What is a healthy diet?
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, vegetables, dairy, lean meats (or vegetarian alternatives) and whole grains.
Diet is an big 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, veggies, dairy, lean meats (or vegetarian alternatives) and whole grains.
- A healthy diet can be achieved by taking some simple steps, such as:
- Eating regular meals throughout the day to help manage portion sizes.
- Eating foods from all five food groups each day e.g. 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 high amounts of added sugar and salt
- Choosing high fibre and carb foods e.g. whole grains, long-grain rice, pasta, legumes, and oats
- No more than four standard drinks per day
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.
