In general, a diabetes diet is healthier for everyone. This is because the amount and type of food you eat affect the amount of insulin you need to take to manage your condition. Keeping your blood sugar levels within the correct range can help you avoid many of the severe complications of diabetes, including kidney disease and blindness.īy following a meal plan that keeps your blood sugar levels in check throughout the day, you’ll be able to keep your HbA1c (a measure of your average blood sugar over three months) to a healthy level.Įating meals on time and enough carbohydrates to meet your energy needs can help improve blood sugar control in people with type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetics need to regulate their blood sugar levels through insulin injections several times a day or the use of an insulin pump. Type 1 Diabetes Food List – Improved blood sugar control Weight loss may also be beneficial for some overweight people at diagnosis. That’s why it’s essential for people with type 1 diabetes to maintain a healthy weight by following a healthy diet and getting regular physical activity. However, being overweight can also be dangerous for people with type 1 diabetes as it increases their risk of serious complications such as heart disease. It’s often caused by insulin therapy, promoting fat storage and weight gain. Weight gain is a common complication of type 1 diabetes. Benefits of a Type 1 Diabetes DietĪ Type 1 diabetes diet comes with several benefits such as: Healthy weight management The glycemic index (GI) is a way to measure how high a particular carbohydrate raises your blood sugar compared with another carbohydrate food that has the same amount of carbohydrate in it but raises your blood sugar less. So if you have T1D, you need to know how many carbs are in your food to take the right amount of insulin for what you eat.Īlthough all carbs affect your blood sugar, some types of carbs raise your blood sugar higher than others. That’s because carbs raise your blood sugar more than proteins or fats. While people with T1D rely on insulin therapy to control their blood sugar, they also must pay constant attention to their diet and exercise regimens.įor most people with type 1 diabetes, carbs are the main focus of meals and snacks. It strikes both children and adults at any age and suddenly. Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease that occurs when a person’s pancreas stops producing insulin, the hormone that controls blood-sugar levels. So it is important to get medical advice before going on this type of diet.ĭiabetes UK has more information on low-calorie diets.Type 1 Diabetes Food List – How Does a Type 1 Diabetes Diet Work? And some people have found that their type 2 diabetes can go into remission.Ī low-calorie diet is not safe or suitable for everyone with type 2 diabetes. There is evidence that eating a low-calorie diet (800 to 1,200 calories a day) on a short-term basis (around 12 weeks) can lead to significant weight loss and reduce blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. The charity Diabetes UK has more information on healthy weight and weight loss. To help you know whether you're overweight, work out your body mass index (BMI) using the BMI healthy weight calculator. Losing weight (if you're overweight) will make it easier for your body to lower your blood sugar level, and can improve your blood pressure and cholesterol, reducing your risk of further health problems.
doing more strenuous housework or gardeningįind out more about exercise.You can be active anywhere as long as what you're doing gets you out of breath. You should aim for at least 2.5 hours of activity a week. Physical exercise helps lower your blood sugar level. Being active lowers your blood sugar level Talk to your GP or diabetes nurse to find out what support is available on the NHS in your area. If you find it hard to change your diet, a dietitian might be able to help.
You should go for a regular diabetes check-up once a year to check your blood pressure and cholesterol (blood fats) levels.