The American Diabetes Association says diabetics can enjoy a more flexible diet than previously thought if they are willing to monitor their blood sugar closely.
The ADA issues new dietary guidelines for diabetics in the May issue of Diabetes Care.Instead of recommending precisely how much sugar, carbohydrates and other compounds diabetics could eat daily, the new guidelines suggest that they develop individualized diets with help from registered dieticians.
"Diet sheets no longer work. There is no single diabetic diet," said ADA President-elect Dr. Kathleen Wishner.
For many diabetics, the new rules mean the days of shunning dessert are over, she said. Instead, patients must make up for an indulgence by watching what they eat throughout the day and monitoring their blood-sugar and insulin levels closely.
"The more involved the patient is willing to be, the more flexible the diet can be," Wishner said. "Someone who is willing to test their blood sugar more frequently can vary their diet more."
But patients do need professional help, because diabetes reacts very closely to diet, both to what nutrients patients eat and to the total calories they consume, she cautioned.