The diabetic diet: It's now for anyone

"I just ate my last bowl of ice cream because I knew I was coming to see you."

People just diagnosed with diabetes often make comments like that when they first meet Diane Rachac, registered dietitian and diabetes nutrition educator for Allina Medical Clinic. Then they often feel relieved as Rachac explains today's "diabetic diet."

Some sugar OK

"The whole idea of no more sugar has really changed. It's okay to have sweets once in awhile," says Rachac.

After years of telling people with diabetes to stay away from table sugar (sucrose), dietitians and doctors have changed their approach. In fact, the American Diabetes Association's nutritional recommendations now state, "scientific evidence has shown that the use of sucrose as part of the meal plan does not impair blood glucose control in individuals with type 1 or type 2 diabetes."

Rachac explains, "What we recommend today is really no different than a healthy diet that anyone should follow."

Three basics

As they adjust to and live with diabetes, Rachac tells her clients to follow these three dietary basics:

• Eat regularly. Have a meal or snack every four to six hours. If you don't, your liver may "shoot out" extra glucose, making your blood sugar go up.
• Count your carbohydrates while eating a variety of foods. At each meal, have four servings of carbohydrates. A snack should have one or two servings of carbs. Examples of one carbohydrate serving are one-half cup fruit juice; one medium fruit; one slice of bread; one-half English muffin or small bagel; one-half cup pasta, potato, corn of peas; one-third cup rice; three-quarters cup dry cereal; one-half cup cooked cereal; or one cup skim or 1 percent milk.
• Watch the fat. If you have diabetes, there's a good chance you may get heart disease. A diet full of saturated fat is known to clog arteries, causing heart attacks. "None of us should eat a bunch of fatty foods," says Rachac. "It's okay once in awhile, but don't eat fries every day or have a donut every morning."

The dietitian adds that it's good and easy for the whole family to follow those basics, especially since there's a strong link between genetics and one's risk of getting diabetes.

Related Links

Diabetes Condition Center

"Dialog: Living with Diabetes" newsletter

First published: 09/10/2003
Last updated: 11/01/2005

Reviewed by: Paul Kleeberg, MD, Allina.com