Before I was put on the diabetic diet, I was told by some healthcare professionals that it is really the healthiest diet for anyone to be on – even if they aren’t diabetic. Now, I am not a nutritionist, so I can’t say if that is 100% true or not, but I know I have tried a few diets and the diabetic diet is the easiest to stick with as far as I am concerned.
What makes the diabetic diet unlike other diets? Well, I for one don’t really get hungry. That is because on the diabetic diet, you eat breakfast, a morning snack, lunch, an afternoon snack, dinner, and then an evening snack. Eating your meals spread out during the day helps regulate your blood sugar. It also is helpful in stopping you from binging after you have starved yourself half the day.
Of course you cannot have a banana split for that evening snack and you still have to count calories, carbs, and fats, but when you incorporate the fruits and vegetables and keep them at a good portion (I think most are supposed to be ½ a cup), you have plenty of room for the 1,200 calories or whatever limit your doctor has set for you.
Unlike Atkins, which restricts carbs, the diabetic diet lets you have carbs. While keeping your carb counter lower is good, it is thought that restricting your carbs too much can make you want to eat foods that are higher in fat.
The diabetic diet also offers free foods, that is, foods you can eat without counting in your diet. This includes broth, club soda, coffee or tea (only sweetened with something like Splenda – no sugar!), diet soft drinks (although you should get plenty of water, so limit the sodas!), sugar free gum, and sugar-free Jello. If you’ve even watched “Biggest Loser,” each season you see Bob and Jillian touting the greatness of sugar-free gum to curb your hunger and eating sugar-free Jello as a treat.
Now I have to admit that I have all the literature on the diabetic diet and have seen a specialist, but I don’t know all there is to know about the diet. I still have trouble counting the carbs (math is NOT my thing!), but I am still losing weight, which is one thing that will lessen my chances of becoming a full-blown diabetic in the future.
To learn more about the diabetic diet, visit the American Diabetes Association home page.