Diabetes Diet: Glycemic Index, Dining Out & Healthy Foods

For individuals with Type 2 diabetes, choosing foods with a low glycemic load is essential. Learn how to dine out safely at places like McDonald's and which nuts and proteins best support blood sugar stability.

Burger with sesame, fries, pickles and lettuce salad

What Can a Diabetic Eat at McDonald's?

The average fast food meal provides as many as 1,000 calories, according to the American Diabetes Association. Because diabetics need to limit their intake of calories, fat and sugar to control their blood sugar levels, eating at McDonald's may prove challenging.

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Grilled corn with toppings

Is Corn a Bad Food to Eat With Diabetes?

If you are diabetic, well-meaning friends or family might have warned you away from corn as a starchy, carbohydrate-rich food you shouldn't eat. But corn offers plenty of nutritional benefits that make it worth the extra effort to include it as part of a balanced diabetic diet.

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honey cheerios

Can Diabetics Eat Too Many Cheerios?

Cheerios is one of the many popular breakfast cereals regularly consumed by many Americans, including diabetics. These breakfast cereals are low in fat, low in sugar and contain a type of fiber called soluble fiber, which has been shown to help lower LDL cholesterol levels.

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Sliced pizza on chopping board, overhead view

Can a Diabetic Eat Pizza & Chinese Food?

A person with diabetes can eat anything, so you can certainly include pizza and Chinese food on your menu. This doesn’t mean you can eat either type of fare with abandon or without consideration of other foods on your menu for the day.

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Faceted glass of whiskey with ice and a decanter

Diabetics & Whiskey

Having diabetes means you must be vigilant about closely monitoring your diet, but if you find yourself at a bar with friends, don't throw caution to the wind. Although diabetics can safely consume spirits because they're low in calories, be careful about enjoying whiskey in a mixed drink.

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Raisins in a glass

Should Diabetics Eat Raisins?

These days, diabetics aren't restricted to the dietary limitations of prior years, and eating fruits such as raisins is completely acceptable even when you're trying to control your blood sugar levels. The key is to balance your intake of carbohydrates with fat and protein to prevent major blood glucose fluctuations.

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The Glycemic Index Table of Fruits & Vegetables

The glycemic index, abbreviated GI, is a great tool to evaluate the quality of carbohydrate-containing foods. Foods with a low GI result in more even blood sugar levels after eating, while foods with a higher GI cause larger fluctuations in your blood sugar levels.

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Stack of Homemade Corn Tortillas

Corn Tortillas on a Diabetes Diet

A healthy, balanced diabetes diet should include plenty of nonstarchy vegetables and moderate amounts of whole grains, fruits, starchy vegetables, lean protein and low- or nonfat dairy, says the American Diabetes Association.

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Fresh tapioca

Is Cassava a Diet Alternative for Diabetics?

Cassava is widely cultivated as a food crop in tropical and subtropical areas of Africa, Asia and Latin America. The starchy roots of this plant are used to make tapioca and many other foods. If cassava is not properly prepared, it contains toxic compounds that may increase your risk of developing diabetes.

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Can Diabetics Eat Semolina Flour?

Choosing food for a diabetic diet can be confusing, especially when it comes to deciding which starches you can safely consume. Diabetics are discouraged from consuming white flour because of its impact on blood sugar, but semolina flour may be permissible in small servings for some diabetic patients.

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close-up of a woman removing blood from her finger for a blood test

1200 Calorie Diabetic Meal Plan

Diabetics need to watch their dietary intake, limiting foods that contain high amounts of sugar and carbohydrates. A doctor may recommend a certain calorie intake each day to help with weight loss.

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Seniors cooking

Basic Foods for Elderly Diabetes Patients

By the year 2025, two-thirds of the people who have diabetes will be age 60 or older, reports a 2009 article in the "International Journal of Diabetes Mellitus." Along with this medical condition, older diabetics are more likely to have hypertension, cardiovascular disease or dyslipidemia as well.

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Medical ampoule with insulin syringe and two ampoules behind

What Happens When Diabetic Eats Sugar?

Whether eating sugary food or just plain bread, the body breaks them down and converts them into glucose, or simple sugar, because the body primarily uses this form of energy. In diabetics, the body lacks enough insulin to help absorb glucose in the bloodstream, or doesn't respond to insulin at all.

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Hummus and Carrots

Can Diabetics Eat Hummus?

If you have diabetes, you know the importance of maintaining stable blood glucose levels -- and that certain foods can trigger spikes or help keep them stable. The main ingredient in hummus is chickpea, also called garbanzo bean.

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Whole grain bagels with jam and butter on the side.

Can Diabetics Eat Bagels?

A small oat bran bagel contains 176 calories, 2.5 g of fiber and almost no saturated fat. You can eat bagels on a diabetes diet, but choose whole grain bagels instead of bagels made from processed and refined grains.

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