Food and diabetes.

Regardless of whether you are following a type 2 diabetes diet or not, the guidelines for healthy eating and drinking and being active apply to everyone, it’s just that they are especially important if you have type 2 diabetes. If you do have Type 2 diabetes, and are looking for type 2 diabetes diet info, you’ll be pleased to learn that you may be able to manage your condition effectively with food, drink, and physical activity.

If you take insulin or tablets for your diabetes, you can also influence your blood glucose level by eating healthy foods and being physically active.

One question I hear a lot is "will I need to follow a "type 2 diabetes diet" or any other kind of diabetic diet?

The answer is "No" – there is no such thing as type 2 diabetes diet or any diabetic diet for that matter. In fact, the basic principles of healthy eating for people with diabetes are the same as the recommendations for everyone else. You certainly don’t need to follow any restrictive meal plans or eat products labeled as "diabetic".

There are compelling health reasons for following what may be known as a type 2 diabetes diet and taking steps to prevent weight gain and obesity when you have diabetes. If you are overweight, losing weight can make a big difference to how well your blood glucose level is controlled.

Becoming more active can also help you to lose weight. In addition, regular physical activity has benefits for your overall health and wellbeing, as well as your diabetes. And by being aware of the impact that physical activity has on your blood glucose level, you will be able to adjust your diabetes treatment if necessary.

Having diabetes is about making healthy eating choices whenever you can, eating regularly – or at the right times to balance the effects of any tablets and/or insulin you take – and being aware of the effects of alcohol on your diabetes. Knowing what’s in your food – carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals, and fiber – enables you to make choices that help to control your blood glucose level. Whether you cook at home or eat out, there are ways to enjoy food and care for your diabetes. So in reality, a type 2 diabetes diet is simply everything we know about eating healthily anyway. It’s just that if you have type 2 diabetes, it’s more important that you stick to that type of diet.
When you have diabetes, your body is unable to use foods that contain carbohydrate in the usual way. All foods containing carbohydrate are broken down into glucose. You need insulin to let glucose into your cells for energy now, as well as to store some glucose in your liver for energy later. Because you have less insulin available or your insulin is not working effectively, your blood glucose level will rise when you eat carbohydrates and remain high. You still need to eat carbohydrate-containing foods because they are your body’s main source of energy, but choosing those that have less immediate effect on your blood glucose level, and eating them in amounts that will balance with any tablets and/or insulin you take, will help your body to deal with them.

Type 1 Diabetes Diet

If you have Type 1 diabetes, matching your food intake to the action of your insulin is the key to maintain a healthy blood glucose level. For example, if you take a shorter-acting insulin, you will need to take it around the time that you are having your meals. You will also be taking a longer-acting insulin, and you may need to eat extra snacks to. make sure that there is food available in your body when your insulin is working at its peak. The exact timing of your food and insulin together will depend on the type of insulin you take.
Type 2 Diabetes Diet

If you have Type 2 diabetes, your body’s ability to produce insulin effectively when you eat is impaired, so eating foods that take longer to be broken down into glucose can help your pancreas to cope. Sugary foods are converted into glucose fastest so eating them after a meal, when your body is already slowly digesting other food, can help to reduce their impact on your blood glucose. Also, avoiding eating a lot of carbohydrate-containing food at once helps to reduce the pressure on your pancreas to produce large amounts of insulin.