2nd Edition- Sept. 2005
Diabetic Myths
Diet
Diet
~*~ People with diabetes can’t eat chocolate or sweets or sugar. ~*~
Not true. Diabetics can eat sweets just like non-diabetics, if they are eaten
as part of a healthy diet or combined with exercise. Also, many diabetics
eat sweets to combat a very low blood glucose level or to prevent one
from getting too low.
If you have diabetes you should only eat small amounts of starchy foods,
such as bread, potatoes and pasta.
It all depends on the individual diabetic. Some diabetics can tolerate more
starches in their diets than others. The key is to eat a stable amount per
day to keep your glucose levels at an even level. If your blood sugars are
spiking after you eat, you have eaten more than your body can withstand.
You may need to eat less starches or less of that particular starch.
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~*~ People with diabetes should eat special diabetic foods. ~*~
A healthy diabetic diet is the same as for everyone. Diabetic versions of
foods offer no special benefits. They still raise blood sugars, are usually
more expensive and they can also have a laxative effect.
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~*~ Fruit is a healthy food, so I can eat as much as I want. ~*~
Fruit is a healthy food, but it is also contains carbohydrates as well as fiber,
vitamins and minerals. Carbohydrates need to be included in your meal
plan. Talk to your health professional or your dietician about the amount,
types of fruits and the frequency of carbohydrates you should be eating.
You don’t need to change your diabetes regimen unless your A1C is higher
than 8%.
The better your glucose control, the less likely complications will develop.
An A1C in the 7's doesn’t represent good control. The ADA has a goal set
for 7%. The closer you can get to the normal range of less than 6% the
lower your chances of developing complications. Always check with your
health professional about the best goal for you. If you take the same
amount of medications and you get better control, you can start having
hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) incidents.
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~*~ People with diabetes cannot drink alcohol. ~*~
Drinking moderate amounts of alcohol with food has not adverse effect on
blood glucose or insulin levels. However, it can cause hypos (low glucose
levels) if taken on an empty stomach or in excess. It can also affect the
ability to recognize hypos. Beer contains a lot of carbohydrates, but leads
to weight gain if you drink it regularly. People with and without diabetes
may benefit from a light to moderate amount of alcohol intake. It has heart
protective effect. Red wine seems to be a good choice for those benefits.
Donna Yancy
