For diabetics, one of the most confusing aspects of the disease may be following a diet that's simultaneously healthy and satisfying.
Complicating matters further, plenty of misconceptions abound about what's best for diabetics to eat and not to eat.
The American Diabetic Association has published a book that aims to help debunk those ideas, "Sixteen Myths of a Diabetic Diet."
Amy Peterson Campbell, co-author of the book and a certified diabetes educator at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, says her patients often come to her believing many of the myths detailed in the book.
"Number one is that people with diabetes can't eat sugar. That's been kind of a longstanding myth," Campbell says.
While diabetics should not gorge on the sweet stuff, foods with sugar in limited amounts can play a role in a healthy eating plan -- even for a diabetic, Campbell says. For instance, it's OK to have a piece of cake on your birthday, but then you'd want to limit your consumption of other foods high in carbohydrates.
Conversely, diabetics should not assume that just because a food is sugar-free it's calorie-free, Campbell warns. Although sugar-free diet soda and gelatin does tend to live up to that billing, sugar-free ice cream or cookies often do contain some calories, she says. So taking a closer look at the label is often warranted.
Another myth that the book aims to debunk is that people with diabetes need to have different meals than everyone else in their family.
"We also want people with diabetes to realize that they can eat the same foods that people without diabetes can," Campbell says. "We all should be eating the same way."
Diabetics also should realize that they don't have to follow a fat-free diet. While people with diabetes are more prone to heart disease than others, they should not necessarily eradicate all fats from their diet, Campbell says. Fats such as olive and canola oils, nuts and seeds are healthier options.
But diabetics should also not go overboard when it comes to protein, Campbell cautions. It's not a matter of substituting a big steak for all that sugar and carbohydrates that they can no longer have.
Instead, it's wisest to seek a dietitian's guidance to learn how to balance one's meals according to their needs. "There's no one diabetic diet anymore," Campbell says.
The book ($14.95) is available through the American Diabetes Association, http:store.diabetes.org, or by calling (800) ADA-ORDER (232-6733).
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