Diet in Diabetes

Diet in diabetes is of the most important tool to control blood glucose levels which can vary on day today basis depending upon the composition of meal, time of eating and medications, physical activity levels.

Traditional Indian diets with lots of fibre minus refined sugars, low intake of fat and moderate amount of protein generally form the basis of the diet.

 

Following are some general guidelines to be followed

  • Eat the right amount of food at the right time and don’t skip meals. Avoid hypoglycaemia ( low blood sugar)
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  • Fasting of any sort should strictly be restricted.
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  • In case your after meal blood glucose is high, eat less carbohydrate at meal e.g. choose fewer carbohydrate foods like potatoes, rice, noodles, white bread, cornflakes and banana. Include fats or proteins in the meals e.g. grilled fish, sprouted legumes, pulses, curds etc.
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  • Eat more fibre at meals e.g. lightly cooked vegetables, salads, soups, sprouts, soybean, fenugreek etc.
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  • Eat fruits in between meals e.g. mid-morning or bedtime. Skip desserts.
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  • Foods which cause sharp rise in blood sugar level should be avoided e.g. table sugar, jaggery, honey, jams, ice-creams, sweets, biscuits, chocolates, puddings, cakes, cookies, soft drinks,fruit juices, glucose, oily pickles, murrabba (chunda), mayonnaise, sugar containing health drinks etc.
  • Overweight diabetics are benefited by even 8%-10% weight reduction.
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  • The method of cooking is important. Ideal cooking methods are boiling, steaming, stewing (with a little gravy), dry roasting, grilling (tandoor), baking, poaching and stir frying (with very less oil).
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  • Regular exercise of 20-30minutes helps to improve insulin resistance and thereby glucose control
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