Every person who is diagnosed with Diabetes type II or is preDiabetic should ask their MD about what diet is best or ask to speak to a dietician. Every person is different, but as a general rule, if you have Diabetes type II, your goal should be to keep your HgA1C and blood sugar as low and stable as possible (without huge surges & dips). Blood sugar elevations (mainly caused by carbohydrates and all sugars [from milk, fruit, even carb-rich vegetables if excessive]) and dips, increase molecular signals in the body (ie, VEGF) to produce new, abnormal blood vessels in the eye and everywhere else in the body. These abnormal new blood vessels/capillaries easily bleed and then cause scar tissue to form and thus blindness in the eye.
Here are the best foods to eat if you have Diabetes. It can be a tough lifestyle change, but it is not impossible. Further, we find that if you offer up this new cross for someone you love or want to see grow up, it might be a little easier.
All the recommendations below assume your primary MD agrees based on your medical history and no allergies to item.
All recommendations below assume items are not “sugar coated” or have any sugar; ideally with minimal salt.
Best:
1. Green leafy vegetables (spinach, kale, romaine lettuce, collard greens): as much as you want
2. Other vegetables are good too: see list below. Some veggies have more sugar so should be used in moderation
3. Fish: ideally wild
4. Foods high in Omega 3 & low carb: seeds & nuts
3. Low carb foods:
a. https://drcremers.com/2014/03/a-doctors-diet.html
Best to Drink:
1. Water (or lemon water or vitamin water but all without sugar); STEVIA is likely ok for most patients.
2. Tea (without sugar)
3. Almond Milk: you will get used to it.
4. Coffee (without sugar)
5. Avoid natural juices; avoid milk
6. Diet soda likely causes other issues (reports of it linked to osteoporosis, etc): but may be better option than carbohydrates if you have a craving.
Best treats:
1. Nuts,
2. Seeds
Seaweed (toasted with some salt is best)
3. Sugar free, xylitol based gum, xylitol candies
4. Sugar free chocolate
- Small Amounts of Lemon or Lime
- Rhubarb
- Raspberries
- Blackberries
- Cranberries
- Strawberries
- Casaba Melon
- Papaya
- Watermelon
- Peaches
- Nectarines
- Blueberries
- Cantaloupes
- Honeydew melons
- Apples
- Guavas — Pineapple Guavas (Feijoa) and Strawberry Guavas are probably similar, but information that directly compares them is not available
- Apricots
- Grapefruit
- Plums
- Oranges
- Kiwifruit
- Pears
- Pineapple
- Tangerines
- Cherries
- Grapes
- Pomegranates
- Mangos
- Figs
- Bananas
- Dried Fruit, such as dates, raisins, dried apricots, and prunes
Low-Carb Fruit List: The Best and the Worst Fruits
Choose Low-Sugar Fruit
Written or reviewed by a board-certified physician. See About.com’s Medical Review Board.
glycemic index or glycemic load ( South Beach , Zone ), while others just look at total carbs ( Atkins , Protein Power ). Also, some diets (Atkins, South Beach) don’t allow fruit at all in the first phase. In general, your best bet fruits are the ones near the top of this list, but do check carb counts . This list is roughly arranged by sugar content according to the USDA database, based on a half-cup serving of fruit.
Fruits Lowest in Sugar
- Small Amounts of Lemon or Lime
- Rhubarb
- Raspberries (more about berries on low carb diets)
- Blackberries
- Cranberries
Fruits Low to Medium in Sugar
- Strawberries
- Casaba Melon
- Papaya
- Watermelon
- Peaches
- Nectarines
- Blueberries
- Cantaloupes
- Honeydew melons
- Apples
- Guavas — Pineapple Guavas (Feijoa) and Strawberry Guavas are probably similar, but information that directly compares them is not available
- Apricots
- Grapefruit
Fruits Fairly High in Sugar
Fruits Very High in Sugar
- Tangerines
- Cherries
- Grapes
- Pomegranates
- Mangos
- Figs
- Bananas
- Dried Fruit, such as dates, raisins, dried apricots, and prunes