DIETARY GUIDELINES FOR DIABETES

FOOD GROUP FOODS ALLOWED / AVOIDED

CEREALS Foods allowed : wheat, daliya, rawa, bajra, nachani, oats, jowar, barley,
rye etc
Foods restrict : rice , corn
Foods avoided : maida and all products made from maida like bread,
khari, toast, butter etc.
PULSES Foods allowed: whole pulses like chole, rajmah and dals like mung,
masoor, tur etc.
Foods avoid : none
FRUITS Foods allowed: have just 2 servings of any of these fruits preferable with
skin. Eg. Apple, pear, papaya, guava etc.
Foods avoided : banana, mango, chickoo, custard apple, grapes and
jackfruit
VEGETABLE Foods allowed: all vegetable like doodhi, turai, brinjal, cauliflower,
onion, tomato etc. eat vegetables like cucumber with skin.
Foods avoided: all starchy vegetables like potato, sweet potato, arbi,
suran , raw banana etc.
NON VEG Foods allowed: egg white, chicken and fish
Foods avoided: egg yolk, mutton, beef, shell fishes like prawns, crabs,
organ meats like kidney, brain, liver etc. as they are red meat and rich in
cholesterol.
MILK AND MILK Foods allowed: skim milk and skim milk products like curd, paneer etc.
PRODUCTS use cow’s milk instead of buffalo’s milk.
Foods avoided : avoid whole milk and milk products
BEVERAGES Foods allowed: soups, limbu pani, buttermilk, milk, tea, coffee etc.
Foods avoided : all fruit juices – canned as well as fresh, coconut water,
soft drinks, sherbets, sugarcane juice etc.
NUTS Foods allowed: almonds, walnut and flaxseed
Foods avoided: coconut, peanut, cashew nuts, raisins and all other fruits.
MISCELLANEOUS Foods allowed: roasted snacks like chana, popcorn, poha, kurmura, upma
etc.
Foods avoided: papad, pickles, chutneys, farsan, fried foods, sugar,
jaggery, honey, mithais, chocolates, icecreams, sabudana and all junk
foods and fast foods.

NOTE:

1. Insulin or medications to be taken as per doctor’s advice. Prefer small frequent meals.

2. Oils to be used for cooking prefer MUFA over PUFA oils e.g. Groundnut, mustard, till,
saffola (gold) or rice bran oil. Avoid coconut, palm oil for cooking.

3. Exercise daily 30 minutes neither brisk walking, jogging etc.

4. Drink plenty of water daily, at least 12-15 glasses in a day or more as required by you or
as instructed by doctor according to other medical condition.

5. Use nonstick cookware for cooking your food.

6. Avoid Vanaspati, margarine, bakery products like cakes, pastries, biscuits etc.

7. Avoid large bulky meals. Prefer 5-6 small frequent meals in a day.

8. Have a dinner at least 2-3 hours before bedtime.

9. Limit the use of ghee and butter. (Oil : 4 tsp per day per person (20 g) & ghee : 1 tsp per
day per person (5 g) [ ½ kg or ½ liter oil per person per month is sufficient]

10. Fenugreek (methi) seeds will help to control blood glucose levels. Therefore, methi seeds
should be soaked overnight and should be taken with 1 glass of water in the early
morning.

11. Almonds should be soaked overnight and peeled before eating for better absorption of the
nutrients. Almonds help to control post meal/ post- prandial BSL. Walnuts will help to
control serum cholesterol levels.

12. Flaxseeds should be taken in powdered form as it will increase the omega 3 fatty acid’s
absorption. These are anti-inflammatory (prevents inflammation). As it contains PUFA’s
which reduces the bad cholesterol. It should be taken immediately after a meal / along
with a meal.

13. 7-8hrs of sleep at night is essential to speed up the healing process.

14. Handful of Roasted watermelon seeds (1-2 tsp) can be consumed to maintain your blood
glucose/sugar levels.

15. Avoid skipping meals as it will fluctuate your blood glucose levels (can lead to
hypoglycaemia).

16. Limit tea/coffee intake as it will dehydrate your body, affect nutrient absorption, and can
lead to acidity as well. To prevent acidity/increased acid production- avoid having
tea/coffee as the first thing in the morning. Instead eat something and then have
tea/coffee.

17. Prefer Green tea as it is rich in antioxidants.

18. Early morning warm lemon water will help to maintain stomach pH, detoxify and will
increase iron absorption as it is good source of vitamin C.
19. Isabgol will help to control your blood glucose levels, cholesterol as well as weight as it
contains soluble as well as insoluble fiber which is best for treating constipation as well.
But it should be a packed one and non- flavored.

20. Relaxation techniques like yoga, meditation, listening to soft music for at least 10-15min.
daily will help to reduce mind and body stress, and will help your body to heal faster.

NIRALI PANDYA
Dietitian
02262360261