What diets should people with diabetes follow?

Must people with diebetes adhere to an eating plan different to other people?



Not really. Yes, they may face challenges due to their bodies' lack of ability to produce insulin, but eating healthy is still a good idea because it controls blood sugar levels; this means that less insulin is required to regulate things.



The problem is that diabetics are bombarded with ‘diabetes safe foods’ that are often packed full of unhealthy sweeteners, unnatural flavourings and pure rubbish.



How should diabetics go about planning their diet then?



Short answer: Healthy eating rules are universal - diabetic or not: Start with low GI foods, eat generous amounts of essential protein; add food with a high biological value (containing all essential amino acids), complex carbs and lots of fresh veggies



The objective is to lower the body’s demand for insulin, through eating less food containing refined carbohydrates and sugars. Diabetics need sugar as much as non-diabetics need sugar - i.e. no sugar at all! Sugar doesn't have any nutritional value - we can obtain more than enough energy from foods not laden with sugars



Don’t just take my word for it



Prof Pankaj Joshi, director of Diabetes Care Centre in Pretoria, South Africa, wrote a good article in a South African medical journal. He believes that the medical profession sends out contradictory messages relating to losing weight and healthy living. He correctly highlights, for instance, that unhealthy dinners are often served at international diabetes seminars.



I quote: "If medical professionals and health workers are not committed to the ideas that they propagate to patients, and if our hearts are not in it, then it is obvious that we will fail dismally in helping our patients."



Some professionals are, unfortunately, not very good when it comes to being role models. And there are wider problems when it comes to the drive to help diabetics. Doctors will need to change their approach to focus on holistic diabetes management and improve effectiveness of their preventative and therapeutic methods.



Redirect the focus: Diabetes is partly a genetically-inherited metabolic condition, without a remedy other than lifestyle modification - and adhering to a healthy diet program is an crucial part of it.



Do you want to learn more about how the Metabolic Balance programme can assist those with diabetes. Or are you non-diabetic, looking for healthy eating and weight loss advice for you and your family? Take a look at our diets for teenagers and discover why you should steer clear of diet meal delivery programmes.