by Laura Dunkley

Created on: June 13, 2009

In the last two decades, the treatment of diabetes has changed from what many people are familiar with. This goes double for the diet. According to the American Diabetes Association, www.diabetes.org and the American Dietetics Association, www.eatright.org a diabetic diet no longer exists. Please get out of the habit of asking for a diabetic diet. A Registered Dietitian or Certified Diabetes Educator can provide the information needed to promote a healthy diet for people with diabetes that will promote blood sugar control.

That said, the best food choices for a person with diabetes is a regular diet that includes carbohydrates (CHO), protein and fat and that will provide adequate amounts of vitamins, minerals and fiber. To maintain blood sugar levels within an acceptable range, less than 180 mg/dL two hours after meals, eat a meal that is no more than 50% CHO, 20-25% protein and 30-25% fat. The CHO content of the meal should not be only starches such as bread, rice, potatoes, pasta or other starches. Included here would be your fruits, vegetables and milk (yes milk does contain sugar, remember lactose).

As has been mentioned in other articles, the end product of CHO digestion is glucose. This is the body's primary fuel. As we all know, people with diabetes are not able to remove glucose from the blood and into the muscles and organs without pharmaceuticals. In order to prevent blood sugars from becoming too high, it is best to limit the intake of CHO but because the body needs glucose, smart choices and moderation in the foods we eat are needed.

Because CHO have the greatest impact on glycemic control, this is the food group that needs to be monitored most, hence the advent of Carbohydrate Counting. The best CHO choices include whole grains and high fiber foods. Insoluble fiber is not digested so does not have as much an effect on glycemic control. These foods are also bulkier so smaller amounts makes the person feel full faster so many often eat less. Also included here are resistant starches found in foods such as cold pasta, cold potatoes, unripened bananas and cold rice. So enjoy the potato salad, made with fat free mayo of course. Fruits should be eaten with caution, different individuals react differently to different fruits. Usually fruits with a high water content such as melons and berries are a better choice. Also the less ripe the fruit, the lower the sugar content therefore the effect on blood sugar levels is less. Try this, have a banana that is still green at the stem, unspeckled and firm, then check your blood sugar two hours later. Try eating a riper banana and check your blood sugar. See the difference. Go ahead and eat your crackers but have it with cheese or peanut butter. Add some cheese with your fruit or sugar free yogurt and fruit. Others have suggested beans and legumes but remember that while these are high in protein and fiber, and are classified as CHO in the Diabetes Exchange Lists. These are good for you but can have a negative effect on blood sugar levels depending on what they are consumed with and how much.

Consuming herbal supplements and the like in most cases are not harmful but results are mostly anecdotal and should never be substituted for prescribed medications and a healthy lifestyle and diet consumed in moderation.

In closing the best foods for a diabetic is regular food in moderation. Regular exercise will also help in controlling blood sugar levels and usually goes hand in hand with diet and medication.

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