What is it?
Diet is an important part of managing your diabetes. There is no one-size-fits-all diet for diabetes, because everyone is different. But it is important to eat foods from the five food groups: fruit and vegetables, starchy food, dairy, protein and fat.
What is a healthy diet?
A healthy diet can be achieved by taking some simple steps, such as:
- Eating small meals throughout the day and being aware of your portion sizes
- Eating foods from all five food groups each day, including two serves of fruit and five serves of veggies
- Choosing foods low in total fat and saturated fat (lean meat and low-fat dairy products)
- Limiting foods or drinks with added sugar and salt
- Choosing high fibre carbohydrate foods, like whole grains, long-grain rice, pasta, legumes, and oats
- Choosing low-GI foods at each meal
- Aiming to eat two servings of fish each week
- Limiting alcohol to two standard drinks per day if you choose to drink
- Drinking plenty of water; at least 1.5 litres per day for adults
What will my healthcare team do?
Your GP will play a key role in your diabetes care. Your GP may refer you to a dietitian or diabetes educator for tailored advice.
Your GP can help you to learn the principles of healthy eating and may develop a diet plan that suits your unique needs. If you have type 1 diabetes, you will need to know how to match your carbohydrate intake with your insulin dose.
