Diabetic Foods

What Are Diabetic Foods?

"In May 1994 the American Diabetes Association stopped recommending that people with diabetes avoid sugar."

"Gail Frank, a registered dietitian, professor of nutrition at California State University, Long Beach, and a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, calls diabetic foods a misnomer, because all foods can fit in the diet of people with diabetes. Just watch the overall calories and the percentage of calories from carbohydrate, fat, and protein that your physician and dietitian work out for you, she says."

Diabetes Wellness Letter

Joint statement on ‘diabetic foods’ from the Food Standards Agency and Diabetes UK

"‘Diabetic’ foods became popular in the 1960s when diabetes care focused on eating a sugar-free, low-carbohydrate diet." "In recent decades, diabetes care has focused on giving personalised advice about healthy food choices. This has replaced the concept of special ‘diabetic’ foods or a ‘diabetic’ diet."

British Diabetic Association

Position Statement on Diabetic Foods

"The concept of ‘diabetic’ foods or a ‘diabetic’ diet has long since been replaced by guidelines on healthy food choices and individualized advice on eating habits for each person with diabetes." "Total avoidance of sugar is now considered unnecessary. Consequently, the idea of legitimizing so-called ‘diabetic’ foods has also been outmoded."

Diabetes Federation of Ireland

Do I need to eat special diabetic foods?

"There is no need for anyone with diabetes to eat special diabetic foods like cookies, chocolate, jelly/jam or sweets. Instead you can eat ordinary chocolate, biscuits and jams as part of an overall balanced diet. The diabetic foods often cost a lot more, and tend to be just as high in fat and calories as ordinary products. They usually contain a bulk sweetener, such as fructose or sorbitol, which can have a laxative effect and make blood glucose levels rise. Diabetic foods are unnecessary and offer no special benefit to people with diabetes."

Anne Collins Weight Loss Program

Diabetic Foods - Trick or Treat

"'Basically, labelling these foods as diabetic is a con,' says Norma McGough [Diabetes UK's Head of Diet Information Services]. 'It plays on people's fears and guilt around 'treat' foods such as chocolate and biscuits, suggesting that it's safe to indulge in these - that they're guilt or worry free.'"

"'The sweeteners used in most of these foods (eg sorbitol, isomalt, fructose) are called bulk sweeteners; that is, they are sweeteners that contain calories - just like ordinary sugar does. But they're not classed as sugars, so when manufacturers use them in foods, they can label the foods 'sugar free' - even though they still raise blood glucose levels.'"

"'Some of the bulk sweeteners have a laxative effect. This can be especially harmful for elderly people with digestive problems, and for children. To make matters worse, these foods are just as high in fat and calories as standard foods so they also undermine good weight management.'"

Diabetes Insight
http://www.diabetes-insight.info/media/balance/1999/n079902.htm