Diabetes diet

Highlights

General Recommendations for Diabetes Diet

• Patients with pre-diabetes or diabetes should consult a registered dietician who is knowledgeable about diabetes nutrition. An experienced dietician can provide valuable advice and help create an individualized diet plan.
• Even modest weight loss can improve insulin resistance (the basic problem in type 2 diabetes) in people with pre-diabetes or diabetes who are overweight or obese. Physical activity, in addition to diet modification, is important. Some patients may benefit from weight-loss medications when used along with lifestyle changes.
• The ADA encourages consumption of healthy fiber-rich foods including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes. But it is also important to monitor carbohydrate intake through carbohydrate counting, exchanges, or estimation.
• The glycemic index, which measures how quickly a carbohydrate-containing food raises blood sugar levels, may be a helpful addition to carbohydrate counting.

Low-Carb and Low-Fat Diets

• The American Diabetes Association (ADA) notes that weight loss plans that restrict carbohydrate or fat intake can help reduce weight in the short term (up to 1 year).
• According to the ADA, the most important component of a weight loss plan is not its dietary composition, but whether or not a person can stick with it. The ADA has found that both low-carb and low-fat diets work equally well, and patients may have a personal preference for one plan or the other.
• Patients with kidney problems need to limit their protein intake and should be careful about replacing carbohydrates with large amounts of protein foods. These patients should receive regular blood tests to monitor their lipid (blood fat and cholesterol) levels and kidney function while on a low-carb diet.

Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids (found in fatty fish, shellfish, flaxseed, walnuts, and canola) and omega-6 fatty acids (found in sunflower, safflower, corn, and soybean oils as well as nuts and seeds) are categorized as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). PUFAs have many benefits for the heart and overall health. In 2009, the American Heart Association recommended that people get at least 5 - 10% of their daily calories from omega-6 fatty acids. Research indicates that higher intakes of omega-6 fatty acids may improve insulin resistance and reduce diabetes risk.

Highlights
Introduction
General Dietary Guidelines
Major Food Components
Weight Control for Type 2 Diabetes
Diabetic Exchange Lists
Resources
References

Review Date: 5/5/2009
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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