What Is a Diabetes Diet?
While there is no specific diet for people with diabetes, your diabetes diet is an eating plan that covers three important areas: Healthy foods in healthy amounts, eaten with healthy timing in mind.
It helps you control your blood sugar, maintain a healthy weight, and keep your risk of heart disease low.
This way of eating can prevent, control, and may even reverse the disease -- and it’s not just for people with diabetes.
Diabetes Diet Recommended Foods
There are four types of nutrients in food that can affect your blood sugar:
Carbohydrates (the sugars, starches, and fiber in food)
Protein
Fat
Fiber
Carbohydrates raise blood sugar faster than proteins or fats. They also have the biggest effect on your blood sugar. Fiber, protein, and fat may curb the rise in blood sugar after a meal.
So aim for variety. Eat a mixture of carbohydrates, protein, and fat to manage your blood sugar better and stay full longer. But make sure to choose quality carbohydrates and smart fats that are:
Fiber-rich: Vegetables, fruits, nuts, beans, peas, whole grains
Heart Healthy: Fish like salmon and tuna
Healthy carbs: Vegetables, beans, whole grains, and fruit
Smart fats: Fish, nuts and seeds, avocado, olives, extra virgin olive oil, and canola oil
Check your blood sugar after meals. Look for patterns between what you eat and drink and your blood sugar levels after. You also may want to track how many grams or servings of carbohydrates you eat with each meal and try to keep it about the same from meal to meal. This can also help you take charge of your blood sugar.
Diabetes Diet Foods to Avoid
Saturated Fats: Saturated fat raises your blood cholesterol. You can find it in high-fat animal protein like bacon and sausage, high-fat dairy like butter, full-fat cheese, and ice cream, plus coconut oil and chicken skin.
Trans Fats: Also called hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oil, trans fats are liquid oils that become a solid fat. Ingredients like stick margarines and shortening contain trans fats, as do processed foods like some chips, cookies, and fast food French fries.
Cholesterol: Your cholesterol count is made up of the natural cholesterol in your blood, plus the cholesterol that comes from food. Watch out for high-fat dairy and high-fat animal products, plus egg yolks, liver, and other organ meats.
Sodium: Don’t forget to watch salt, too. That's part of healthy eating with diabetes. Eating less sodium has been shown to help prevent and treat high blood pressure. Read labels and choose foods that are low in sodium. Learn more about reading food labels and grocery shopping with diabetes.
Creating a Diabetes Meal Plan
Eating a healthy, balanced diet when you have diabetes doesn't mean you can't eat foods that taste good. In the sample menu and recipes below, the meals have a good balance of protein and fat and a great source of fiber. You can plug them into your diet -- in the right portion sizes -- along with the other fruit, vegetables, grains, dairy, protein, or fats in your plan.
Here's how you might work in a high-fiber carbohydrate along with some lean protein and "good" fat.
High-fiber carbs:
Whole-grain cereal (hot or cold) with fruit
Whole-grain bread, English muffin, or bagel
Whole-grain waffles or pancakes with fruit
Lean protein (low in saturated fat):
A higher omega-3 egg blended with 2 egg whites for an egg dish. Add vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, or tomatoes.
Low-fat milk or soy milk for your cereal or as a beverage
Part skim-milk cheese added to your omelet
Low-fat or nonfat yogurt with fruit or cereal, or in a smoothie
Smart fats:
Avocado added to your omelet
Nuts for cereals or a yogurt parfait
Extra virgin olive oil used in omelet
Canola oil used in whole-grain muffins, pancakes, or waffles
Lunch
A sandwich or wrap with whole-grain bread or tortilla and a lean protein such as:
Roasted turkey, skinless chicken, or lean beef or pork
Part skim-milk cheese or soy cheese
Water-packed tuna dressed in vinaigrette, yogurt, or light mayo
A bean-based lunch such as:
Bean burrito with whole-grain tortilla
Hummus with whole grain-bread or vegetable dippers
Vegetarian or lean-meat chili or bean stew
Main-course salad made with:
Dark green lettuce
Lots of vegetables
Lean meat, fish, beans, or cheese plus avocado and nuts, if desired
Dressing made with extra virgin olive oil, canola oil, or yogurt
Dinner
High-fiber carb choices:
Cooked grains like brown rice, quinoa, barley, bulgur, or amaranth
Whole wheat bread, tortilla, pita bread, or buns
Colorful vegetables on the side or in the main course
Dark green lettuce for a side or dinner salad
Fresh fruit on the side or with the entrée
Lean protein (low in saturated fat):
Grilled or baked fish, by itself or in a mixed dish such as tacos
Skinless poultry -- grilled, baked, or stir-fried
Lean beef or pork -- sirloin, tenderloin -- with no visible fat
Part skim-milk cheese in entrees, such as eggplant parmesan, vegetarian pizza on whole wheat crust, vegetable lasagna, or enchiladas
Smart fats:
A sensible amount of extra virgin olive oil or canola oil used for cooking
Nuts added to entrée or side dishes
Avocado or olives with entrée or side dishes
Healthy Snacks
Cucumber slices with hummus
Canned tuna on whole grain crackers
Frozen grapes
Apples with peanut or almond butter
Popcorn is a whole grain
Diabetes Diet Sample Recipes
Homemade Napa Almond Chicken Salad Sandwich
To add a couple of servings of higher-fiber and nutrient-rich whole grains, serve this chicken salad on two slices of 100% whole-grain bread or in a whole-wheat pita pocket. Or make a wrap sandwich with a whole-wheat flour tortilla.
Makes four or more servings.
3 cups shredded roasted or rotisserie chicken, skin removed
1 cup red grapes, cut in half
2/3 cup finely chopped celery
1/3 cup sliced almonds, honey roasted or plain roasted
Dressing:
1/2 cup low-fat or light mayonnaise (or nonfat plain Greek yogurt)
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Garnish (optional):
8 leaves romaine lettuce
8 slices of tomato
In a medium bowl, combine shredded chicken, grapes, celery, and almonds.
In a small bowl, combine dressing ingredients with whisk or spoon until smooth and blended. Drizzle dressing over the chicken and grape mixture and stir to blend.
Spoon chicken mixture onto bread to make four or more sandwiches. Garnish with lettuce and tomato, if desired.
Per serving, including bread (if four per recipe): 500 calories, 42 g protein, 51 g carbohydrate, 14 g fat, 2.6 g saturated fat, 6 g monounsaturated fat, 5 g polyunsaturated fat, 96 mg cholesterol, 7 g fiber, 764 mg sodium. Calories from fat: 25%. Omega-3 fatty acids = 0.4 gram, omega-6 fatty acids = 4.5 grams.
Spinach & Mushroom Bagel Pizza
Compared to a personal pan pizza at a popular pizza chain, a serving of these spinach and mushroom bagel pizzas has about half of the calories, fat, and sodium. It also has two-thirds less saturated fat and cholesterol and three times the fiber.
Makes two servings (two bagel pizzas each)
2 whole wheat bagels
1/3 cup pizza sauce (or 2 tablespoons pesto or light garlic & herb spreadable cheese)
2/3 cup shredded, reduced-fat mozzarella cheese
2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
1 1/2 cups sliced mushrooms (button, crimini, or baby portobello)
2 cups fresh spinach leaves
2 teaspoons minced garlic
Black pepper to taste
Cut whole wheat bagels in half with a serrated knife to make four pizza crust circles. Place them cut side up on a baking sheet. Spread about 1 1/2 tablespoons of pizza sauce (or 1/2 tablespoon of pesto or light garlic & herb cheese spread) over each pizza half.
Top each bagel half with 1/4 of the shredded cheese.
Heat a medium nonstick frying pan over medium-high heat and add olive oil. When oil is hot, add the sliced mushrooms and sauté, stirring often, until lightly browned. Stir in the spinach leaves and minced garlic. Stir and sauté until the spinach is bright green and shrunken down (about 1 minute). Add black pepper to taste.
Spread the spinach and mushroom mixture evenly over the pizza halves and broil about 4 inches from the heat until the cheese is bubbling. Watch carefully so it doesn't burn.
Per serving (using pizza sauce): 452 calories, 25 g protein, 62 g carbohydrate, 12.5 g fat, 4.7 g saturated fat, 4.8 g monounsaturated fat, 3 g polyunsaturated fat, 21 mg cholesterol, 11.5 g fiber, 836 mg sodium. Calories from fat: 25%. Omega-3 fatty acids = 0.2 grams, omega-6 fatty acids = 2.8 grams
Slow Cooker Coconut Curry Chicken Casserole
This provides you with veggies, whole grains, and lean meat all in one delicious dish. You can use light coconut milk instead of the fat-free half-and-half and coconut extract.
Makes 4 servings
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil (or canola oil)
4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
Ground pepper
Salt to taste (optional)
2 cups fat-free half-and-half
2 teaspoons coconut extract
2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons red curry powder
3/4 cup uncooked brown rice
2 small red bell peppers (ribs and seeds removed), cut into thin strips or 1-inch pieces
3 cups fresh or frozen green beans (stem ends removed), cut into 1-inch long pieces
Garnish: 2 tablespoons toasted coconut, natural unsweetened or flaked (optional)
Heat olive oil in a large, nonstick skillet or frying pan over medium-high heat. Season chicken with pepper and salt (if desired) and add to skillet. Brown well on both sides (about 3 minutes each).
While chicken is browning, combine fat-free half-and-half, coconut extract, chicken broth, red curry, and brown rice in slow cooker dish. Add browned chicken on top and arrange bell pepper and green beans over it. Cover the slow cooker and heat on low for 4 to 6 hours, or until rice is tender.
Serve chicken with some of the rice, vegetables, and curry coconut sauce. Sprinkle on some toasted coconut, if desired. (To toast coconut on a stove, spread it in the bottom of a nonstick skillet or frying pan. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the coconut is golden brown.
Per serving: 371 calories, 36 g protein, 40 g carbohydrate, 7.5 g fat, 1.7 g saturated fat, 4 g monounsaturated fat, 1.4 g polyunsaturated fat, 75 mg cholesterol, 5.5 g fiber, 271 mg sodium. Calories from fat: 18%. Omega-3 fatty acids = 0.1 gram, omega-6 fatty acids = 1.3 grams.