If you have diabetes, your body cannot make or properly use insulin. This leads to high blood glucose, or sugar, levels in your blood. Healthy eating helps to reduce your blood sugar. It is a critical part of managing your diabetes, because controlling your blood sugar can prevent the complications of diabetes.
Wise food choices are a foundation of diabetes treatment. Diabetes experts suggest meal plans that are flexible and take your lifestyle and other health needs into account. A registered dietitian can help you design a meal plan.
Healthy diabetic eating includes
- Limiting sweets
- Eating often
- Being careful about when and how many carbohydrates you eat
- Eating lots of whole-grain foods, fruits and vegetables
- Eating less fat
- Limiting your use of alcohol
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Diabetes - Meal Planning
(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/diabetesmealplanning/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/diabetesmealplanningspanish/htm/index.htm -
Recipe and Meal Planner Guide: Eating Healthy and Staying Fit to Control and Manage Diabetes
(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://www.ndep.nih.gov/diabetes/MealPlanner/en_intro.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.ndep.nih.gov/diabetes/MealPlanner/sp_intro.htm -
What I Need to Know about Eating and Diabetes
(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/eating_ez/
Also available in Spanish http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/spanish/pubs/eating_ez/index.htm
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Diabetes and Nutrition(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/diabetes/living/349.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/common/diabetes/living/349.printerview.html
- Diabetes Diet: Create Your Healthy-Eating Plan(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/diabetes-diet/DA00027/METHOD=print
- Food Nutrient Data to Choose Your Foods: Exchange Lists for Diabetes(American Dietetic Association) - http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/nutrition_13961_ENU_HTML.htm
- Managing Your Diabetes: Nutrition Information(Joslin Diabetes Center) - http://www.joslin.org/managing_your_diabetes_709.asp
- Diabetes Diet: Need Some Motivation?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/diabetes-diet/DA00029/METHOD=print
- Alcohol(American Diabetes Association) - http://www.diabetes.org/type-1-diabetes/alcohol.jsp
- Artificial Sweeteners: Any Effect on Blood Sugar?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/artificial-sweeteners/AN00348/METHOD=print
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Buffet Table Tips for People with Diabetes(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - Links to PDF - http://ndep.nih.gov/diabetes/pubs/Buffet_Gen.pdf
- Carbohydrate Counting: As Easy As 1 - 2 - 3(Joslin Diabetes Center) - http://www.joslin.org/managing_your_diabetes_2854.asp
- Diabetes Food Pyramid: Protein(American Diabetes Association) - http://www.diabetes.org/nutrition-and-recipes/nutrition/protein.jsp
- Diabetes Nutrition: Eating Out When You Have Diabetes(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/diabetes-nutrition/DA00131/METHOD=print
- Diabetes Nutrition: Including Sweets in Your Meal Plan(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/diabetes-nutrition/DA00130/METHOD=print
- Facts about Fructose(American Dietetic Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.eatright.org/ada/files/FRUCTOSE.pdf
- Facts about Sucralose(American Dietetic Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.eatright.org/ada/files/Sucralose.pdf
- Glycemic Index and Diabetes(Joslin Diabetes Center) - http://www.joslin.org/managing_your_diabetes_698.asp
- Holiday Meal Planning(American Diabetes Association) - http://www.diabetes.org/nutrition-and-recipes/holiday-meals.jsp
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JAMA Patient Page: Weight and Diabetes(American Medical Association) - http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/295/11/1330.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/data/295/11/1330/DC1/1
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Protect Your Heart: Choose Fats Wisely(American Diabetes Association) - http://www.diabetes.org/type-1-diabetes/well-being/Choose-Fats.jsp
Also available in Spanish http://www.diabetes.org/uedocuments/07.sp.ChooseFat.pdf
- Reading Food Labels: Tips for People with Diabetes(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/food-labels/DA00129/METHOD=print
- Vegetarian Diet: Can It Help Me Control My Diabetes?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/diabetes/AN00845/METHOD=print
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Rate Your Plate!(American Diabetes Association) - http://www.diabetes.org/all-about-diabetes/chan_eng/i3/i3p4.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.diabetes.org/all-about-diabetes/chan_span/i3/i3p4.htm
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Diabetes - Meal Planning(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/diabetesmealplanning/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/diabetesmealplanningspanish/htm/index.htm
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Diabetic Diet(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/term=diabetes+%5BCONDITION%5D+AND+diet+%5BTREATMENT%5D
- Nutrition(American Diabetes Association) - http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-research/summaries/nutrition.jsp
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Intensive insulin therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18761219&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Supermarket smarts. Beans, peas, and lentils. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18717031&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Food scoring for better nutrition. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18717026&tool=MedlinePlus
- Diabetic Diet -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=diabetes+mellitus[majr]+AND+(diet+therapy[majr]+OR+nutrition+physiology[majr]+OR+diet[majr]+OR+nutrition+assessment[majr])+OR+diabetes+mellitus/dh[mh]+OR+diabetic+diet[mh]+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Find a Diabetes Educator(American Association of Diabetes Educators) - http://www.diabeteseducator.org/DiabetesEducation/Find.html
- Find a Nutrition Professional(American Dietetic Association) - http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/home_4874_ENU_HTML.htm
- American Diabetes Association - http://www.diabetes.org/
- Food and Drug Administration - http://www.fda.gov/
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National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/
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National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases - http://www.niddk.nih.gov/
- Good Nutrition Reading List for Diabetes(American Dietetic Association) - http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/nutrition_12544_ENU_HTML.htm
- About Recipes for Kids with Diabetes(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/managing_diabetes/recipes/about_diabetes_recipes.html
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Carbohydrates and Diabetes(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/managing_diabetes/nutrition/carbs_diabetes.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/parent/en_espanol/medicos/carb_diabetes_esp.html
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Eating Out When Your Child Has Diabetes(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/managing_diabetes/nutrition/eating_out_diabetes.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/parent/en_espanol/medicos/eating_out_diabetes_esp.html
- Halloween Tips for Parents and Kids(American Diabetes Association) - http://www.diabetes.org/for-parents-and-kids/halloween.jsp
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Meal Plans and Diabetes(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/managing_diabetes/nutrition/meal_plans_diabetes.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/parent/en_espanol/medicos/meal_plans_diabetes_esp.html
- Meal Plans: What Kids with Diabetes Need to Know(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/managing_diabetes/living/meal_plans_diabetes.html
- Portion Control(American Diabetes Association) - http://www.diabetes.org/for-parents-and-kids/diabetes-care/portion-control.jsp
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Weight and Diabetes(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/diabetes_basics/what/weight_diabetes.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/parent/en_espanol/medicos/weight_diabetes_esp.html
- Carbohydrates and Diabetes(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/managing_diabetes/nutrition/carbs_diabetes.html
- Eating Out When You Have Diabetes(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/managing_diabetes/living/eating_out_diabetes.html
- Meal Plans and Diabetes(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/managing_diabetes/living/meal_plans_diabetes.html
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Tips for Teens with Diabetes: Make Healthy Food Choices(National Diabetes Education Program) - http://ndep.nih.gov/diabetes/youth/youthtips/youthtips_eat.htm
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Weight and Diabetes(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/managing_diabetes/nutrition/weight_diabetes.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/enfermedades/weight_diabetes_esp.html
- Diabetes - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/diabetes.html
- Diabetes Type 1 - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/diabetestype1.html
- Endocrine System - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/endocrinesystem.html
- Food and Nutrition - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/foodandnutrition.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Diabetic Diet is the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases - http://www.niddk.nih.gov/