Diabetic foods and the diabetic diet: A British Diabetic Association Discussion Paper

The role of special ‘Diabetic’ foods in the diabetic diet is considered and the following conclusions are drawn. 1 Most diabetic foods provide slightly, but not substantially, less energy than comparable non-diabetic products. 2 Many diabetic foods have a higher fat content than their non-diabetic equivalents. This is contrary to the requirements of the 1984 Food Labelling Regulations. 3 Many diabetic products have a relatively high content of protein. 4 In percentage terms, the greatest difference between diabetic and non-diabetic foods remains that of carbohydrate content, particularly carbohydrate other than fructose or sorbitol. On a per portion basis (for instance per teaspoon of jam) the difference is relatively small and likely to be of minimal practical significance. 5 Diabetic foods cost between 1.5 and 4 times as much as their non-diabetic equivalents. 6 Some ordinary reduced-sugar/low-calorie products are preferable to diabetic products in terms of fat and energy content and cost. 7 The promotion and widespread availability of diabetic foods tend to delude patients into believing that these products are advantageous, or even necessary. Their existence also undermines current dietary teaching by implying that diabetics cannot eat normal foods. 8 Diabetic foods offer no significant physiological or psychological benefits to diabetic patients and can even be counterproductive to good diabetic control. There is no longer a need for special diabetic foods in the modern dietary management of diabetes.