Diabetes, a non-communicable disease, is a condition in which blood sugar levels (glucose) are abnormally high. Though there is no cure for diabetes, one can live a happy and healthy life by religiously following the diabetic diet chart. 

So, if you or someone in your family has been diagnosed with diabetes, then incorporating the well-planned diabetic food chart can help keep the blood sugar level under control. After all, what you eat has a direct impact on the glucose level in your body.

In this informative blog, you will discover sugar patient diet chart that will enable a diabetic patient to keep the blood sugar level under control.

Diabetic Food Chart – 9 Best Foods For Diabetic Patients

The body of a diabetic patient doesn't produce enough insulin, and as a result, the glucose level doesn't normalise, leading to the building of the blood sugar level in the body. Therefore, a diabetic patients must have the following foods in the Indian diet chart for diabetic patient in order to manage diabetes.

1. Leafy green vegetables

   Leafy vegetables like spinach, kale, and others are an important part of diabetic diet chart because they are low in calories and rich in nutrients like Vitamin C. They are highly effective in reducing fasting blood sugar levels.

2. Cinnamon

   Cinnamon is another food that is an important part of the sugar diet chart for diabetic patient because of its antioxidant properties, which can control diabetes. As per research, cinnamon not only improves insulin sensitivity but also reduces blood sugar levels. 

3. Fatty Fish

   If you are non-vegetarian, then you can add fatty fish, like salmon, to your type 2 diabetic diet chart. Fish is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are beneficial for diabetic patients as they are at a higher risk of heart diseases. Moreover, they are also a rich source of protein that keeps you full for a longer time. 

4. Chia Seeds

   The next food item on the diet chart for diabetic patient is chia seeds. They are rich in fibre and low in digestible carbohydrates. The fibre lowers blood sugar levels by slowing down the rate at which food is digested.

5. Greek Yogurt

   Adding dairy items like Greek yogurt to the diet chart for diabetic patient is effective in controlling blood sugar levels as it is rich in probiotics. Moreover, Greek yogurt has fewer carbs than conventional yogurt. You can have it in place of meat as well.

6. Flaxseeds

   In addition to chia seeds, flax seeds should also be a part of the sugar patient diet chart because they contain insoluble fibres called lignans. They not only reduce the risk of heart disease but also keep a check on blood sugar levels.

7. Nuts

   The diabetic diet chart is incomplete without nuts, as they are a rich source of fibre. The daily consumption of nuts reduces inflammation and keeps HbA1c under control, thus lowering blood sugar. 

8. Garlic

   The next food item on a diabetic diet chart is garlic. According to studies, garlic is highly effective in reducing blood sugar and bad cholesterol levels in people with type 2 diabetes.

9. Strawberries
   

   The last food on our diabetic diet chart is strawberries. The antioxidant properties of strawberries help reduce insulin and cholesterol levels in people with type 2 diabetes. 

Related Read: Anjeer for Diabetes Management

9 Worst Foods That Shouldn’t Be a Part of Diabetic Food Chart

Certain foods cause a sudden spike in blood sugar levels. To avoid a high sugar level and the associated complications, make sure your well-planned sugar patient diet chart, doesn't include the following food items.

1. Processed sugar

   The worst food item for diabetic patient is processed sugar. The excessive intake of processed sugar has an impact on your weight, which affects your insulin receptivity, therefore increasing your glucose level.

2. Refined Flour and Ready-to-make cereals

   Refined flour is the next food item that you must not include in sugar patient diet chart. This is because refined flour is a simple carb, which leads to an increase in sugar levels. In the same way, ready-to-make foods have high GI levels, which means that their consumption results in a spike in blood sugar levels.

3. High Glycemic Index Fruits
   Certain fruits like bananas, grapes, and mango have a high glycemic index. Therefore, these fruits must not be a part of sugar patient diet chart. Avoid the juices of these fruits. 

4. Roots

   Another food items that should be excluded from the Indian diet chart for diabetic are roots like potato, carrot, radish, beetroot, etc. to your sugar diet chart. These roots are high in carbohydrates. The starch levels in them increase the glucose level. 

5. Whole milk products

   Whole milk products are not good for diabetic patients because they have high calories. So, replace whole milk with skimmed milk in your diabetic food chart.

6. Sodium-rich foods

   Sodium rich foods like pickles, papad, baked products increase the chances of high blood pressure level in diabetic patients. Therefore, these should be avoided in sugar patient diet chart.

7. Carbonated beverages

   Carbonated beverages have high sugar content, therefore these must be avoided in the diabetic diet chart for type 2 diabetic patients.

8. Red meat

   Non vegetarians’ diabetic patients should avoid red meat in their diabetic food chart because of the high content of saturated fats in red meat. Consumption of red meat raises not only blood sugar levels but also cholesterol levels. 

9. Coconut

   The last food item that must be avoided in the diabetic food chart is coconut because it is high in saturated fats. The consumption of coconut spikes blood sugar levels, therefore increasing the risk of developing heart problems. 

Interesting Read: 7 Healthy Indian Snacks for Diabetic Patients

Indian Diet Chart for Diabetic Patients: The Best Time to Eat Meals

The diabetic diet chart not only lays out the foods to eat and avoid but also recommends the best time to eat meals. 

1. Breakfast

   The diabetic patients should start the day with a glass of lukewarm water. As a part of diabetic diet chart, the diabetic patient must have a healthy breakfast within an hour and a half of waking up. Skipping breakfast is not recommended for diabetic patients as doing so results in a spike in blood sugar levels. 

2. Mid-Morning Snacks

   A diabetic patient must not have a long gap between meals. In between meals, you can have one whole fruit around 11 a.m.

3. Lunch

   The diabetic diet chart at lunchtime should focus on nutrient-rich foods. When hunger strikes after lunch, you can munch on diabetes-friendly snacks from Healthy Master. The sugar patient diet chart should have small meals every 4-5 hours. 

4. Dinner

   The dinner time recommended in the Indian diet chart for diabetic patient is 6-7 PM. Moreover, diabetic food chart for the dinner must be low in carbs and rich in fibre and protein. 

Final Words

A diabetic diet chart needs to pay utmost attention to the total calories, as the portion of the calories impacts the blood sugar. You must consult your doctor to understand your daily calorie count, which differs for all diabetic people. 

It is recommended to consult a doctor for a customised diabetic diet chart. Eating the right food at the right time and incorporating lifestyle changes can help you keep your blood sugar level under control. Healthy Master is a one-stop centre to buy diabetes friendly snacks online.