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Diabetic Foods, why 'diabetic foods' are NOT required.
You do NOT need to purchase so called 'diabetic foods'.
Way back in the 1960s, diabetics were advised to eat 'sugar free' and 'low carbohydrate' diets. This meant that you couldn't eat biscuits, cakes, desserts, fizzy drinks etc leading to a diet that for many was boring and dull. Manufacturers were quick to offer sugar-free foods, often using fructose instead of sucrose, and a wide range of 'diabetic foods' soon appeared - many of which still contained calories and weren't actually much better for diabetics.
More recent research has shown that the most important target for diabetics is not a reduction in carbohydrates, but lower energy intake and a reduction in fat consumption. Many of the so-called diabetic foods actually contained more energy and fat than the foods they were supposed to replace.
Medical advice is now very clear, it is the same as that given to non-diabetics:
- Low Fat
- Low Sugar
- Low Salt
- Plenty of Fruit and Vegetables
- Plenty of Complex Carbohydrates (whole grain bread, potatoes, grains, beans, peas, and other starchy foods)
Important Points
- There are no foods which must be completely excluded from a diabetic diet.
- It is not necessary to avoid sugar competely.
- It IS necessary to follow the advice of your medical support team and follow a diet that achieves a healthy weight.
- It is important to monitor your blood sugar levels and keep them under tight control.
- Read the labels carefully and treat them as you would any normal food.
Diabetes does not mean that you need to eat boring food. You can find hundreds of acceptable recipes on this site.
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The information provided on InformationAboutDiabetes.com is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her health professional. This information is solely for informational purposes and does not constitute the practice of medicine. We encourage all visitors to see a licensed physician or nutritionist if they have any concerns regarding health issues related to diet, personal image and any other topics discussed on this site. Neither the owners or employees of InformationAboutDiabetes.com nor the author(s) of site content take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading this site. Always speak with your primary health care provider before engaging in any form of self treatment. Please see our Legal Statement for further information.
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