When you are first diagnosed with diabetes one of the first people you will need see is a nutritionist/dietician,  who will probably be based at your medical centre. When you have just been told that you have diabetes – whether Type 1 or Type 2,  the restrictions about what you should eat, the need to lose weight, it can be a bit overwhelming.

Meals need to be planned and they need to be full of nutrition, but not loaded with carbohydrates. Depending on your weight  and overall health a dietician can provide you with a meal  plan that will meet the daily needs of a healthy diabetic diet and also help you lose weight.

To begin with one of  the main concerns with a diabetic diet is to make sure you are getting enough  food so your blood sugar does not drop too low.  Regular blood tests are essential because you need to monitor your  blood sugar levels to check for any spikes in your readings.  A dietician together with your diabetic nurse will guide you with this.

If you follow the recommended diet plan but it is not working successfully; maybe you are feeling hungry  afterwards or your blood sugar is too high, call your diabetic team.  They can give you advice over the phone to make immediate changes and then arrange an appointment to revise your dietary plan.

Your dietician may also recommend substitutions for your favourite foods. Losing weight with diabetes doesn’t need to be a chore. Just because you are a diabetic this doesn’t mean that you can never enjoy some of your favourite foods  that you thought you could never eat again.

Portion sizes are very important too when you are trying to lose weight. A good idea is to serve your meal on a pudding-sized plate rather than a dinner plate. ( A smaller portion but it looks just as big as before on a smaller plate!)  In truth there are not many foods that you can’t have as a diabetic as long as you planning your meals accordingly, get plenty of exercise and eat in moderation.

Of course ideas change as new research comes along, but your dietician or nutritionist will have the updates as soon as they are published. Try to follow their advice and combine foods the way  you have been taught by your diabetic support  team. Always call your dietician for advice if you are unsure about any aspect of your  diet. And always wait for their advice before you change your food or medication regime.