1. Do people with diabetes have to follow a special
diet or eat special diabetic foods?
People with diabetes do not have to follow a ‘special’
diet. People with diabetes need to make the same
healthy eating choices as everyone else.
We all need to eat healthy unprocessed foods, such
as fresh fruit and vegetables; whole grains; lean
meats and poultry; low fat milk and dairy products;
seeds, nuts, legumes and plant oils.
diet or eat special diabetic foods?
People with diabetes do not have to follow a ‘special’
diet. People with diabetes need to make the same
healthy eating choices as everyone else.
We all need to eat healthy unprocessed foods, such
as fresh fruit and vegetables; whole grains; lean
meats and poultry; low fat milk and dairy products;
seeds, nuts, legumes and plant oils.
Everyone needs to avoid or limit eating processed
foods such as fatty red meats, processed meats, all
foods made from white flour and foods with a high
sugar content.
2. As a diabetic, isn’t my food is going to be more
expensive?
It is not necessary to buy expensive foods marketed
to diabetics. Healthy eating can be economical, and
is often cheaper than buying unhealthy treats. Buying
seasonal fresh fruit and vegetables is cheaper than
buying processed fruit juices and soft drinks.
If you replace sweets, chocolates, crisps, puddings
and cakes with fruits and salads as your snacks and
desserts, you’ll find you will save money. Legumes,
such as lentils and beans, are cheaper alternative to
red meat and high fat hard cheeses.
3. Is it true that people with diabetes cannot eat
carbohydrates?
No, this is not true. There are healthy types of
carbohydrates that you do want to include in your
eating plan.
The type and the amount of carbohydrate foods you
eat at a meal will affect your blood glucose levels
afterwards.
Therefore, for optimal blood glucose control it is
important to control the quantity, and be aware of
the type of carbohydrates you are going to eat.
4. Should people with diabetes limit their fruit
intake?
Yes, too much fruit can contribute to an increase in
blood glucose levels. However, portion control is
important. It is recommended that you consult your
dietitian to calculate the amount of fruit that you
should include in your daily diet.
5. Should people with diabetes be on a high-fat diet?
There are currently several high-fat diets that are
being promoted as ‘latest’ weight-loss regimes.
It’s important to consider the research, and there is
no scientific evidence to date that proves that a high-
fat diet can contribute to either weight loss or
improved blood glucose control.
In fact, research has shown people find it very hard
to adhere to diets that promote extreme macro-
nutrient manipulation, such as low-carb/high-fat.
The key to an effective weight loss regimen is to
follow an eating plan you can stick to over the long-
term.
6. Is it true that there are no proven health dangers
of consuming too much saturated fat?
It is well-established that a high intake of saturated
fats can contribute to increased LDL cholesterol
levels in some individuals.
The reason it has not been proven that increased LDL
cholesterol levels contribute directly to cardiac
events is because there are numerous compounding
factors trigger a heart attack.
On the other hand, atherosclerosis is an inflammatory
condition and a high intake of saturated fats in a
nutrient poor diet can aggravate inflammation.
It has been proven that a high saturated fat intake in
a nutrient poor diet can also contribute to decreased
sensitivity of the body cells to the action of insulin.
7. If one of my parents has diabetes, am I going to
develop diabetes no matter what I do?
If you have a genetic predisposition to diabetes, you
have all the reason you need to embrace a healthy
lifestyle. While genetics may contribute 30 to 40% to
the development of any condition, including diabetes,
environmental and lifestyle factors may have a 60 to
70% impact.
If you maintain a healthy body weight, stick to a
healthy eating plan, manage your stress and get
regular physical exercise, you have a very good
chance of not developing diabetes.
8. Should I avoid exercise if I have diabetes?
On the contrary, diabetes is a compelling reason to
exercise regularly.
The reason for this is that physical activity plays a
very important role in lowering blood glucose levels.
Exercise also predisposes your body cells to being
more sensitive to insulin, and of course, it helps to
achieve and maintain a healthy body weight.
If you use insulin it is important to check your blood
glucose levels before and after physical activity.
If you get results below 6 mmol/l it is recommended
that you lower your insulin dose or eat a healthy
snack to prevent a hypoglycaemic attack during or
after exercise.
foods such as fatty red meats, processed meats, all
foods made from white flour and foods with a high
sugar content.
2. As a diabetic, isn’t my food is going to be more
expensive?
It is not necessary to buy expensive foods marketed
to diabetics. Healthy eating can be economical, and
is often cheaper than buying unhealthy treats. Buying
seasonal fresh fruit and vegetables is cheaper than
buying processed fruit juices and soft drinks.
If you replace sweets, chocolates, crisps, puddings
and cakes with fruits and salads as your snacks and
desserts, you’ll find you will save money. Legumes,
such as lentils and beans, are cheaper alternative to
red meat and high fat hard cheeses.
3. Is it true that people with diabetes cannot eat
carbohydrates?
No, this is not true. There are healthy types of
carbohydrates that you do want to include in your
eating plan.
The type and the amount of carbohydrate foods you
eat at a meal will affect your blood glucose levels
afterwards.
Therefore, for optimal blood glucose control it is
important to control the quantity, and be aware of
the type of carbohydrates you are going to eat.
4. Should people with diabetes limit their fruit
intake?
Yes, too much fruit can contribute to an increase in
blood glucose levels. However, portion control is
important. It is recommended that you consult your
dietitian to calculate the amount of fruit that you
should include in your daily diet.
5. Should people with diabetes be on a high-fat diet?
There are currently several high-fat diets that are
being promoted as ‘latest’ weight-loss regimes.
It’s important to consider the research, and there is
no scientific evidence to date that proves that a high-
fat diet can contribute to either weight loss or
improved blood glucose control.
In fact, research has shown people find it very hard
to adhere to diets that promote extreme macro-
nutrient manipulation, such as low-carb/high-fat.
The key to an effective weight loss regimen is to
follow an eating plan you can stick to over the long-
term.
6. Is it true that there are no proven health dangers
of consuming too much saturated fat?
It is well-established that a high intake of saturated
fats can contribute to increased LDL cholesterol
levels in some individuals.
The reason it has not been proven that increased LDL
cholesterol levels contribute directly to cardiac
events is because there are numerous compounding
factors trigger a heart attack.
On the other hand, atherosclerosis is an inflammatory
condition and a high intake of saturated fats in a
nutrient poor diet can aggravate inflammation.
It has been proven that a high saturated fat intake in
a nutrient poor diet can also contribute to decreased
sensitivity of the body cells to the action of insulin.
7. If one of my parents has diabetes, am I going to
develop diabetes no matter what I do?
If you have a genetic predisposition to diabetes, you
have all the reason you need to embrace a healthy
lifestyle. While genetics may contribute 30 to 40% to
the development of any condition, including diabetes,
environmental and lifestyle factors may have a 60 to
70% impact.
If you maintain a healthy body weight, stick to a
healthy eating plan, manage your stress and get
regular physical exercise, you have a very good
chance of not developing diabetes.
8. Should I avoid exercise if I have diabetes?
On the contrary, diabetes is a compelling reason to
exercise regularly.
The reason for this is that physical activity plays a
very important role in lowering blood glucose levels.
Exercise also predisposes your body cells to being
more sensitive to insulin, and of course, it helps to
achieve and maintain a healthy body weight.
If you use insulin it is important to check your blood
glucose levels before and after physical activity.
If you get results below 6 mmol/l it is recommended
that you lower your insulin dose or eat a healthy
snack to prevent a hypoglycaemic attack during or
after exercise.
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