you bet! The basis of low GI diet is a numeric value on the carbs in most common foods. Get a copy of the GI Index 2009 and it will help you to see what foods are considered low, medium, high and at what exact amounts. It will surprise you! If you are borderline diabetic take this seriously and as a wake up call to change your life while you can through diet and exercise. Invest in a few books (see below) that will help you in knowing great food choices versus the ones making you sick (refined, processed sugars and carbs). Switch to all Whole Grains and go easy (majorly easy!!!!) on brown rice and other rice containing foods. Also, stay away from corn...it has a ridiculously high GI value! No artificial sweeteners (they do further damage to your insulin production), no sugars, no alcohol, and stay away from "no sugar, low sugar, or sugar free" products as they can certainly contain sugar, just not the FDA allowed Sucrose therefore they are allowed to advertise as sugar free!

Q: How do I go on a diabetic diet?
Today I found out I have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. My doctor prescribed Metformin and told me to go on a diabetic diet, as well as exercise 45 mins daily. Is there a site or book that will help me learn about this type of diet? I know that, generally, there is less sugar, as well as a low amount of breads/pastas..but that's all I have right now.

A: In essence the diabetic diet is the food pyramid. To get the best results for your health, ask your physician for a referral to a dietitian. They'll be able to tailor a meal plan that suits your needs.

Q: Where do I find the old diabetic diet?
I would like to see the recomended diet. I honestly do not know the best way to feed my body the nutrition my body needs. I am overweight and I am wanting to learn the stuff I should do to keep my blood sugar low and eat right.

A: the "old" diabetic diet is often called an exchange diet, where types of foods are broken down into groups and you select different portions (or exchanges) from each group for meals or snacks. So google diabetic exchange diet and you might get the info you want.

Q: What are some good suggestions for a diabetic diet for an 11 year old?
Please, I really need help. I'm not really in the mood to prick my finger every day. I have Type 2. Please help me!!! And please, use words that I can understand.

A: Dont eat things like bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, any kinds of sweets like cookies, cakes, candies. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and meat. Eat thinks like cheese and yogurt and drink milk. Dont eat fast food or junk food or drink soda. Drink at least 64 ounces of water a day.

Q: what is a good diabetic diet?
I'm type 2 Diabetic and trying to lose weight. Looking for a good diet for me.

A: The best way to keep a check on your blood sugar is to avoid use of direct sugar in foods. Many people use recipes or buy ready to eat foods. Any such recipe or food label, which calls for the use of following food items usually means that direct sugars have been added and should be avoided. Foods to Avoid Brown sugar, Corn sweetener, Corn syrup Fructose, Fruit juice concentrate, Glucose (dextrose), High-fructose corn syrup, Honey, Invert sugar, Lactose, Maltose, Molasses, Raw sugar, [table] sugar (sucrose) syrup Red meat, eggs, lean fish (can be taken in moderate quantities) This is just an example, however please consult a Doctor and a dietitian. Good Luck

Q: What are the portion sizes for a diabetic diet?
How many ounces of meat, how much of a cup of rice/pasta makes 1 serving/exchange, and and how much of a cup for a serving of veggies?

A: It all depends on what YOUR body needs (or doesn't need). The best thing to do is see a dietician or diabetic nurse educator to formulate a diet specific for you. What works for me, may not work for you and vice versa. Ask your doc to refer you to one of the above for a consult. Good Luck

Q: Can anyone tell me a site where I can get a diabetic diet chart?
I need one displaying the nutritional values and the amounts I'm supposed to eat every day. I'm not really interested in sample menus. If anyone could help me I would really appreciate it.

A: The best site I've found is this one: http://www.calorieking.com/ It gives you the caloric values and how long to exercise to burn them off. It's a heckuva lot simpler than those glycemic index and load calculations that you have to do. If you keep track of your total calories from sugar and carbohydrates each meal, and don't go over your allotment, you can manage very nicely without a lot of complexity. But, you have to know about how much caloric intake you need to sustain your weight and activity level.... like any other system. I try to shoot for under 2000 total calories per day, with about 1/2 to 2/3 of that being carbs and sugar. I also exercise at least an hour per day. That way, I keep my weight down, keep my blood sugar down, and feel great.

Q: What kind of things should I get at the grocery store for a diabetic diet?
From what I understand, it's sugar free, low fat, low cal, whole wheat kinda stuff, right?

A: http://www.healthcastle.com/diabetes_pantry_budget.shtml http://www.healthcastle.com/diabetes_food_labels.shtml http://www.healthcastle.com/diabetes_sweeteners.shtml http://www.dlife.com/dLife/do/ShowContent/type1_information/ General Food Shopping Tips: Best Choices for a Healthy Diet Lean cuts of meat and poultry Fish high in Omega-3 Low carb fruits and veggies Low carb, low fat cheese Snacks with 15g of carbs or less Skip marbled meat. Go boneless/skinless. Prepared foods = hidden carbs & fats. Choose fish that is high in Omega-3. Examples include: Mackerel Herring Sardines Salmon Tuna Lake Trout Shopping for Dairy Choose low fat or skim. Cheese is lower in carbs than milk or yogurt. All fruits and vegetables have carbohydrates, and carbohydrates raise your bloodsugar. Know the carb content of your produce choices. High Carb: Potatoes = 20g (approx. 1 cup mashed) Corn = 19g (approx. 1/2 cup raw) Peas = 14g (approx. 1/2 cup cooked) Carrots = 10g (approx. 1/2 cup raw) Low Carb: Celery = 3g (approx. 1/2 cup raw) Zucchini = 4g (approx. 1/2 cup cooked) Pepper = 5g (approx. 1/2 cup cooked) Broccoli = 5g (approx. 1/2 cup cooked) Shopping for Fruits High Carb: Banana = 23g (1 small) Cherries = 16g (approx. 1 cup) Apple = 13g (1 small) Pineapple = 13g (approx. 3/4 cup) Low Carb: Rhubarb = 5g (approx. 1 cup raw) Cantaloupe = 6g (approx. 1/2 cup) Grapefruit = 8g (1/2) Watermelon = 8g (approx. 3/4 cup) Here are some excellent snack choices for people with diabetes: Low-fat string cheese Sugar-free Jell-O Fresh green veggies Soy crisps Air-popped popcorn Unsalted nuts http://www.diabetes.org/nutrition-and-recipes/nutrition/healthyfoodchoices.jsp http://www.diabetes.org/nutrition-and-recipes/nutrition/foodpyramid.jsp

Q: How do I stick to a diabetic diet and stay away from sweets. I am having a hard time.?
The job place is the most difficult. I really need some help and guidance. I want to be normal and thats not reality. I hate being a diabetic!!! Help Me!!

A: Also a diabetic, I found that sugar free things like diet gelatin and using Splenda when cooking and baking helps satisfy my sweet tooth. Zero grams of carb in that diet gelatin, so one can have all they want. Zero sugar or carbs in whipped cream, when sweetened with Splenda or another artificial sweetner. You can have all you want and not blow your sugar. I stay entirely away from white flour 'cause it goes to sugar in the blood stream faster than sugar. Ditto for rice and pastas, breads. The glycemic index -- a chart that tells how fast any food goes to sugar can be helpful. I've posted the links below. That way you can pick and choose the foods you like and know how much you can have of them. As long as you stay with foods that are rated 55 and below, you won't be hungry and won't raise your blood sugar. If you learn to read the labels and look for those carbohydrates. You may be pleasantly surprised at what you can eat -- and also how much hidden sugar is in other foods one would think were safe. Occasionally I have a piece of chocolate. If I take only a couple of squares, it's 7 grams of sugar. Not enough to raise blood sugar. If I instead have one of those fruit stirred yogurts, it might contain as much as 46 grams of sugar. Chocolate? Yogurt? One could eat the whole candy bar and not get as much sugar as in one of those little "lite" diet yogurts filled with sugar. I have made low carb cheesecake with NO sugar. Those I served it to didn't know, couldn't tell the difference between mine and Lindy's or any other cheesecake. Splenda bakes up just like sugar and tastes the same -- no aftertaste. So experiment with recipes for sweets and substitute something other than sugar. I have found the best success by making my own diet of foods I like, but watching the carbs. Especially the refined ones -- like while flour, sugar (watermelon and other sweet fruits, corn, carrots, even beets) , starches (potatoes, rice). I eliminated them. And, most importantly have breakfast in the morning. That will start your metabolism going. If you can make it a high protein one, like eggs, meat, milk, plain yogurt, a piece of fruit -- all low carb choices, you will find you won't get hungry and crave sweets and your metabolism will start to burn and stay at a slow, steady burn all morning. There are sugar free diet puddings, one can make whipped cream with Splenda or Nutra Sweet, have a piece of fruit (apple), peanut butter on a slice of apple, an occasional piece of candy (just don't eat the whole bag or box at one sitting), and not feel deprived. Watch your blood sugar, and that will be your guide to what you can eat and how foods affect you. With diabetes one's metabolism of sugars plays havoc with our appetite and our energy level. The secret is keeping one's blood sugar level -- not allowing it to rise fast,which taking in a lot of sugar does to us, and then crashes leaving us hungry and tired. Proteins digest slowly and release energy slowly,but consistently. Proteins and fats satisfy our hunger for a longer time. So adjusting your diet to eliminate the foods that raise blood sugar rapidly like the refined carbohydrates and sweets and replacing them with proteins and fiber, will actually reduce and maybe eliminate your craving for sweets Good luck and you can write me if you wish more links and info. rubysnowdragon@yahoo.com

Q: how do you plan a diabetic diet for a 13 yr. old who will not eat veg.and friut?
he has been diagnised pre diabetic and he weighs 155 he is 5/5 he is suppose to be taking meds. but refuses that also. please ; any advice would be grateful.

A: If you can think of anyone at all who he is likely to listen to, get that person to talk to him. I am a medical student and I know that teenagers respond to consequences that directly relate to their interests. So, for example, if he is on the football team, and you find out that the quarterback is diabetic and eats fruits and vegetables daily and takes his medications without a problem, and you tell the 13 yr old this, this will influence him much more than if you tell him that his condition will worsen if he doesn't comply with doctor's orders. A variation of this technique is if he smokes, a way to get him to stop is to tell him that his teeth will turn black and he will be unattractive to girls, rather than telling him that he will get lung cancer. I would also recommend you get the book that tells you how to sneak food into children's diets. Missy Chase Lapine wrote a book on this titled: " The Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for hiding healthy foods in kids favorite meals." You may get him to eat vegetables and fruit without realizing it. Also try making juice out of fruits and vegetables. Get a book on how to juice fruits and make smoothies, etc. You can sneak all types of fruit and vegetables into these concoctions. Also give him fruit any way he will take it-in a fruit salad, with cereal, with no-sugar ice cream, etc. I hope that I have been helpful and good luck.

Q: What are some quick diabetic diet recipes?


A: Breakfast & Brunch Maple Oatmeal Ingredients: water 3/4 cup oatmeal, dry 1/2 cup Cary's®Sugar Free Syrup 5 Tbsp salt 1 pinch Preparation Instructions: Combine all ingredients in microwave safe bowl. Microwave on high 2-1/2 to 3 minutes. Stir. Top with fruit (optional) ********* Morning Rush-Hour Burrito Ingredients: cream cheese, low-fat 1 Tbsp 6-inch flour tortilla 1 ea strawberry jam, low sugar 1 tsp New Zealand kiwi fruit, peeled and thinly sliced 1 ea Preparation Instructions: 1. Spread the cream cheese over the tortilla. Spread the strawberry jam over half of the tortilla. 2. Place the kiwi slices over the other half of the tortilla. Fold the two sides together and serve. ********** SNACKS Apple and Cheese Snacks. Ingredients Ritz Reduced Fat Crackers 24 ea Kraft 2% Milk singles, cut into squares 6 ea thin apple slices, cut into quarters 12 ea ground cinnamon 24 pinch Preparation Instructions: 1 . Top each cracker with a 2% Milk singles square, and 2 apple pieces. Sprinkle with ground cinnamon. 2 . Place on microwavable plate. Microwave on high 20 seconds or until 2% Milk singles are warm and slightly melted.

Q: Where can i get a copy of a diabetic diet ?
I recently got out of the hospital due to a stroke and i have to foolow a strict diet

A: American Diabetes Association website.

Q: what is tha bes food for diet and diabetic?
I want to know what is the best food for diabetic and diet because i a'm overweight and diabetic

A: I am curious if you were diabetic before you were overweight or overweight then became diabetic. It would just give me an indication of what type of diabetes you have. I am going to guess that you have Type 2 Diabetes, sometimes called Adult Onset Diabetes, most of the time because it can be brought on by being severely overweight and usually doesn't appear until people reach adulthood. It is usually treated by oral medications and a restricted diet. As we all know, diabetes, whatever type you have , is nothing to take for granted since it can lead to other life threatening conditions such as heart disease, blindness, arteiorsclerosis, respiratory disease, loss of limbs, infections from sores that do not heal, etc. So it is extremely important to keep your diabetes under control as best as you can. I wish it was as simple as cutting back on sugar and carbs and taking your medicine. If you haven't talked to your doctor about it already, PLEASE make an appointment with a nutritionist or dietician who can go over in detail,--- what we can't do here because it's not that simple,--- all of the foods that you can and can't have, how to do exchanges with your food so you can still enjoy food, and all of the other things, that with their expertise, can help you see that just because you have diabetes and are overweight, your life is not over. Next, increase your physical activity, something that all of us probably need to do. Start out easy. Take a walk after dinner or walk during your lunch so you can enjoy a break outside during your day. Drink 6-8 glasses of water a day and get rid of the sodas. If you have to drink a soda, diet and sugar free and one a day. Too many sodas are not good for your kidneys either, sugar free or not. Water will help make you feel full and flush out your system. After you start increasing your physical activity, if you can , join a gym or go the the Y , someplace where you can maybe get some guidance with your exercise and some diversity in what you do so you don't get bored. Also, find a friend to work out with you. You may meet someone at the gym who is looking for a workout buddy as well. Try using a swimming pool if there is one available because exercsing in water is fun and so much easier on your joints. Everyone is weightless in water. You don't have to swim laps---just walk in the water, maybe some water aerobics {much easier than regular aerobics, which I can barely stand} or just have some fun. Anything that will get the blood pumping and your heart rate up some. Of course, check with your doctor first to make sure that you are healthy enough for exercise. I guess what I want to say is that what you are dealing with is very serious and something that you need someone to talk to face to face to get the facts-- Your doctor, a dietician, and maybe someone to help you with an exercise program. The cool thing is, is that when you start taking control of your diabetes and you see the weight start to come off, you are going to start feeling better physically and mentally and the really cool thing is that when the weight comes off enough, you can reverse your diabetes! It happens all of the time. I wish you the best and Good Luck!!

Q: question about 2200 calorie diabetic diet?
I am 21 weeks pregnant with my first child and i have been put on this 2200 calorie diabetic diet for high blood sugar during my glucose intolerant test. i have been following it very strictly but everytime i check my blood sugar level it is low...like 75 one time and another 79. is this normal? should i call my doctor? what should i do?

A: That seems pretty low. You should definitely call the doc and talk to a dietician.