How should diabetics follow a healthy diet?

Diabetes is a long-term disease that is caused by too much glucose (sugar) in the blood. This happens because there is not enough of the hormone insulin.

If you have diabetes, it's important to make sure you eat a healthy diet and particularly control your sugar intake. You'll get diet advice from your doctor, specialist nurse, or dietician.

There's no need to buy special 'diabetic' foods - they tend to cost more and are just as high in fat and calories. Eat normal foods in moderation, instead.

Like everyone who wants to have a healthy diet, you should eat foods that are low in fat, sugar and salt, and high in fruit and vegetables.

Cut down on sugar

You don't need to eat a completely sugar-free diet. It's ok to eat a small amount of baked goods such as cake and cookies, which include sugar, and to spread ordinary jam on your toast.

Where possible, choose low-sugar or reduced-sugar options, for example using a sweetener rather than a sugar cube in your tea or coffee, or buying unsweetened fruit juice. Avoid drinks with added sugar such as carbonated drinks or soft drinks and squashes, as sugary drinks cause blood glucose levels to rise quickly.

Drinking

Alcohol can make hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels) more likely. So drink in moderation only - two units per day for women, and three for men - and avoid drinking on an empty stomach.

Eating out

If you're eating out and aren't sure when your food will be served, have a small snack at the time when you'd normally eat, and inject your insulin when the meal arrives. It's a good idea to keep a snack in your bag or pocket.

There are no foods that you need to avoid completely, so when you're at a dinner party you don't need to eat a different meal from other guests, but only have a small portion of any sugary foods that are served.

Losing weight

Being overweight can make it hard to control your diabetes.

If you want or need to lose weight you should do it slowly and carefully, rather than crash dieting. You should never skip meals as this can cause your sugar levels to fall quickly.