Case Study: George Mellows (Part 3) - A visit to the Dietitian

George had been given the ANDI (download here ANDI.V3 )

This tool was developed for use by diabetes educators by dietitians. The purpose is to Assess the Needs of the Diet for the Individual prior to a dietitian appointment. George’s diabetes educator suggested he complete it before is appointment with the dietitian.

Many of us are faced with commercials about foods and drinks and fad ‘diets’.

For people living with diabetes faced with so many food choices, it’s easy to get confused about what you can and can’t eat.

Georges diabetes educator advised to keep it simple and take nutrition considerations meal by meal. Even people who’ve been managing diabetes for awhile have questions about their diets.

10 of the most commonly asked questions for dietitians about a healthy type 2 diabetes dietitian.

The following is from Everyday Health

“1. Can I eat carbohydrates?

Although carbohydrates raise your blood glucose level, you don’t have to eliminate all carbs from your diabetes diet plan. In general, men need four to five carb servings per meal at 15 grams each. Women should aim for three to four 15-gram carb servings per meal. However, you may need to adjust your carbohydrate intake depending on your level of physical activity, weight, and height.

2. Which carbohydrates should I include in my diet?

When you’re limiting carbs it’s a good idea to opt for foods with high nutritional value. Get the most nutrients for those calories by eating whole grains and fresh or frozen vegetables and fruits. In general, non-starchy raw vegetables like broccoli, lettuce, asparagus, carrots, and cucumber have about 5 grams of carbs per cup.

3. Can I ever have sweets?

Sweets aren’t completely off-limits in a diabetes diet plan, but they must be substituted for other carbohydrates, not eaten in addition to your meal. Replacing healthier foods with sugary treats, however, will likely cost you valuable nutrients. Foods with added sugar aren’t helpful when you’re trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight. When you crave something sweet choose foods that don’t contain added sugar, such as fresh or frozen fruit.

4. Why am I allowed to eat fat? I thought this was bad for me.

Eating unhealthy fats, such as saturated and trans fats, can increase your risk for heart disease, but some fats are healthy and can actually lower your low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol. Although you should avoid foods high in saturated fat, like butter, cheese, and fatty cuts of meat that healthy foods with monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, and omega-3 fats, like nuts and fish, should be included in your diet.

5. What foods are good sources of healthy fats?

The type of fat you eat is just as important as how much fat you eat. It’s the quality of fat that’s important. Among the best sources of healthy fats are avocados, nuts and nut spreads, olives, olive oil, and canola oil.

6. How much fat should I get in my diet?

In a healthy type 2 diabetes diet, total fat intake should fall between 20 and 35 percent of total calories, but your saturated fat intake shouldn’t exceed 7 percent of total calories for a good diabetes dietitian plan. Trans fats — also called partially hydrogenated oils on food packages — should be avoided altogether. Although nuts and plant-based oils are considered healthy fats, they’re still high in calories and should be eaten in moderation.

7. I don’t salt my food, so why should I be concerned about sodium?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that people with diabetes consume less than 1,500 milligrams of sodium a day. That’s because a high salt intake can contribute to high blood pressure and heart disease, which both worsen diabetes symptoms. Although many people avoid picking up the saltshaker the main sources of sodium are actually packaged foods with added salt. There’s often a lot of added salt in processed foods. Look for labels that indicate ‘no salt’ on foods like canned tomatoes or beans. Rinse off canned veggies before cooking to wash away any residual sodium that may be used as a preservative.

8. Why do I need to limit my alcohol intake?

Men should consume no more than two alcoholic drinks a day and women should drink no more than one. Aside from the fact that calories from alcohol can add up, drinking on an empty stomach can cause a dangerous drop in your blood glucose level. It’s important to test your blood glucose before and after drinking alcohol to see how your body is affected.

9. I eat a healthy diet, so why am I still not losing weight?

Regular physical activity is just as important as eating a healthy diet in managing type 2 diabetes. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week. You can eat the healthiest diet in the world, but if you’re not moving, calories are still going to be stored as fat.

10. What’s the best way to keep my energy level up while watching my weight?

For weight management and keeping a consistent energy level, eat a combination of protein and healthy fat with your carbohydrates. Carbs digest more quickly, so when you incorporate protein and fat, it slows this process and prevents unhealthy spikes in your blood sugar. Be sure to eat three meals a day, about four hours apart, to control blood glucose and avoid overeating.

It’s common to have questions about your type 2 diabetes diet. By following the advice in these answers, you’ll be better able to control blood glucose and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

If you have more questions about a good diabetes diet plan, talk to your doctor or diabetes educator.”

More information about foods and a healthy meal plan can be found on our other blog posts by Diabetes Counselling Online Accredited Practising Dietitian Sally Marchini