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Diet

The diet used in the treatment of diabetes is a healthy, well-balanced diet, planned to give all the necessary foods to meet your nutritional requirements. The healthy food pyramid can be used as a good guide for healthy food choices.

It is important to eat regular meals and snacks throughout the day ie. 3 main meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and 3 snacks (morning-tea, afternoon-tea and supper). Never skip or delay a meal. All meals and snacks should be based on carbohydrate containing foods and your intake should be fairly consistent from day-to-day. Foods containing carbohydrate include bread, breakfast cereals, potato, rice, pasta, crackers, fruit, milk and yoghurt.

It is important to try and include at least one low-glycaemic index (low GI) food at every meal and every snack that you eat. Low GI foods increase the blood sugars more slowly and steadily and are more sustaining than foods with a higher GI. Check out the low GI food checklist. Sugar and foods containing added sugars can be included in moderation in a healthy low-GI based diet without upsetting diabetes control.

Does That Mean I Should Only Eat Foods With a Low Glycaemic Index?

NO. There are some foods that have a high glycaemic index value that provide other important nutrients such as vitamins and minerals and are found in the base of the healthy food pyramid (the “eat most” section). These foods should not be excluded and can be eaten in conjunction with other low glycaemic index foods. Combining low and high GI foods together results in a moderate GI effect.

There are also many foods that have a low glycaemic index but are high in fat or have poor nutritional value and are found in the top section of the healthy food pyramid (the “eat least” section). These foods are not recommended to be eaten on a regular basis.
So remember, glycaemic index value alone does not determine the suitability of a food - the guidelines of a healthy diet (as illustrated by the healthy food pyramid) are the most important considerations. Stick to the guidelines of the healthy food pyramid and select low glycaemic index food choices where practical.

If you would like to read more about the GI the following references will be useful:

1. The GI Factor, 2^nd Edition, Brand Miller, Foster-Powell, Colagiuri & Leeds, Hodder & Stoughton, 1998
2. Pocket Guide to the GI Factor for Healthy Kids, Brand-Miller, Foster-Powell, Gilbertson, Hodder 2001

Making the changes from High GI To Low GI Choices

NB: Adding lemon juice or vinegar to a meal can also help to reduce the GI load of the whole meal

Recommended food types