diet and diabetes

BY VINITA MEWADA BHOPAL

Why Change Eating Habits?• To prevent complications of To prevent complications of

diabetesdiabetes– by keeping control of:

•Blood glucose•Cholesterol •Blood pressure

Why Change Eating Habits?

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

Carbohydrate and Diabetes• Include foods containing

carbohydrate from whole grains, fruits, vegetables and low-fat milk in your diet

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

=


• 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


• 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


• 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

Substituting Sweets

Usual diet: 45 grams Usual diet: 45 grams carbohydrate carbohydrate (or 3 Carbohydrates (or 3 Carbohydrates Choices)Choices)

1 slice bread1/3 cup rice1/2 cup fruit3 ounces chickenVegetable salad

Substitute ice-cream Substitute ice-cream for 15 grams of for 15 grams of carbohydrate carbohydrate (or 1 (or 1 Carbohydrate Choice)Carbohydrate Choice)

1/2 cup ice-cream1/3 cup rice 1/2 cup fruit3 ounces chickenVegetable salad


To observe effect of new food on To observe effect of new food on blood glucose: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

Sweeteners and Diabetes

Sugar alcohols (polyols):sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol• Used as sweeteners and bulking agents• Safe to use• May cause diarrhea, especially in

childrenFructose:• Not recommended as a sweetener

Sweeteners and Diabetes Low calorie sweeteners:are safe for people with diabetes when consumed within recommended levels

Cans of soda(maximum/day)

Packets(maximum/day)

Acesulfame K 25 18Aspartame 15 86Saccharin 2 7.5Sucralose 4.5 60


Fiber:• Fiber is encouraged for everyone: 20-35 grams/day• Good sources of fiber:

– Whole grain cereals– Fruits– Vegetables– Beans and peas


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

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


• Protein does not slow the absorption of carbohydrate– Adding protein to snacks does not

help prevent hypoglycemia – Fruit or crackers are good snack foods


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

Dietary Fat and Diabetes

• Primary goal - Lower LDL Primary goal - Lower LDL cholesterol by:cholesterol by:–Eating less saturated fat and cholesterol

–Eating less trans fats


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

Dietary Fat and DiabetesFoods 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


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


• Choose monounsaturated fat in Choose monounsaturated fat in place of saturated:place of saturated:– olive oil, canola oil, peanut oil, olive oil, canola oil, peanut oil,

olives, avocados, nutsolives, avocados, nuts


• Eat less total fat• Low-fat diets can help:

– with weight loss– improve cholesterol and other fats


• Eat 2-3 servings fish per week– contain a type of fat protective

against heart disease– fatty fish especially beneficial

Weight Loss and Diabetes

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

Weight Loss and Diabetes

Successful weight loss usually Successful weight loss usually requires:requires:

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

Vitamins and Minerals and Diabetes

• Vitamins and minerals from foods important

• High doses of vitamin and mineral supplements can be toxic


People who may benefit from a People who may benefit from a multivitamin supplement:multivitamin supplement:

• persons deficient in a vitamin or mineral

• elderly• pregnant or nursing mothers• strict vegetarians• persons on calorie-restricted diet


• 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

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

High Blood Pressure and Diabetes

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

Preventing Diabetes

Family members of people with Type Family members of people with Type 2 diabetes can prevent diabetes 2 diabetes can prevent diabetes by:by:

• Weight loss if overweight– using a structured weight loss program

• Regular physical activity

The Bottom Line

Your lifestyle affects your healthYour lifestyle affects your health

Eat healthy foods

Daily Physical

Activity

diet and diabetes

Documents