Those who have lived with diabetes for many years have seen many wonderful changes in the treatment of diabetes - better insulins, finer needles, home blood glucose monitors, insulin pumps, finer finger pokers, and a range of medications to help control blood glucose, blood pressure and blood fats. Many of these developments are the result of research by scientists, healthcare workers and pharmaceutical companies. The Nutritional Committee of the Canadian Diabetes Association recently published Guidelines for the Nutritional Management of Diabetes Mellitus in the New Millennium, which sets out recommendations for how people with diabetes should eat to stay as healthy as possible. In light of evidence that shows clearly that good blood glucose can drastically reduce the incidence of complications, eating well as part of overall control takes on special importance.
Nutrition is a cornerstone of diabetes management.
However, few Canadians with diabetes actually receive formal education or training on how to eat properly. Most people with diabetes are followed by their family doctor, but the typical office visit does not allow enough time to review eating habits and questions in enough detail. Registered dieticians can help design meal plans that suit your tastes, your cultural preferences and your family's lifestyle. With a dietician, you can also consider other issues such as food allergies, other medical problems, or the need to lose a little weight. The following information is not intended to replace the advice of a registered dietician, but to give you an overview of the main principles of healthy eating for people with diabetes.