How to eat when you have diabetes?

Food for diabetic patients is generally the same as regular food but should not be very sweet. It is important to consider the amount and type of starch and fat to control blood sugar and blood fat levels, as well as to maintain a normal body weight. Additionally, food intake should be consistent daily, especially the total amount of carbohydrates. There is no need to skip any meal. If you want to lose weight, you can reduce the amount of food but should not skip meals because it will cause hunger and overeating in the next meal, leading to fluctuating blood sugar levels. If you want to lose weight, consult your doctor first as your diabetes medication may need adjustment.

Foods for people with diabetes are divided into

1. Foods to avoid include sweetened water, soft drinks, fruit juices, honey, Thai desserts, bakery products, canned fruits, pickled fruits, or other very sweet fruits.

2. Foods that can be eaten but in limited amounts include

• • Carbohydrates such as rice, flour, sugar, taro, and potatoes should be consumed 6-11 servings per day. One serving of carbohydrates provides 80 kilocalories, equivalent to the following amounts:

Choose to eat brown rice or bread made from unrefined flour to increase dietary fiber intake. Other sweeteners that replace sugar include sugar alcohols (polyols) such as sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, which provide 2 kilocalories/gram and have less effect on blood sugar than sucrose or glucose. Non-nutritive sweeteners that provide very few calories include aspartame and sucralose. Diabetics should consume these in limited amounts.

• • Fruits can be eaten 3-4 servings per day. One serving of fruit provides 60 kilocalories, equivalent to the following amounts:

Fruit juices have little fiber and should be avoided during weight loss. Fresh fruits are better. Avoid candied fruits, fruit preserves, canned fruits, dipping sauces with chili-sugar-salt, and sweet fish sauce.

• • Meat should be consumed 6-12 tablespoons per day, divided as follows:
    • Lean meat 1 serving has 35 kilocalories, such as 1 small fish or 2 tablespoons of fish meat, 2 tablespoons of crab meat, 4-6 shrimp, 10 clams/blood cockles, 1 squid (5 inches), 5-6 meatballs, 2 egg whites, etc.
    • Red meat 1 serving has 55 kilocalories, such as 2 tablespoons of steak, 1 slice of ham, 2 tablespoons of chicken meat, 4 tablespoons of canned tuna, 2 tablespoons of salmon, etc.
    • Medium-fat meat 1 serving has 75 kilocalories, such as 2 tablespoons of minced meat with fat, 2 tablespoons of chicken with skin, 2 tablespoons of fried fish, 1 whole egg, 1 cup of soy milk, ½ block of firm tofu.
    • High-fat meat 1 serving has 100 kilocalories, such as minced pork ribs, 2 tablespoons of Chinese sausage, 1 long pork sausage, 3 slices of bacon, 1 Isan sausage.

The above energy amounts are for cooked meat. Recommended meats include fish, skinless and lean meats, and egg whites, which can be eaten without limit. Tofu and textured vegetable protein should be consumed. Avoid butter and cheese, fatty meats with skin, fried/battered meats, offal, egg yolks, sausages, bacon, and Chinese sausage.

• • • Milk should be consumed 1-2 glasses per day.

Choose low-fat or fat-free milk, natural low-fat yogurt, and calcium-fortified soy milk without sugar. Avoid whole milk, sweetened milk, flavored milk, fruit yogurt, fermented milk, and sweetened condensed milk.

• • • Fat category 1 serving provides 45 kilocalories, such as

• • • Alcohol: Diabetics who have good control of blood sugar and blood fat levels can consume alcohol in limited amounts and should drink it with meals. Alcohol provides 7 kilocalories per milliliter, so it should not exceed the recommended amounts by gender, such as:

3. Foods that can be eaten without limit include fresh vegetables. It is recommended to eat 4-6 servings per day. One serving of vegetables provides 25 kilocalories, such as Chinese cabbage, morning glory, ivy gourd, lettuce, iceberg lettuce, cucumber, radish, etc. However, some vegetables are high in starch and calories; 1 measuring cup provides energy equivalent to 1 serving of carbohydrates or 80 kilocalories, such as corn, pea seeds, pumpkin, taro, potatoes, etc.