Diabetics Can Have Cake and Eat It Too!

Diabetics were told to stay away from sweets and keep fat consumption to a minimum, but it now appears that restricting certain types of foods is not necessary to keep blood sugar levels under control.

Guidelines recently released by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) lift restrictions on products made from sucrose, or table sugar, and allow a diet high in monounsaturated fats like olive, canola, and peanut oils. The guidelines give diabetics more dietary options, but patients still must be vigilant about how they eat, experts say.

"We often say that a good diabetic diet is really just a good diet.The key to keeping diabetes under control is not avoiding particular foods, but keeping blood sugar at acceptable levels. The guidelines stress that regular exercise is key to achieving this goal for most diabetics. Moderate exercise not only lowers blood sugar levels, it is an important part of permanent weight control.

High blood sugar levels increase the chance of problems from diabetes such as heart attack, stroke, leg amputations, and blindness. Fifteen million Americans have type 2 diabetes. Being overweight or obese is the most significant risk factor for the disease, which is reaching epidemic numbers among adults and being seen for the first time in large numbers of children.
Clark says clinical experience and scientific research have highlighted the flaws in the one-diet-fits-all approach to controlling diabetes. An individualized approach to eating is important, he adds, because different diabetics have different needs.

Research conducted for the past 15 years has shown that there is no significant difference in blood sugar response to foods high in sugar or starch, as long as the total amount of carbohydrates is similar. The guidelines note that many things, including how a food is processed and whether it is cooked, can influence a food's effect on blood sugar.
"When I counsel patients, the first thing I do is find out how they like to eat," says Clark, who is the ADA's national vice president for clinical affairs. "With proper planning, a person with diabetes should be able to eat what others would eat."

"There was a concern that diabetes control would be threatened with any high-fat diet." So we can now offer people a choice of either a high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet or one that is high in monounsatuated fats.

Foods high in monounsaturated fats include most nuts, avocados, and olive, canola, and peanut oils. They have been shown to help lower the level of LDL "bad" cholesterol.
Other recommendations made by the ADA, and published in a supplement to the January issue of the journal Diabetes Care, include:
Foods containing carbohydrates from whole grains, fruits, vegetables and low-fat milk should be included in a healthy diet. The total amount of carbohydrates in meals or snacks is more important than the source or type. Non-calorie sweeteners are safe when consumed within the acceptable daily intake levels established by the FDA.