what do diabetics have to stay away from? - Diabetes Message Board

Vicky17 · 09-15-2009, 05:19 AM

What should people with diabetes avoid eating?

tfkeel · 09-16-2009, 09:20 AM

No matter what carbohydrate you eat, it will make your sugar go up....it will go up higher, and stay high longer, than the same food eaten by a nondiabetic.

Over the long-term (and diabetes will last for the remainder of your life)...avoidance doesn't work, if you like a particular food. If it is a "bad" food, you have to restrict your intake of it to "treat" status, and consume it infrequently....and in small portions.

The "trick"....is to choose carbohydrates which provide good nutrition along with the accompanying glucose load for your staple intake, and balance your diet with meats and dairy products. It is also wise to choose some carbs over other carbs, because they output glucose more slowly - like whole-grain bread over white bread.

SamQKitty · 09-16-2009, 09:09 PM

Great advice, TF.

I'd also like to point out, Vicky, that if you want to have an occasional treat (and it should be occasional...not often), then just make sure that on the day you're planning to have whatever that treat is, that the rest of what you eat is low carb.

Example...potatoes are fairly high-glycemic; they'll raise your blood sugar a lot. So if you've avoided them for weeks, but want just one serving of french fries, make sure you don't have bread, rice, corn, peas or beans at that same meal. This is a way to "balance" having that occasional treat.

Ruth

sunshine12 · 09-28-2009, 04:29 PM

You need to go to the book store and read up on diabetes so you have an idea what you should be doing, eating etc. <edited> Just dive in and read and ask questions. You will learn little by little.