My Healthy Diabetic Diet Guide

A diabetic diet is one which promotes a healthy balanced diet for all individuals rather than a diet for the sick. Your total energy needs will be calculated at a level to achieve and/or maintain a desirable body weight. The proportion of energy from each of the major energy groups us such that 50-60% of energy should be derived from carbohydrates, 25-30% from fat and 15-20% from protein.

Regularity Of Meals

1) Timing - Have your meals at approximately the same time each day. Do not delay or skip your meals or snacks as this may lead to fluctuations of your blood sugar levels.

2) Distribute your carbohydrate allowance consistently throughout the day with at least 3 regular meals and snacks.

Carbohydrate

1) Highly refined carbohydrates such as sugar, sweets, jam, honey etc. These simple sugars are absorbed rapidly into the bloodstream.

2) Complex carbohydrates such as rice, bread, noodles, cereals, vegetables, beans, fruits, milk etc. These food take longer to be absorbed into the bloodstream.

Protein

Protein also provides energy. In addition to providing energy, dietary protein plays an important role in the repair of body tissues and for growth.

Fats

Fats are concentrated sources of energy. These should therefore be eaten moderately to avoid unnecessary weight gain.

There are two types of fat. It is recommended that fats of unsaturated variety be taken.

1) Unsaturated Fat. These help lower blood cholesterol -

- Soya Bean Oil

- Corn Oil

- Canola Oil

- Olive Oil

- Peanut Oil

- Sunflower Seed Oil

- Safflower Seed Oil

- Sesame Oil

2) Saturated Fat. These can raise blood cholesterol -

- Butter

- Cocoa Butter

- Ghee

- Lard

- Coconut Oil

- Palm Oil

- Cream

- Salad Cream

- Fat and skin from meat and poultry

Foods You Can Enjoy

1) All vegetables (except root vegetables)

2) Water, chinese tea, black tea/coffee (no sugar added), clear soups, soda water and mineral water

3) Spices and condiments eg. pepper, garlic, onions, ginger, curry spices, lemons, lime, mint.

Foods To Avoid

These foods must be avoided under normal circumstances. They are concentrated sources of sugar and are rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream, therefore making it difficult to achieve good control of blood sugar levels.

- Glucose

- Rock Sugar

- Gula Melaka

- Brown Sugar

- Syrups

- Treacle

- Jam

- Marmalade

- Honey

- Kaya

- Squashes

- Cordials

- Flavoured Milk Drinks

- Soft Drinks

- Isotonic Drinks

- Sweetened Fruit Drinks

- Sweetened Soya Bean Milk

- Cakes

- Cream Biscuits

- Cookies

- Jelly

- Puddings

- Sweets

- Sweetened Desserts

- Sugar-coated Cereals

- Sweet & Sour Sauce

- Plum Sauce

- Condensed Milk

- Tinned Fruits

- Chocolate

Alcohol

It is best to exclude alcoholic drinks, but if permitted by your doctor, it is better to restrict to dry wines, spirits or low alcohol beers.

Alcohol can affect blood glucose levels by interacting with your medication resulting in hypoglycemia.

If alcohol is consumed, it should be with or after meals. Do not drink on an empty stomach.

Cholesterol Lowering Diet Guideline

The aim of modified fat diet is to reduce the total fat intake and replace part of the saturated with unsaturated (mono- & polyunsaturated) fat. There must also be a reduction of cholesterol rich foods.

There are different types of fat - saturated, unsaturated (mono- & polyunsaturated) & trans fat.

Saturated fats are found in animal foods eg. meat and dairy products like milk, cheese and butter. They are also found in some vegetable fat such as coconut oil and palm oil. A diet high in saturated fat raises the level of LDL-cholesterol ('bad' cholesterol') in the body.

Unsaturated (mono- & polyunsaturated) fats are found in most vegetable oils like corn oil and soya oil, special soft margarine and in oily fish such as tuna and salmon. These help promote heart health by reducing total and LDL-cholesterol levels in the blood.

Trans fats is an unsaturated fat formed by the partial hydrogenation of vegetable oils. However, some trans fat also occurs naturally in animal products eg. meat and dairy. Unlike the mono- & polyunsaturated fats, high intakes of trans fat have been linked with an increase in LDL-cholesterol and a decrease in HDL-cholesterol ('good cholesterol').

Guidelines For A Cholesterol Lowering Diet -

1) Eat less fried foods.

2) Eat less meat. Instead, have more fish, chicken without skin, soya bean products.

3) Eat more vegetables, fresh fruits and wholegrain cereals, including wholemeal bread.

4) Substitute cooking fat such as lard or blended vegetable oil with unsaturated cooking oil eg. corn, soya bean, canola oil.

5) When using fats such as butter, soft margarine or cooking oil, use as little as possible.

6) Use low fat milk, skimmed milk or low fat yoghurt to replace coconut milk.

Low Sodium Diet

Restricting salt or sodium in the diet is sometimes used as part of the management of fluid retention, high blood pressure, heart disease and kidney problems.

There are three main sources of sodium in our diet -

1) Naturally occurring sodium - sodium is present naturally in all foods like milk, meat, fish, eggs, poultry , vegetables and fruits.

2) Sodium added to food during cooking or at the table before eating.

3) Sodium added in the processing of food.

Dietary sodium can be reduced by -

1) Not adding salt at the table.

2) Avoiding or minimizing use of salt during cooking.

3) Choosing suitable foods.

Add zest to your food with -

- Pepper

- Garlic

- Onion

- Tumeric

- Ginger

- Paprika

- Parsley

- Spring Onion

- Lemon/Lime

- Oregano

- Mustard

- Chinese Rice Wine

- Sherry

- Coriander

- Mint

- Vinegar

- Curry Leaf

- Curry Powder

- Lemon Grass

- Fresh Chilli

- 5 Spice Powder

- Cloves

Our bodies need just a pinch of salt (about 500mg) each day. Most of us eat far more ie. 1 to 3 teaspoons! 

Phosphate Foods To Restrict (1000mg a day)

- Chocolates

- Organ Meats

- Milk

- Yoghurt

- Cheese

- Bean/Bean Products

- Tofu

- Tempe

- Peanut/Nuts

- Soya Bean Drinks

The importance of good phosphate control in patients with kidney failure on chronic dialysis cannot be sufficiently emphasized. Poor phosphate control will result in various long-term complications eg. weak and brittle bones, and calcium deposits in the skin and soft tissues throughout the body. These usually lead to skin itching, joint pain and eye irritation. If calcium deposits occur in he conducting tissue of the heart, it can lead to unstable heart rhythms and even cessation of the heart beat, and death.

Follow this link to a comprehensive and excellent guide on a restricted phosphate diet.