Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Foods to Eat
Foods to Avoid
Benefits
Restrictions
Considerations
Consulting a Provider
When you live with diabetes, you have to pay close attention to the amount of carbohydrates you eat to avoid negatively impacting blood sugar levels. Consistency with diet is important for managing blood sugar effectively.
If you want to manage your condition effectively, you should stick to a diabetes diet at all times, straying as little as possible. That way, you can keep your blood sugar levels where they need to be. Typically, people who want to try the diabetes diet should:
A Word From VerywellA diabetes diagnosis does not mean an end to food enjoyment. A healthy diet full of flavor can absolutely be achieved as part of a balanced diabetes diet.—AVIV JOSHUA, MS, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
A Word From Verywell
A diabetes diagnosis does not mean an end to food enjoyment. A healthy diet full of flavor can absolutely be achieved as part of a balanced diabetes diet.—AVIV JOSHUA, MS, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
A diabetes diagnosis does not mean an end to food enjoyment. A healthy diet full of flavor can absolutely be achieved as part of a balanced diabetes diet.
—AVIV JOSHUA, MS, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
What Foods Should I Eat If I Have Diabetes?
A good diabetes meal plan will consist of all types of nutrients, includingcarbohydrates,protein, andhealthy fats. If you want to switch to a diabetes diet to help manage your condition, you should focus on getting these foods in your diet:
Diabetes Comorbidities and How a Diabetes Diet Can Help
What Foods Should I Avoid If I Have Diabetes?
While people with diabetes aren’t restricted entirely in what they can eat, there are some foods that they should avoid or limit as much as possible. These include:
Can the Diabetes Diet Reverse Prediabetes?
Benefits of Diet Changes With Diabetes
Changing your diet when you have diabetes can lead to many benefits, including:
Dietary Restrictions
While people with diabetes do not necessarily have to eliminate certain foods entirely, some restrictions should be considered when managing the condition effectively. The foods mentioned above, such as those high in sodium, simple sugars, simple carbohydrates, and highly processed foods, should be restricted in a diabetes diet.
Can I Still Enjoy Foods I Love With Diabetes?You may have to tackle how you eat certain foods differently. For example, if you usually eat a large portion of chocolate, you should cut that down into something smaller so you can still enjoy the food without overdoing it. Every once in a while, it’s OK to eat foods on the restricted list, as long as you do so sparingly.
Can I Still Enjoy Foods I Love With Diabetes?
You may have to tackle how you eat certain foods differently. For example, if you usually eat a large portion of chocolate, you should cut that down into something smaller so you can still enjoy the food without overdoing it. Every once in a while, it’s OK to eat foods on the restricted list, as long as you do so sparingly.
Switching up your diet isn’t easy, especially when starting out and if you are used to eating in a different way. That said, once you begin to do so, your body will feel better, and you’re more likely to crave the foods that will allow you to feel healthier.
Studies have shown that the more exposure a person has to healthy food in mental imagery, the more likely they are to crave those foods. The more exposed to healthy food you are, the more likely your body is to crave it.If you start the diabetes diet and eat foods high invitamin K, the nutrient could interact with Jantoven (warfarin), a blood-thinning drug often taken to reduce blood clot formation.
Eating grapefruit too often can also have adverse effects if you are on certain blood pressure medications.Metformin, a common diabetes drug, can also deplete levels of vitamin B12 in the body, so it’s essential to eat enough healthy foods with that vitamin to offset these effects.
Support for the Diabetes DietGetting started and sticking to a new diet isn’t easy, but with adequate support, it can be easier to manage. The American Diabetes Association has meal planning and dietary tips on its website, along with information on how to stick to a new diet to help your diabetes.
Support for the Diabetes Diet
Getting started and sticking to a new diet isn’t easy, but with adequate support, it can be easier to manage. The American Diabetes Association has meal planning and dietary tips on its website, along with information on how to stick to a new diet to help your diabetes.
Managing Diabetes: What You Should Know
Consult With Your Healthcare Provider
You should always discuss a new diet with your healthcare provider beforehand to ensure that any medications you’re taking will not interact with any new foods you introduce.
That way, you can avoid complications, such as those that can occur if you consume too much vitamin K while taking warfarin or don’t get enoughvitamin B12while taking Metformin.
Summary
The diabetes diet is a great way to utilize the food that you eat to manage blood sugar levels. While it can seem restrictive, it’s best to look at it as a lifestyle change that’s better for your overall health rather than a temporary diet.
You can still eat the foods you love on a diabetes diet, but it’s best to consume them in moderation and stick to healthy, whole foods as much as possible. By doing so, you can keep your blood sugar levels where they’re supposed to be to feel healthy and avoid complications.
14 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Diabetes Canada.Basic meal planning.Eatright.org.Healthful eating with diabetes.MedlinePlus.Diabetic diet.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes meal planning.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Healthy living with diabetes.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Prediabetes diet.Diabetes and Nutrition Study Group (DNSG) of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD).Evidence-based European recommendations for the dietary management of diabetes.Diabetologia.2023 Jun;66(6):965-985. doi:10.1007/s00125-023-05894-8Better Health Channel Victoria.Diabetes and healthy eating.Werthmann J, Tuschen-Caffier B, Ströbele L, Kübel SL, Renner F.Healthy cravings? Impact of imagined healthy food consumption on craving for healthy foods and motivation to eat healthily - Results of an initial experimental study.Appetite.2023 Apr 1;183:106458. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2023.106458Health Link BC.Healthy eating guidelines for people taking warfarin anticoagulants (Coumadin).American Heart Association. Medication Interactions.Food, supplements, and other drugs.American Diabetes Association.Drug interactions of medications commonly used in diabetes.American Diabetes Association.Diabetes meal planning.
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Diabetes Canada.Basic meal planning.Eatright.org.Healthful eating with diabetes.MedlinePlus.Diabetic diet.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes meal planning.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Healthy living with diabetes.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Prediabetes diet.Diabetes and Nutrition Study Group (DNSG) of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD).Evidence-based European recommendations for the dietary management of diabetes.Diabetologia.2023 Jun;66(6):965-985. doi:10.1007/s00125-023-05894-8Better Health Channel Victoria.Diabetes and healthy eating.Werthmann J, Tuschen-Caffier B, Ströbele L, Kübel SL, Renner F.Healthy cravings? Impact of imagined healthy food consumption on craving for healthy foods and motivation to eat healthily - Results of an initial experimental study.Appetite.2023 Apr 1;183:106458. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2023.106458Health Link BC.Healthy eating guidelines for people taking warfarin anticoagulants (Coumadin).American Heart Association. Medication Interactions.Food, supplements, and other drugs.American Diabetes Association.Drug interactions of medications commonly used in diabetes.American Diabetes Association.Diabetes meal planning.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Diabetes Canada.Basic meal planning.Eatright.org.Healthful eating with diabetes.MedlinePlus.Diabetic diet.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes meal planning.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Healthy living with diabetes.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Prediabetes diet.Diabetes and Nutrition Study Group (DNSG) of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD).Evidence-based European recommendations for the dietary management of diabetes.Diabetologia.2023 Jun;66(6):965-985. doi:10.1007/s00125-023-05894-8Better Health Channel Victoria.Diabetes and healthy eating.Werthmann J, Tuschen-Caffier B, Ströbele L, Kübel SL, Renner F.Healthy cravings? Impact of imagined healthy food consumption on craving for healthy foods and motivation to eat healthily - Results of an initial experimental study.Appetite.2023 Apr 1;183:106458. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2023.106458Health Link BC.Healthy eating guidelines for people taking warfarin anticoagulants (Coumadin).American Heart Association. Medication Interactions.Food, supplements, and other drugs.American Diabetes Association.Drug interactions of medications commonly used in diabetes.American Diabetes Association.Diabetes meal planning.
Diabetes Canada.Basic meal planning.
Eatright.org.Healthful eating with diabetes.
MedlinePlus.Diabetic diet.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes meal planning.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Healthy living with diabetes.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Prediabetes diet.
Diabetes and Nutrition Study Group (DNSG) of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD).Evidence-based European recommendations for the dietary management of diabetes.Diabetologia.2023 Jun;66(6):965-985. doi:10.1007/s00125-023-05894-8
Better Health Channel Victoria.Diabetes and healthy eating.
Werthmann J, Tuschen-Caffier B, Ströbele L, Kübel SL, Renner F.Healthy cravings? Impact of imagined healthy food consumption on craving for healthy foods and motivation to eat healthily - Results of an initial experimental study.Appetite.2023 Apr 1;183:106458. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2023.106458
Health Link BC.Healthy eating guidelines for people taking warfarin anticoagulants (Coumadin).
American Heart Association. Medication Interactions.Food, supplements, and other drugs.
American Diabetes Association.Drug interactions of medications commonly used in diabetes.
American Diabetes Association.Diabetes meal planning.
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