When you have diabetes, the food you eat is very important. Choosing to eat a healthy diet will help control your blood sugar, lower cholesterol, and promote a healthy weight.

The guidelines below will help develop good eating habits.

Eat regular meals and choose appropriate portion sizes.

Eating regular meals at regular times will help control your blood sugar level. Eating large meals containing carbohydrates may raise your blood sugar as well as lead to unwanted weight gain. If you are on tablets or insulin you my also need to have a snack between meals.

Include carbohydrate food at each meal and snack.

Carbohydrate includes starchy food, such as;

Bread, crackers/biscuits, crumpets, muffins    

Cereal, rice, noodles, pasta

Legumes (baked beans, lentils, chickpeas, kidney beans).

·      Potato, sweet potato, corn and taro.

Other foods that contain carbohydrate include fruit, low fat milk and yoghurt, containing the natural sugars fructose and the milk sugar lactose.

Choose foods high in fibre.

Foods high in fibre are best eg. Wholegrain breads and cereals; fruits and vegetables. Fibre keeps your bowels regular and can help manage blood sugar levels.

 Eat less saturated fat and limit excess sugar.

Avoid using butter, margarine and oils in cooking, trim fat from meat and remove skin of chicken. Where possible limit takeaway foods especially those fried or containing pastries. Limit foods that are kilojoule dense and nutrient poor such as soft drinks, cakes, biscuits and lollies as these may cause fluctuations in blood sugar and promote unwanted weight gain.

 Include daily physical activity.

Participating in regular physical activity will help control your blood sugar levels, help you lose weight and feel great!

A word on carbohydrates...

Remember the quality of carbohydrates are just as important than the amount of carbohydrates you consume at each meal. Carbohydrates are the body's primary source of fuel and are essential in a balanced diet.

A Low Glycemic Index (GI) diet can help manage your blood sugar levels as it can help your body utilise the sugars more efficiently as well as helping you feel fuller for longer as low GI foods release their sugars more slowly in the body.

 Visit Diabetes Australia for more information.