Low-Carbohydrate Diabetic Diet

Diabetics have to watch their blood glucose levels, which makes a low-carbohydrate diet a great option. A low-carb diet should not be confused with a zero-carb diet. You should have carbs in your diet in the form of vegetables, whole grains and some fruit to keep your blood sugar levels stabilized. Before you start this diet or any diet, be sure to consult with your doctor to make sure it is safe for your particular health issues.

How the Diet Works

When carbohydrates enter the body, they convert to glucose. How quickly the carbohydrates convert to glucose depends on whether a carbohydrate is refined or unrefined.
Refined carbohydrates are processed foods that have been stripped of their nutrients. White bread, white rice and white pasta are examples of refined carbohydrates that quickly convert to glucose in the body.
Unrefined carbohydrates, on the other hand, are slowly converted to glucose and do not cause spikes in blood glucose levels. Whole vegetables and fruits, brown rice, beans, nuts and seeds are examples of unrefined carbohydrates that remain in a more natural state.
If you consume a large amount of refined carbohydrates, your body will produce too much glucose that, in essence, converts to fat.

What You Can Eat

If you have been eating a diet high in carbohydrates and cut down your daily carbohydrate intake to under 125 grams, you should lose weight. Follow a daily intake of the following:
14 servings of proteins in the form of meats, fish, shellfish, poultry and eggs.
8 servings of fat
1 serving of nuts
5 servings of vegetables
4 servings of starches (grain, pasta, and breads)
2 servings of fruit
0.5 serving of dairy
(See Understanding Food Servings under Resources, where you will find a listing of individual food items, to determine the various serving sizes of each item under the food categories.)

What You Can't Eat

Avoid all processed, refined carbohydrates. These include white bread, white pasta, white rice, cakes, cookies, candy, cereals (sugar-filled variety), crackers, pretzels, soft drinks (regular, not diet) and fruit juice (sugar-filled variety).