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What Should I Eat If I Am a Type 2 Diabetic on Insulin?

Type 2 diabetes typically shows up in adulthood and is normally caused by poor diet, lack of exercise and obesity. One way to control type 2 diabetes is through insulin injections, but this condition can be controlled in other ways. For instance, changes in activity can promote weight loss, which can reduce insulin dependence. Changes in diet can also have an effect. According to Dr. James Norman of the Norman Parathyroid Center in Wesley Chapel, Florida, a reduction in caloric intake to 1,500 to 1,800 calories daily is often advisable.

  1. Foods You Should Eat

    • Dr. Norman reports that diet for a type 2 diabetic is all about reducing blood glucose to a level that the body can handle. Therefore, most types of foods are allowed, but some are better than others. For example, the most important thing in a diabetic's diet is to control carbohydrates. Does this mean that diabetics cannot have carbohydrates? The simple answer is no; they can have carbs, but they must count them carefully, and they should only consume foods whose carbohydrates are digested more slowly than others. Contrary to popular belief, sugar can be consumed, as well, but the diabetic must be able to fit the calories of the sugar-rich food they intend to eat into their caloric intake for the day without overdoing it. Other types of food and beverages that are good for diabetics are "free" foods. These are foods whose consumption does not have to be counted toward overall daily calories, so they can be eaten at any time when you are hungry. Some of these free foods include broth, mineral water, carbonated water, club soda, coffee, tea, diet soda and sugar-free drink mix, tonic water, Jell-O, gum and hard candy. Again, sugar can be fit into a diabetic meal plan, but it must be done so with precise caution and care.

    Foods to Avoid

    • There really are not any foods that a diabetic needs to avoid per se. Again, the diabetic diet is all about being precise. Foods that should be avoided include any that are high in quick-digesting carbohydrates. With these types of food, the body of an insulin-dependent diabetic does not produce enough glucose to break down the carbs and has no choice but to rely on an injection to aid in this breakdown process. Diabetics should also reduce their intake of food that is high in sugars and fats for the same reasons. You may eat these foods only when you have counted carefully for the day and planned accordingly, according to the Diabetes Insight Center website.

    Insulin Dependant

    • Those who are insulin dependent may also have to snack throughout the day and at night to keep their blood glucose at an acceptable level. In addition to between-meal snacks, include in your calorie count a snack just before bed. This snack is needed so that you can sleep all night without a dangerous drop in blood glucose.

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