A safe and effective diabetic diet must contain balanced, nutritious foods to avoid vitamin deficiencies and malnutrition.

A healthy diet should:

1. Be high in whole grains, fiber, fruits, and vegetables.

2. Contain lean chicken, fish, egg, or vegetable protein.

3. Be low in sweets, fats, and fried foods.

4. Include whole grains and high fiber.

5. Eliminate consumption of fast food.

DIET FOOD FOR DIABETES

BY DR ANIRBAN BISWAS (MD) - 9313315383

This article is adapted from an older article of the same title published in LYBRATE  written by DR ANIRBAN BISWAS- one of the best diabetes doctors in Delhi. Read it here in Lybrate. 

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Diabetes control is governed by following the right diabetic diet. What to eat and what not to eat is important for diabetes control, cure, or diabetes reversal.

These are the top diabetes diet tips from diabetologist DR ANIRBAN BISWAS (APOLLO 24*7 CONSULTANT)

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Even if you are pre-diabetic or borderline diabetic, or diabetes is part of your family, it is important to follow a diabetic diet to prevent diabetes.

Here is the Diet Food for Diabetics:

1. Whole grains, oats, Dalia, channa atta(besan ), sattu, millets, and other high fiber foods should be included in the meals. If one feels like consuming pasta or noodles, it should be made with atta & always be accompanied with vegetables/sprouts.
2. Milk is the right combination of carbohydrates and proteins and helps control blood sugar levels. Two servings of toned milk without sugar in a daily diet is a good option. you can also use buttermilk, plain curd, or unsweetened lassi.
3. High-fiber seasonal vegetables such as peas, beans, broccoli, and spinach /leafy vegetables & others should be included in one's diet. Also, pulses with husk and sprouts are a healthy option and should be part of the diet. Pulses are important in the diet as their effect on blood glucose is less than that of most other carbohydrate-containing foods. Vegetables rich in fiber help lowering down blood sugar levels and thus are healthy.
4. Good fats such as Omega-3 and monounsaturated fats (MUFA) should be consumed as they are good for the body. Natural sources for these are mustard oil, olive oil, flaxseed oil, fatty fish, and nuts. These are also low in cholesterol and are trans fat-free.
5. Fruits high in fiber such as papaya, apple, orange, pear, and guava should be consumed. Mangoes, bananas, and grapes contain high sugar; therefore these fruits should be consumed lesser than the others.

Also Read: Dr. Anirban Biswas recommends these 7 natural medicines for diabetes. Read about them in this article in PRACTO.

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WHAT TO DO:
Small frequent meals: A large meal gives rise to higher blood sugar in one's body, therefore it is essential to take small frequent meals to prevent both higher and very low blood sugar values and keep them constant. Small in-between snacks can be roasted channa, dhokla, fruit, karela biscuit, buttermilk, yogurt, upma/poha with vegetables, etc.

A person with diabetes should follow a diet that is low in carbohydrates, high in fiber, and contains adequate amounts of proteins, vitamins, and minerals; and avoid fatty foods and sweets. He/she should also take frequent small meals (5 meals pattern).

Artificial sweeteners can be used in cakes and sweets for diabetic people (in moderation).
Have lots of fluid.
Limit intake of alcohol.

Should you have non-veg?

In a non-vegetarian diet, seafood and chicken can be taken rather than red meat as red meat contains a higher amount of saturated fats. Also, patients with high cholesterol should avoid egg yolk and red meat.

The diabetes diet for Indians includes carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. As always, a balanced and planned diet can build and improve personal health. A controlled diabetes diet may seem like a drag and boring, but a good cook can add life to a diet.