What Is The Diabetic Diet?

Diabetics are always searching for the best “diabetic diet” to optimally control their blood sugar (glucose) level when in fact, there is really no such thing. In a position statement in 2013, the American Diabetes Association did not recommend a specific diet over another for diabetic patients. They did, however, list some diets as a means for weight loss for those who have diabetes or are at risk of having diabetes because weight loss improves blood glucose.

Diabetes is a metabolic disease in which insulin production, detection, or utilization has become dysfunctional, causing blood sugar to be abnormally high or low. Therefore, those who have diabetes need to watch their food intake, specifically the items that affect their blood sugar such as: 

• carbohydrates
• starchy vegetables
• fruits
• milk and milk products
• foods with added sugar

Fasting glucose and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) are just two of the markers used to evaluate blood sugar control. Here is a review of some diet patterns and how they affect the management of diabetes. The diet patterns reviewed include:

• Low Carbohydrate Diet
• Low Glycemic Index Diet
• Mediterranean Diet
• Vegetarian Diet
• Vegan Diet

Next: Low Carbohydrate Diet

Also Read: Effect Of Jardiance (empagliflozin) On Heart Attacks, Strokes, And Death In People With Type 2 Diabetes