Helpful advice
Diabetes and healthy eating
Diabetes is a condition in which the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood becomes too high because the body cannot use it properly. Enjoying a wide variety of foods and becoming more active can help you manage your diabetes.
People with diabetes can eat a healthy balanced diet, the same as people without diabetes. There's no need to buy special foods or prepare separate meals, so relax and enjoy healthy eating along with the whole family. The ‘Eatwell plate' provides you with a guide when planning what to eat.
Eatwell plate
All foods can be part of a healthy diet, but it’s the right balance and variety that is important for health. The eatwell plate shows the proportions needed for a healthy balanced diet. Foods from the largest groups should be eaten most often.
In the UK diabetes is a common medical condition that affects over 2 million people, and about 75,000 who don't know about it.
There are two main types of diabetes:
Type 1 diabetes - insulin dependent
Type 1 diabetes develops when the body produces little or no insulin. This type of diabetes usually appears in people under the age of 40, often in childhood. It is treated by insulin injections and through diet.
Type 2 diabetes - non-insulin dependent
This develops when the body produces some insulin, but not enough for the body’s needs, or when the insulin is not properly used by the body. This type of diabetes usually appears in people over the age of 40 who are often overweight or obese, participating in little or no physical exercise. It's usually treated by diet alone, but often by diet and tablets, or in extreme cases by diet and insulin injections.
Diabetes UK recommends following the same healthy eating guidelines that are recommended for the general population. This means following a diet that is lower in fat, sugar and salt, with meals based on starchy foods and plenty of fruit and vegetables.
Diabetes UK recommends that if you have diabetes, ask your GP or hospital doctor to refer you to a State Registered Dietician for more specific advice.
Take a trip around the aisles of the store, to find out out hints and tips for people with diabetes, helping you make healthier choices...
See our selection of tasty recipes suitable for people with diabetes.
