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Eating Well

Although your question is important and very frequently asked on this site, it is one that I cannot specifically provide you with an answer. You will see in the resources at the end of this answer that a "one size fits all diabetic diet" doesn’t exist, nor does the recommendation to just "avoid sugar." What is important is to develop a healthy eating plan which includes using carbohydrate counting to provide you with the flexibility to enjoy your favorite foods and still control your diabetes.

Obtain a referral to a dietitian: The National Standards for Diabetes Care recommend that all people with diabetes should have a consultation with a registered dietitian to obtain an individualized assessment (includes analysis of your height, weight, activity level, laboratory values--especially glucose, A1C, lipids, and kidney function), a review of your eating habits (obtained after you keep a detailed food record for 3-7 days), and your food likes/dislikes. After assessing the above items, a dietitian would be able to advise you on the specific recommended amounts of carbohydrate, protein, and fat, and to help you learn about various meal planning guides, such as: carbohydrate counting, fat gram counting, the food guide pyramid, food labels, and exchange lists.

Please ask your physician to refer you to a registered dietitian who is also a certified diabetes educator, if possible. I can't emphasize enough the need for you to have a personal meeting with a qualified dietitian, to obtain the assistance you require. Most insurance companies do cover some level of diabetes education. And don’t forget to bring to this visit a list of your food likes and dislikes as well as a food record from a typical week, to ensure that you get advice that meets your specific needs.

Meanwhile, please be sure to explore the related questions and links. You can find basic information in the related links by entering "eating well" in the search box.