We understand that a diabetes diagnosis can put you and loved ones under pressure and induce anxiety, no matter how little. Despite this, we must work calmly in order to ensure that the right thing is done. There are tons of information out there – many false and many misleading. In this guide, though we do not address everything, we will highlight some key essential changes that you need to make in order to live a healthier, longer life.
One recurrent theme is to find diet solutions, lots of recommendations to lose weight, change lifestyle habits, increase daily exercise and many more. These things can become overwhelming and can make anyone feel intense pressure like having to:
- Research what diet to follow
2. Stop eating bread, rice, pasta, chocolate, fruits and all the food you love because they are full of sugar
3. Stop eating out with friends
4. Go to the gym every single day
5. Lose 15 kgs in 1 month
But what is the best diet to manage your diabetes?
Well, managing diabetes is no one size fits all. There’s no single plan that works for everyone. I repeat, there is NO SINGLE PLAN that works for everyone. It’s a combination of several factors which includes
- Weight
- Genetics
- Insulin Sensitivity
- Quality of Sleep
- Stress Level
- Lifestyle
At LECC, the endocrinology team factors all of this and we help you craft a personalized plan that suits your nutritional needs. The best diabetes diet is about finding the one that is tailored to you.
Here are some guidelines that you should ask yourself before adopting any kind of diet:
- Is this a sustainable way of eating?
- Is this going to stress me out or will I look forward for my meals
- Will you be able to commit to this long term even though it aims at achieving great results, whether it’s easy weight loss or better blood sugar control. If you can’t commit to it on a long-term basis, then it’s probably not the best way of eating for you.
- Rather than labelling food as good or bad, think about them as having higher or lower health benefits. Listen to your own body and watch how certain foods affect your blood sugar levels.
Because we know that individuals respond to exact same food differently, our Dietician helps patients manage their food choices to obtain optimal glycaemia control. We have virtual and physical consultation on our diet and nutrition clinic days. We focus on patient’s dietary choices and analyse responses to glucose and weight changes and we communicate this with our patients one to one.
Our dietician becomes part of your journey in adjusting your diet and helps reinvent how diabetes patients would interact.
Remember the key word is Moderation. Blood sugar can be well controlled when a variety of foods, especially carbohydrates, are consumed in appropriate amounts and distributed properly throughout the day.
Endocrinology team at LECC
- Endocrinologist
- Diet and Nutritionist
- Sleep Specialist