The diet for a person who has diabetes is essential, so that blood sugar levels are controlled and kept constant to prevent changes like hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia from happening. Therefore, it is vital that when diagnosed with diabetes, the person goes to the nutritionist for a complete nutritional assessment, and a healthy plan appropriate to their needs is indicated.
In the diabetes diet, it is essential to include and increase the amount of fiber-rich foods, as they help control sugar levels, called glycemic, as well as consuming foods with the low glycemic index, that is, foods that increase the amount of sugar current. In addition, it is important to regulate the consumption of foods that contain fat, as there is a risk of the person developing heart disease, in addition to diabetes.
Table of foods for diabetics
The following table helps people with diabetes to find out which foods are allowed, which are prohibited, and which should be avoided:
| Allowed | With moderation | Avoid |
| Beans, lentils, chickpeas, and corn | Brown rice, brown bread, couscous, manioc flour, popcorn, peas, cornflour, potatoes, boiled pumpkin, cassava, yams, and turnips | White, white rice, mashed potatoes, snacks, puff pastry, wheat flour, cakes, French bread, white bread, biscuit, waffle |
| Fruits like apple, pear, orange, peach, tangerine, red fruits, and green banana. It is recommended that they be eaten with peel.
Vegetables such as lettuce, broccoli, zucchini, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, spinach, cauliflower, peppers, eggplant, and carrots. |
Kiwi, melon, papaya, pine cone, grapes, and raisin.
Beet |
Fruits such as dates, figs, watermelon, syrup fruits, and jelly with sugar |
| Whole grains such as oats, brown bread, and barley | Whole-grain pancakes prepared at home | Industrialized cereals containing sugar |
| Low-fat meats, such as chicken and skinless turkey and fish | Red meat | Sausages such as salami, mortadella, ham, and lard |
| Stevia or stevia sweetener | Other sweeteners | Sugar, honey, brown sugar, jam, syrup, sugar cane |
| Sunflower, linseed, chia, pumpkin seeds, Dried fruits like nuts, cashews, almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts | Olive oil, flax oil (in small quantities), and coconut oil | Fried foods, other oils, margarine, butter |
| Water, unsweetened tea, naturally flavored waters | Sugar-free natural fruit juices | Alcoholic beverages, industrialized juices, and soft drinks |
| Milk, low-fat yogurt, low-fat white cheese | – | Whole milk and yogurts, yellow cheeses, condensed milk, sour cream, and cream cheese |
The ideal is to always eat small portions of food every 3 hours, making 3 main meals and 2 to 3 snacks a day (mid-morning, mid-afternoon, and before bedtime), respecting the meal schedule.
The fruits allowed in diabetes should not be consumed in isolation but should be accompanied by other foods and, preferably, at the end of the main meal, such as lunch or dinner, always in small portions. It is important to give preference to the consumption of the whole fruit and not in juice, since the amount of fiber is less.
Can you eat candy in diabetes?
You cannot eat sweets in diabetes, as they contain large amounts of sugar, which causes the glucose level to rise and diabetes to become uncontrolled, increasing the risk of diabetes-related illnesses such as blindness, heart problems, kidney problems, and difficulty in healing, for example. See a complete list of high sugar foods to avoid.
However, if you eat well and your blood glucose is controlled, you can occasionally consume some sweets, preferably that have been prepared at home.
What to eat to lower diabetes
To lower blood sugar and control diabetes, it is recommended to consume fiber-rich foods with every meal, with at least 25 to 30 grams per day. In addition, preference should be given to foods with the low and medium glycemic index, which is an important value to know how much a certain food is rich in carbohydrates and increases the amount of sugar in the blood.
To control diabetes it is important, in addition to a balanced diet, to perform a physical activity such as walking or practicing some type of sport for 30 to 60 minutes a day, as this also helps to regulate blood sugar levels, since the muscle uses the glucose during exercise. It is recommended that before performing the activity, the person makes a small snack to avoid hypoglycemia. See what the Diabetic should eat before exercising.
In addition, it is also important to measure the amount of sugar in the blood daily and make use of the medications indicated by the doctor, as well as request the guidance of the nutritionist so that an adequate assessment is made.