There isn't one "diabetes diet."  For most people with diabetes, a healthy diet consists of 40% to 60% of calories from carbohydrates, 20% from protein and 30% or less from fat.

What kinds of foods can I eat?

That needs to be determined by the nutritionist based on a thorough evaluation.

What are Carbohydrates?

Carbohydrates come from a wide array of foods - bread, beans, milk, popcorn, potatoes, cookies, spaghetti, corn, and cherry pie. They also come in a variety of forms. The most common are sugars, fibers, and starches. The basic building block of a carbohydrate is a sugar molecule. Starches and fibers are essentially chains of sugar molecules. Some contain hundreds of sugars.

Try to have fresh fruits rather than canned fruits (unless they are packed in water or their own juice), fruit juices or dried fruit. You may eat fresh vegetables and frozen or canned vegetables. Condiments such as nonfat mayonnaise, ketchup and mustard are also carbohydrates.

The digestive system handles all carbohydrates in much the same way - it breaks them down into single sugar molecules, since only these are small enough to cross into the bloodstream.

Fiber is an exception. It is put together in such a way that it can't be broken down into sugar molecules, and so passes through the body undigested.

What are Proteins?

They are complex substances found in many foods and are made up of thousands of small units called amino acids.  Proteins are the building blocks of the body. The different amino acids that make up proteins are important for growth, tissue repair and replacement. Bones, muscles, the walls of hollow organs - in fact almost every part of the body - needs a supply of amino acids in order to keep healthy. Protein is found in meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, beans and some vegetables. Try to eat poultry and fish more often than red meat. Don't eat poultry skin, and trim extra fat from all meat. Choose nonfat or reduced-fat dairy products such as cheeses and yogurts.

What are Fats?

Butter, margarine, lard and oils add fat to food. Fat is also in many dairy and meat products. Try to avoid fried foods, mayonnaise-based dishes (unless with fat-free mayo), egg yolks, bacon and high-fat dairy products.  When eating fat-free versions of foods, check the label to see how many grams of carbohydrates they contain. Keep in mind that these products also often have added sugar.

So, what should I eat?

Speak with a nutritionist to create a meal plan that is right for you.  A meal plan is a guide that tells you what kinds of food you can choose at meals and snack time and how much to have.