Food and Weight Management for Diabetes
Food and diabetes
Food provides us with the energy to live life, and is vital for our wellbeing – affecting both body and mind. Enjoying food with friends and family is an important part of our social interactions and it’s no surprise that almost every celebration of life and achievements in our society – like christenings, birthdays and weddings – are celebrated with a gathering to enjoy food together.
Most people have a fairly good understanding of the healthy options in the foods they eat – meat with the skin on or off, low fat versus full-fat dairy, and so on – but do you know your food basics well enough to make the healthy choice when faced with a supermarket full of options? For example, are any fats better or worse than other kinds of fats for your health? What is a “low G.I. carb” and what kinds of food can you find them in?
Here is a link to a range of publications and background information around the Dietary Guidelines for all Australians.
This section and the Fact Sheets below contain the information that makes up the building blocks of a healthy diet.
Finding balance
Finding a balance between healthy everyday foods and occasional treat foods is the key to a sustainable eating plan that promotes both good health and an enjoyment of food. The everyday foods which make up a balanced diet give us energy, protein, antioxidants, fibre, vitamins and minerals and carbohydrate for fuel.
These are the essentials that help keep us healthy, and contribute to a strong immune system and healthy bones, teeth and skin. Making these foods a part of every day eating is the way to achieve a healthy diet, and the fact sheets on this page are full of ideas and information aimed at helping you make the steps to put this idea into practice.
Food, diet, weight management and body image are very important parts of diabetes management for all types of diabetes. These things also cause most people a lot of stress, anxiety and can lead to problems with your wellbeing and mental health. Likewise when you live with depression or anxiety, this can impact on your food choices and ability and motivation to remain active.
A healthy diet and regular physical activity are core parts of diabetes management and ensuring you have the best wellbeing.
Choosing healthy foods and being active will help manage your blood glucose levels and your body weight. Healthy eating for people with diabetes is similar to recommendations for everyone so there is no need to prepare separate meals or buy special foods.
Food and type 2 diabetes
Healthy eating can be enjoyed by the whole family. If you have type 2 diabetes then it is very important for your children and grandchildren to adopt a healthy lifestyle to give them the best chance of avoiding development of type 2 diabetes themselves.
All people with diabetes are advised to have a healthy eating plan and in fact all PEOPLE need this, diabetes or not. People with type 2 diabetes are often trying to lose or maintain their weight so it is important to work with a health care team to set out a healthy eating and activity plan that will help you to reach your goals.
Sticking with a healthy eating plan is not an easy thing to do and support is very important. Often people have told us that they have to deal with “emotional eating” and other habits that make it hard to make changes in eating and lifestyle.
If you have type 2 diabetes you may be told at diagnosis just to “lose some weight” and your diabetes will “settle down” but you are left wondering how to do this and often too embarrassed to ask for help.
Some people who are overweight or obese feel very self conscious about exercising and find it very hard to get started on an activity programme. Support and counselling can help you to overcome some of these worries and help you take the first steps
Type 1 diabetes, blood glucose and food
Management of blood glucose levels for people with type 1 diabetes can be particularly complex and the types and amounts of foods, as well as the timing of meals and snacks, form a central part of daily management.
Managing blood glucose levels for a person with type 1 diabetes is centred around trying to match the insulin dose to the carbohydrate in the food you are eating. There are different types of insulin and various regimes and ways of delivering insulin.
With the use of insulin pumps and new insulin that gives us the ability to eat more freely and take the required insulin dose, you can be more flexible in the time of meals and the amount of carbohydrate in meals and snacks. If you have type 1 diabetes you/your family will need to learn how to plan food, insulin and activity to best manage your blood glucose levels.
It is recommended that all people with type 1 diabetes see a dietitian who has experience in working with people with type 1 diabetes to help you develop the best way of managing for you as an individual.
Healthy Eating for all ages
There is no longer a real “diabetic diet”. Instead, a balanced diet with lots of healthy wholegrains and fruits and vegetables is recommended – just as it is for the rest of the population. Yet there are some challenges to achieving a healthy diet for particular populations, such as young children who may be fussy eaters, and older adults who may have lost interest in food.
GUIDES TO FOOD AND DIABETES
Below our guides offer some suggestions for overcoming barriers to healthy eating for all ages and stages.
Food and Toddlers with Diabetes
Food For Primary School Children with diabetes
Food and nutrition for older adults with diabetes
Food and nutrition for carers of older adults with diabetes
Diets and Weight Loss – managing the maze!
There are well-known, scientifically-proven benefits to maintaining a healthy body weight, and this is particularly important for people with diabetes. Having an awareness of the benefits of weight loss, however, can make some people think that the best thing they could possibly do for their health is to lose as much weight as possible, as quickly as possible… but is this really best for your health?
Although there is no “diabetic diet”, there are sometimes a few extra challenges that people with diabetes may need to keep in mind when deciding what to eat – for example, when exercising, or in social situations – particularly where there may be alcohol. These fact sheets are designed to give you some ideas in case these issues crop up, to help you handle them with a minimum of stress, frustration, and confusion.
Most of the fact sheets below have been written in conjunction with our dietitians and discuss some popular diets, as well as giving advice on setting up the right attitude and skills to eat well for life.
social situations and diabetes
motivation and change for weight loss
planning for healthy eating with diabetes
goal setting for a healthy life
Healthy Goals and Action Plans
Type 1 Weight Matters
The period of diagnosis of type 1 diabetes can mark a difficult time in the lives of people with type 1 diabetes and the impact can extend to the loved ones, work colleagues and peers of those newly diagnosed.
Adjusting to living with type 1 diabetes can often lead to a struggle with insulin intake, particularly as changes take place in diet and exercise.
Issues of control over blood glucose and diet can lead to concerns about body image and management of diabetes. The sudden and extreme weight loss in the period prior to diagnosis, followed by weight gain as the body becomes healthy again following insulin commencement, can be hard to manage for some.
Type 1 diabetes can be particularly hard to manage as it is usually diagnosed in childhood or young adulthood (although it can occur at any age), impacting on one of the most exciting and dynamic points of a person’s life. It is at this time that other areas of life are key focuses; including work, education, relationships and travel. Therefore, learning to manage a newly diagnosed medical condition can often seem like a daunting task.
Some weighty issues facing Australians with type 1 diabetes
Living with type 1 diabetes and its impact on lifestyle, can often be difficult to accept for many people newly diagnosed with diabetes. With the current focus on the growing number of Australians who are overweight or obese, and with body image stereotypes portrayed with increased frequency in the media, people are suffering complexities and pressures around body image. Just like anyone else, particularly in the teenage years, people with type 1 diabetes have complexities and concerns around self-esteem, image and body weight. Along with this they have diabetes to deal with.
While we’ve all heard of fad diets and nightmare exercise regimes, the key point of difference for people with type 1 diabetes is that there is a powerful but risky weight loss tool – the omission of insulin.
The relationship between insulin and weight gain
Insulin is a hormone that affects metabolism and other body systems. It enables most of the body’s cells to take up glucose – the body’s energy source – from the blood, storing it as glycogen in the liver and muscle.
Managing blood glucose levels requires a balance in the amount of food consumed, the level of physical activity undertaken and the amount of insulin absorbed. Blood glucose levels can also be affected by stress, infection, illness, medications and alcohol.
Exercise is a difficult area for people with type 1 diabetes. Often people exercise to stay fit and to help lose the weight they gain through insulin intake. However, exercise – especially when excessive – can lead to hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar or hypos) that in turn require glycogen. It is a cycle with which many people with type 1 diabetes struggle.
Skipping insulin to lose weight – survey results
In September 2008, an online survey conducted by Diabetes Australia – Vic and the Centre for Adolescent Health revealed that one in three respondents with type 1 diabetes who were specifically asked about whether they were living with eating disorders and diabetes, were regularly skipping or manipulating their insulin dose to gain control over their weight.
A total of 243 Australian people participated in the survey, including 201 with type 1 diabetes, revealing information about eating patterns and weight concerns in the resulting Insulin Misuse for Weight Loss research report.
Skipping and abusing insulin – the facts
- One in three (32.9 per cent) of the respondents to this survey about eating disorders and type 1 diabetes said they have skipped insulin as a way to help them lose weight;
- Almost half (48.5 per cent) of those respondents with type 1 diabetes who skip their insulin say they do so on a daily basis;
- Almost two in five (37.7 per cent) of those respondents with type 1 diabetes surveyed say they have taken less insulin than they required as a way to help them lose weight.
The wider implications and what this means
These statistics reveal an alarming trend for some people with type 1 diabetes who have problems with their weight and body image to use insulin to manage their weight – and highlights the need for an increased awareness among people with type 1 diabetes of the important role of insulin and how to manage this effectively to maintain healthy diabetes control and weight management.
While it is disturbing to think about, skipping or abusing insulin can lead to an earlier than expected onset of diabetes complications and an increased risk of death.
Complications of diabetes can include:
- Feet and eye problems, including amputation;
- Heart and blood problems;
- Erectile dysfunction;
- Nerve damage;
- Kidney complications.
The research also highlights the need for people with diabetes to talk with their General Practitioner (GP) or healthcare professional about their current therapy and how they can best manage their diabetes.
Diabetes and the potential for eating disorders
If a person with type 1 diabetes has an issue with insulin misuse, it can be a symptom of an underlying psychological problem or concern. Insulin misuse is sometimes carried out as a means of controlling deeper psychological issues, including depression.
Eating disorders are a very real danger for many people, particularly for teenage girls and young women, without even factoring in the increased risk of skipping or taking less insulin. The Insulin Misuse for Weight Loss research report revealed that one in four girls with type 1 diabetes who responded to the survey, had developed some sort of eating disturbance in their teenage years. We know from other research as well that eating disorders are twice as likely to occur in teenage girls with type 1 diabetes than in girls who do not have diabetes.
If you think that things have gotten out of control and perhaps there are issues with an eating disorder, you need to speak to someone in your health care team about seeking help. This can include both an eating disorder specialist and a diabetes management team working together with you.
I have type 1 diabetes – what does this mean for me?
Developing a healthy relationship with food and insulin can help prevent dangerous behaviors such as insulin misuse and restriction. It is important for people to embrace a balanced, flexible approach to eating. Whereas type 1 diabetes used to be about what you couldn’t eat, it is now more about learning that food is not the enemy and that it is possible to eat a wide variety of foods, maintain a healthy weight and balance this with appropriate insulin use.
If your diabetes, insulin use and/or weight, are areas of concern or confusion, there are people you can talk to, including family, friends and healthcare professionals.
It is important not to feel ashamed and to ask for help if you need it.
Healthcare professionals and GPs are equipped to help with these issues and are able to offer advice on the best way to lead a happy life, whilst effectively managing your diabetes. It is also important that you communicate openly with your healthcare team and inform them of any changes or concerns you experience in your management of type 1 diabetes.
Stay informed and understand the different options that are available. Most of all, it is important to have the courage to face up to, and completely understand, the risks and health implications associated with skipping or manipulating insulin.
I know someone with type 1 diabetes who may manipulate insulin intake – what can I do?
If you know someone who might be at risk of insulin manipulation, it is important to appreciate that it is a sensitive and difficult topic. It may well be frustrating and difficult for you to fully understand the issues; however offering support to a friend or family member can often make all the difference.
It is important to recognise the signs of insulin misuse and to understand that if it’s something you are concerned about, you are not alone. While insulin manipulation may be difficult to come to terms with, it is a common cause of concern for people with type 1 diabetes, their loved ones, work colleagues and peers.
Warning signs of ongoing problems with insulin misuse can include:
- changes in eating habits (eating more but still losing weight)
- unexplained weight loss
- unexplained hyperglycemia (high blood sugar)
- low energy levels
- frequent urination
While insulin abuse can be an uncomfortable and disturbing topic for many, misusing insulin for weight control is a very real health concern that requires further media awareness and public education.
Further support and information
See your local doctors or counsellor
Visit the Butterfly Foundation and Eating Disorders Australia
Check our Your Stories Page
Go to the Type 1 diabetes pages, for more information and stories about these topics