Our Accredited Practising Dietitian and Nutritionist specialises in diabetes management. Having a healthy balanced diet is essential for diabetes management and optimal glycaemic control. Our nutritionist can provide you with expert dietary advice to help control blood glucose (sugar) levels and achieved a healthy weight.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a condition where your blood sugar levels are higher than normal. When we eat carbohydrate foods our body breaks it down into a sugar called glucose. A hormone called insulin helps transport glucose from the bloodstream into body cells, which can then be used as energy. Diabetes occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin, leading to higher glucose levels in the bloodstream.
High glucose levels in the bloodstream can lead to complications such as:
- Blurred vision
- Skin infections and slow wound healing
- Kidney damage
- Nerve damage
- Frequency urination
- Tiredness
Types of diabetes
- Type 1 diabetes: is the least common type of diabetes and occurs mainly in children or young adults. It is usually a genetic disorder where the pancreas does not produce any insulin.
- Type 2 diabetes: is the most common type of diabetes. People with type 2 diabetes are insulin resistant. Which means their pancreas is able to produce some insulin, but is not used properly by the body.
- Gestational diabetes: type of diabetes that can occur during pregnancy, due to hormonal changes. Your body cannot cope with the extra demand for insulin production resulting in higher blood glucose levels. It usually goes away once the baby is born.
Diabetes and diet
There is no special diabetes diet. Choosing healthy foods and being active will help manage your blood glucose levels and body weight. Here are some helpful recommendations to help improve your diabetes management:
- Eat regular balanced meals and healthy snacks, spread out throughout the day
- Swap high Glycaemic Index (GI) foods to low GI foods
- Limit foods high in saturated fat and processed sugar
- Aim for 150 minutes of moderate intense physical activity per week
If you would like a more personalised meal plan to help you manage your blood glucose levels, make sure to contact one of our dietitians’ today.