[Medical Q&A] How should diabetic patients adjust their diet? Can they eat sweets?

Planner: Chinese Medical Association

Reviewer: Chen Wei, Chief Physician, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences

Dietary adjustment is very important for diabetic patients because dietary factors can directly affect blood sugar levels. A reasonable diet can not only help maintain normal blood sugar, but also reduce the risk of complications caused by diabetes. The diabetic diet should be based on foods with a low glycemic index (GI), control carbohydrate intake, and focus on balanced nutrition.

For diabetics, controlling carbohydrate intake is key. Carbohydrates are directly converted into glucose, which affects blood sugar levels. Therefore, diabetics should try to avoid refined carbohydrates, such as white rice, white bread, sweets, etc., and choose low GI foods such as whole grains, beans, vegetables and fruits. These foods are digested and absorbed slowly, which can help keep blood sugar stable.

In addition to carbohydrates, high-quality protein and healthy fats are also important parts of the diet for diabetic patients. Appropriate amounts of protein (such as chicken breast, fish, tofu, low-fat dairy products, etc.) and healthy fats (such as olive oil, camellia oil, nuts, seeds, etc.) can help maintain satiety, avoid overeating, and help control weight.

As for sweets, diabetics are not completely forbidden to eat them, but they need to control the quantity and frequency. Sweets usually contain a lot of sugar, which will quickly increase blood sugar levels. If you want to eat sweets occasionally, it is recommended to choose low-sugar desserts made with sugar substitutes (such as xylitol, stevia), or choose fruits with low natural sugar content (such as strawberries, blueberries, etc.). When eating sweets, you should also pay attention to pairing them with other low-GI foods to avoid drastic fluctuations in blood sugar.

In short, the diet of diabetic patients should focus on low GI foods, reasonably control carbohydrate intake, increase the proportion of protein and healthy fats, and avoid too much sweets. If you need to eat sweets, you can choose low-sugar or sugar substitute foods and control the amount and frequency of consumption. While adjusting the diet, combined with regular exercise and drug treatment, it will help to better manage blood sugar levels.