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Dietary Nutrition for Diabetics

Diabetics can get hyperglycemia if they do not eat properly, often resulting in diabetic shock. The American Diabetes Association suggests that diabetics use the glycemic index to understand how certain types of food will affect their blood sugar levels. A scale from 0-100 is used for the glycemic index, with glucose having a score of 100. Carbohydrate-containing foods that are closer to 100 will increase blood glucose levels more rapidly. Smart diabetic food choices center around low GI foods. The following food groups, except for sugary snacks, are appropriate for diabetics to include in their diet.

  1. Vegetables

    • Vegetables are the best food choice for diabetics because of their high fiber content and astronomically low rating on the glycemic index. According to the South Beach Diet Plan, asparagus, artichoke, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumber, celery, green beans, eggplant, low-fat yogurt, lettuce, snow peas, peppers, spinach, young summer squash, zucchini and tomatoes all have a glycemic index rating of 15. Combining these foods into a vegetable salad is an excellent diabetic meal. Vegetables provide diabetics with long lasting energy and do not rapidly raise blood sugar levels.

    Fruits

    • Unlike vegetables, diabetics need to be careful with fruit. Many fruits have fairly low ratings on the glycemic index while others have high ratings. The South Beach Diet Plan states that kiwi fruit, bananas, oranges, grapes, plums, peaches, apples pears, grapefruit and cherries all have ratings on the glycemic index of under 55. Combining these fruits into a fruit salad is a great diabetic meal.

      Mangos, apricots, pineapple and raisins all have moderate ratings on the glycemic index between 56 and 66. These fruits should either be avoided or eaten with extreme caution. Watermelon has an extremely high GI rating of 76 and should be avoided by diabetics.

    Nuts

    • Like vegetables, nuts are extremely high in fiber and also have low ratings on the glycemic index. For example, peanuts and walnuts have a GI rating of below 20. Nuts are high in calories and fat and should be eaten in moderation. Nuts can be eaten as a mid-day snack or added to vegetable salads for added taste.

    Dairy Products

    • Dairy products should be included in every diabetic diet because of their low ratings on the glycemic index and their high protein content. The South Beach Diet Plan states that low-fat yogurt, chocolate milk, whole milk, fat-free milk, skim milk and semi-skimmed milk, have low GI ratings below 35. Fruit and yogurt smoothies or cereal are a great breakfast choice for diabetics. However, ice cream has a GI rating of 66 and should be avoided by diabetics.

    Sugary Snacks

    • Diabetics need to consume foods that will provide them with long lasting energy and not foods that create sugar highs. Sugary candy bars, soda pop and energy drinks are extremely dangerous for diabetics and should be avoided at all costs. If a diabetic were to consume an energy drink their blood glucose levels would rise to unsafe levels.

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