Questions Answered
Can I still include sugar in my diet?
Yes you most definitely can, eating sugar in no way causes diabetes. If you are diabetic you do not need to have a sugar free diet. A Sensible amount of sugar in your diet can work as part of a healthy balanced diet without harming overall blood glucose levels.
Sweets and sugary drinks can affect blood glucose levels very quickly so you should always drink the low calories fizzy drinks, no added sugar squash and diet or sugar free fizzy drinks. The sugar in foods will not affect your blood glucose levels as much as a sugary drink would.
The foods that contain small amounts of sugar such as jams, yoghurts and sauces that you eat in small portions will not affect your diabetes control in a major way.
My doctor has told me that I need to lose weight, should I follow a low carbohydrate diet?
Eating high in fats and low in proteins is not good for your long-term health. You miss out on starchy foods, fruit and vegetables and low carbohydrate diets are very restrictive in this way. We do not recommend low carbohydrate diets although they can help you lose weight fast they can be very hard to stick to in the long run.
Is it true or is it a myth that I should not eat grapes or bananas?
It’s a myth! All fruits and vegetables are good for your health. By introducing more fruits and vegetables you are reducing the risk o coronary heart disease, gut problems and some forms of cancer. At least five portions of fruit and vegetables must be consumed every day to ensure a balanced diet and there are so many different varieties to chose from.
Do I NEED to eat wholemeal bread?
It is known that the high fibre varieties of starchy foods can help you to maintain a healthy digestive system and keep you from problems like constipation. This does not necessarily mean that you that it is better for your diabetes control, it is the foods that are more slowly absorbed that are better for you. These are foods such as sweet potatoes, fruit and vegetables, beans and lentils, pastas etc.