High-Protein, Low-Sodium & Low-Potassium Diabetic Diet

A diabetic diet is designed to provide your body with the variety of foods it needs to meet nutritional goals. Moderating the amount you eat and eating scheduled meals throughout the day will help you control blood sugar and weight. Maintaining a diet high in protein and low in sodium and potassium can help you keep blood sugar under control and your body in good health.

The Diabetic Diet

• Carbohydrates are the most important component of a diabetic diet, because carbohydrates provides the body with energy. A diabetic diet should consist of a generous amount of beans, grains and starchy vegetables, a slightly smaller portion of non-starchy vegetables and fruits, a small portion of proteins and dairy products, and a very limited amount of foods rich in fat and oils.

High-Protein, Low-Sodium and Low-Potassium Diet

• High-protein diets are often used to get a quick start on weight loss. These diets promote a quick drop in weight because of the reduction or complete elimination of carbohydrates, which results in a loss of body fluids. Increasing the amount of protein you consume can result in reducing the amount of fat your body burns, and inducing ketosis, a condition that causes nausea and lowers appetite. Over the long term, a diet high in protein can lead to an increased risk for heart disease, stroke, and several types of cancer.

  The American Heart Association does not recommend high-protein diets, because of possible short-term and long-term effects on your health.

  In diabetics, however, protein is an optimal choice for energy. Carbohydrates should be consumed, but excess carbohydrates can overwhelm the body with sugar. Consume more protein to provide your body with enough fuel for energy, while having additional protein available for muscle maintenance and repair. Just as importantly, having an adequate amount of protein in your body will improve your resistance to infections.

  Sodium, most commonly found in ordinary table salt, is present in most foods. Highly processed and pre-packaged foods such as bacon, ham, corned beef, canned fish, canned vegetables and salty snacks contain high levels of sodium. According to the American Diabetes Association (see Resource 2, you should consume less than 2.4 g of sodium per day to control or prevent hypertension (high blood pressure).

  Maintain a diabetic diet low in sodium to lower high blood pressure. Use fresh meats and fresh or frozen vegetables, prepare your own foods instead of relying on pre-prepared products, and limit your consumption of salty snacks. Check food labels, and pay careful attention to certain spices and dressings, which can often contain a lot of sodium.

  Potassium is a mineral that helps regulate your heartbeat, contract your muscles and assist with nerve conduction. Potassium also assists your body with maintaining a proper balance of fluid between bodily fluids and cells. In diabetics, excess potassium is a real possibility, since the kidneys are not functioning correctly. Too much potassium can lead to an irregular heartbeat, weakness, paralysis and heart attack. Maintain your potassium level by limiting high-potassium foods. These include potatoes, tomatoes, legumes, cantaloupe and bananas. Salt substitutes can also increase potassium levels, so don't use them unless your physician or nutritionist approves them.