1. People with diabetes should only eat a special “Diabetes Diet”. Myth or Fact?
Myth - For people with diabetes, healthy eating is no different than healthy eating for anyone else. We do know that when we make healthy food choices (watching portion sizes, eating fruits and vegetables, limiting high fat and high added sugar foods) we can better manage diabetes. We also know that engaging in an overall healthy lifestyle behaviour including physical activity, not smoking, limiting alcohol and managing stress also play a very important role in managing diabetes.
2. People with diabetes should not eat carbohydrates. Myth or Fact?
Myth- Carbohydrates are the main source of energy in food, providing us with many important nutrients to stay healthy. People often think of carbohydrates as just bread or potatoes however, carbohydrates are found in all the food groups; milk, yogurt, fruit, vegetables, cereals, breads, rice, pasta, beans and lentils, which are all part of a balanced diet. Because carbohydrates have the biggest effect on blood sugars, it is important to spread them out over the day and to be mindful of your portion sizes.
3. People with diabetes should not eat bananas or grapes. Myth or Fact?
Myth - Any foods in moderation can be part of a well-balanced diet. Fruits and vegetables are a very important part of healthy eating and should not be eliminated. Keep in mind that often once we hear “diabetes” we feel that we need to change everything in our diet. However, while you may be motivated to make many changes all at once, we recommend starting with small changes to your lifestyle to result in big change in your health over time. Please refer to these interactive web series on Small Changes for Healthy Living:
Healthy Living Series
Dietitians of Canada
Andrea Lewis is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator with the Leduc Beaumont Devon Primary Care Network.
