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1. The diabetic diet is planned to provide a well balanced, nutritionally balanced diet. As with any diet, it is important that there are plenty of all essential nutrients to ensure good health, satisfactory growth and development.
2. Maintain ideal body weight for height and age. Particular emphasis is placed on the energy or calorie content of the diet to be sure that weight gain is satisfactory and obesity does not develop. There will be regular dietary reviews as your child becomes older. Sometimes, particularly in teenage girls, the energy content of the diet may need to be reduced to avoid obesity.
3. Help maintain blood glucose levels within satisfactory limits. This requires restriction of sugar and sweetened foods, a constant intake of carbohydrate spread over the day, and regular times for meals and snacks.
The diabetic diet uses normal foods and can be enjoyed by all members of the family. There is no need for a person who has diabetes to have meals prepared separately for them. The main principles and guidelines for a diabetic diet are consistent with the Australian Dietary Guidelines for better nutrition and health for all the community. They are as follows:
1. Eat a variety of foods each day.
2. Prevent and control obesity.
3. Decrease fat intake in the diet.
4. Decrease consumption of sucrose in the diet.
5. Limit alcohol consumption.
6. Increase intake of bread, cereals, fruit and vegetables.
7. Reduce salt intake.
8. Encourage intake of water.
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