Why Dietary Changes are Important in the Management of Diabetes

Have you recently been diagnosed with diabetes or are unsure of what to eat to help manage your blood sugar levels? 

Diet can play an important role in the management of diabetes. Whether you have type 1, type 2 or gestational diabetes, seeing a dietitian can be beneficial in helping to keep your blood sugar levels under control. 

What is diabetes? 

Diabetes is a chronic health condition affecting many Australians. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 1.3 million Australians or roughly 1 in 20 people within Australia, have diabetes1. 

Diabetes occurs when an individual either cannot produce enough of a hormone called insulin, or this hormone does not work as effectively as it should. Insulin is an important hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. When insulin does not work effectively or not enough is produced in the body, the amount of glucose or sugar in the blood remains high. If blood sugar levels continue to remain elevated, over time this can cause serious health problems such as kidney disease, increased risk of heart disease and damage to the eyes and feet2. 

How diet can help

When we eat foods containing carbohydrates, this carbohydrate breaks down into glucose or sugar. This increases our blood sugar levels and the hormone insulin is required to help move this excess glucose from our blood into our cells. However, as mentioned above, this is difficult to do when a person has diabetes. 

Thus, it is important for people with diabetes to control both the amount and types of carbohydrate foods eaten to help manage their blood sugar levels. In some cases, some people with diabetes may also require medications and/or insulin injections to also help control their blood sugar levels in combination with a healthy diet. 

What are carbohydrates?

Carbohydrate foods can be categorised into 2 main groups –  low GI (or slow release carbohydrates), and high GI (or quickly-digested carbohydrates). GI or the glycaemic index, refers to the quality of carbohydrates foods, based on how slowly or quickly they affect our blood sugar levels.

Low GI or slowly digested carbohydrates are deemed as better-quality carbohydrates as they keep us feeling fuller for longer and are much more stable on our blood sugar levels. Often these carbohydrates are rich in fibre which helps to stabilise blood sugar levels. These include foods such as wholegrain bread, wholemeal pasta, basmati rice, sweet potato, wholegrain cereals and crackers, fruit, milk, low sugar yoghurt and legumes. 

On the other hand, high GI or quickly digested carbohydrates, are often characterised by their high sugar content and tend to be very processed meaning important nutrients such as fibre are often removed. As a result, these foods tend to spike blood sugar levels and often lead to a sudden crash soon after. These foods include sugar, lollies, biscuits, cakes, chips and sugary drinks such as soft drink, cordial and fruit juice. 

How a dietitian can help

A dietitian can help you manage your blood sugar levels by providing advice on better quality carbohydrate choices and helping you to control portion sizes of these carbohydrate foods. 

It is important to remember that whilst it is helpful to choose good quality carbohydrates such as low GI options, another important aspect is monitoring the portions of these carbohydrates at meal and snack times. Thus, dietitians are able to provide individualised advice on the appropriate amounts and types of carbohydrates you should be eating at meal and snack times based on your taste preferences, cultural considerations and also taking into account your current medications. 

Need more help? Our dietitian Danica can assist. Check out our contact details to book in a session with her. 

REFERENCES 

1Australian Bureau of Statistics 2023, Diabetes, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra, accessed 11 October 2024, https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/health-conditions-and-risks/diabetes/latest-release#diabetes-prevalence%E2%80%8C.  

2Diabetes Australia 2024, What is Diabetes, accessed 11 October 2024, https://www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/about-diabetes/what-is-diabetes/.