Papaya is better than any of those foods for diabetics, can´t believe the author missed it.

YUM! Yes, both papaya and mangoes are wonderful! ; - )

Papaya and mangoes are good but high in sugar.

When assessing the effect of foods on diabetics, I think there are 3 things to consider:

The general health value, like all these foods mentioned are.

The glycemic index, essentially how quickly a carb enters your system. Sugar has high glycemic index while oatmeal is low. Lower is better as it is a spike that diabetics should avoid.

Portion control. While oatmeal, dark chocolate and mangoes are good for you, too much will raise blood sugar. Of course a diabetic could increase insulin, but that is where weight gain happens.

It's a disease that is difficult but controllable.

from the comments above and below, it is obvious that few folks really understand nutrition. A little knowledge is dangerous. Don't hand out facts unless you know what you are talking about. Berries do have sugar, but they are also high in fiber and that's a simple example of not really understanding nutrition. YES YOU CAN END YOUR DIABETIES. read 'EAT TO LIVE' by Dr. Joel Furhman. All these foods are in his diet. Dr. OZ uses his diet for his hardest patients.

The problem is most folks are simply lying to themselves and ARE NOT willing to do what it takes to really change their eating habits FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. Those who do, end their diabetes. It is that simple.

@Jessie:

Type 2 diabetes can be completely controlled by diet and exercise. Type 1 cannot. Dr. Oz fails to mention this significant difference, which is sad because of the national exposure he gets. The 2 types of diabetes are very, very different animals.

Berries! Yum! How should I have them? On ICE CREAM?! I'm diabetic! I can't eat ice cream! At least not as much as a 'cup of berries' would cover! Thanks for the advice. Some of these are good things some, well, not so good....

This is from Prevention Magazine.

They missed a few. What about cheeseburgers, hot dogs, pork chops, fried chicken etc. I keep my A1C at 6.0 by indulging in any kind of meat I desire and avoiding carbs. Kind of like the Atkins diet, I suppose but it works for me. Actually, it's not wise to completely do without carbs, I limit carbs to around 70 grams per day usually the carbs in veggies.

This is Great advise if you want to stay diabetic the rest of your life.

W Willly, sounds more like the Fatkins diet.

What you gain from the diet will be lost when you're fighting high blood pressure, clogged arteries and having your gallbladder removed. For a minute I thought it was a sarcastic post.

I have a co-worker that is over 300lbs. She told me she HAS to drink breves for her Atkins diet. I've worked with her for 3 years. She is still over 300 lbs. When they say to cut down your carbs (processed whites, whole grains are still good, trust me) they didn't say make up for it by drinking grease...

@ Steve - I-m afraid that pretty much all diabetics stay diabetic for the rest of their life. There is no cure but some people can treat it such that the standard indicators drop back into the normal range.

As for the article I would be ever so much more impressed if they told me how a good beef steak and a bacon cheeseburger can be used to treat diabetes.

Actually, it's not wise to completely do without carbs.

Wet Willy - There is no mention in the article that diabetics or anyone else should completely eliminate carbs from their diets. BTW, A1c is an indication of the average plasma glucose concentration over prolonged periods of time. It isn't a measure of the tremendous amount of cholesterol that you are consuming in the cheeseburgers, hot dogs, pork chops, fried chicken etc., that you brag about eating. Your blood glucose levels might be average, but your arteries are probably quickly becoming clogged.

Is it just me, or did anyone else think that it is a bit contradictory that an article on foods that are beneficial for diabetics suggests putting walnuts, oats, etc., into brownies, cookies and bread?

@Scales- Clogged arteries are caused by LDL type B and vLDL (caused from refined carbohydrates and sugar) not LDL type A (which are big fluffly types of LDL caused by eating saturated fats in animal meats and eggs). I agree that vegetable oils (likely corrupted by heat) and processed meats is not healthy. However eliminating carbohydrates is VERY important to a type II diabetic. Below 50g of carbohydrates a day (those carbs coming from vegetables and fruits, ditch the dairy and grains) and a healthy intake of natural fats from meat and nut sources could benefit anyone, especially a type II diabetic. While willy is on the right track, atkins is misleading people that if its low carb, its ok. If man made it, don't eat it. Simple as that.

Rachel - You need to reread my post. I never suggested completely eliminating carbs from one's diet. Carbs are metabolized by the body into glucose and fructose, which are used as an energy source. The point of my post is that Wet Willy is misleading himself if he thinks that an average A1c reading is an indication that his high fat diet is healthy.

Im saying eliminating carbohydrates is a good thing. Diabetics do much better running off of ketosis than glucose and fructose. It keeps blood sugar levels much more stable.

Rachel, your info is good except the LDL. Small a, small b is the dense, sticky particles that cannot be removed by diet, exercise, or meds. However it does respond to Niaspan, which increases it's size so it can be flushed better. The large fluffy LDL particles are LDL C. I have LDL small a, small B, and didn't know it till almost too late. They have to do specific LDL particle profiles to find it-not the usual cholesterol screening. My hubby is diabetic and we use a gycemic index diet, keeps blood sugar(glucose) levels constant. There is a need for good carbs, grainy things that metabolize slowly. It's the processed breads and flours that are the bad carbs. Carbs from certain veggies are okay in small portions-the nutritional benefit outweighs the risk. Same goes for fruit sugars (fructose). You can eat what you want if you use common sense and watch portions. My husband stays away from saturated fats, processed food and refined flours, eats veggies, fruits, and fish and lean meats. He is careful with pasta (the thicker the better), rice, and grainy breads, has only small portions. Wet Willy needs to rethink his menu. My hubby was in denial about diabetes until he realized that, even tho he will always be diabetic, he can get it under control to the point of not needing meds. So he is concentrating on more exercise and better understanding of nutrition. Good health to everyone!

Rachel, I agree with most of your info, however, LDL C is the large fluffy particle and LDL small a,small b, are the dense sticky particles not removed by diet, exercise or meds. Niaspan does a decent job of increasing its siz e so it then can be flushed out. It also cannot be detected in normal cholesterol screening, you need to get an LDL particle profile. I almost found out too late that I had small a, small b LDL. Also, not all carbs are bad, and the good ones are necessary. The bad carbs include white flours, white potatoes,puffed rice, popcorn, sugar, High Fructose Corn Syrup, and processed foods,(which contain all or many of these things). Good carbs include fruits, veggies, legumes (beans), coarsely ground grains, stone ground grains bread, yams, some varieties of rice,and peanuts-in the legume family. Eliminating such nutritious and fiber rich foods would be harmful. Wet willy needs to rethink his choices and outlook.

@silly I disagree whole heartedly with your opinion that grains and beans are good for you. I challenge you to read about paleo nutrition and how harmful these things are.

Keep_it_cool 2.4

Nope, the post was not sarcastic. My weight remains constant as does my blood pressure. My cholesterol level is excellent thanks to my good friend Lipitor. Dietary guidelines for diabetic people, at least the ones I saw, generally counsel people to eat pretty much as they did before but in much lower quantities.

I prefer to do this my way and so far I believe I'm successful in maintaining control. The A1c in my opinion is a more accurate measure of how you're controlling diabetes. Daily or more frequent readings can be skewed because blood glucose levels, much like blood pressure, fluctuate constantly throughout the day.

Check your glucose levels right now and you may be happy with the results, or you may not and this is a recipe for unwarranted anguish. If you maintain a good A1c, you are as fine as can be expected.

P.S. I agree that grains and beans except in very small quantities aren't good for diabetics. Some things I had to give up to maintain a good A1c include pizza, pasta, rice, potatos.

To the person who asked about brownies, cookies, and dessert breads for diabetics, there are some really delicious sugar-free recipes for these items that walnuts or pecans can be added to. And when it comes to beef and pork, look for the word loin. Instead of ground beef, my husband and I eat ground bison - it's quite a bit leaner and, we think, more flavorful. My husband is proof that a diabetic can eat well and healthily.

Rachel, beans are full of protein and fiber. They also metabolize slowly and provide level blood glucose reading instead of spiking. Why aren't they good for you?

Gneisenau

Steve- I-m afraid that pretty much all diabetics stay diabetic for the rest of their life

Not true, I know at least 5 people personally including myself 25 years ago, who have changes their diet and other habits and are Now Cured of diabetes. No more insulin shots.

See the Move "Simply Raw, Reversing Diabetes in 30 Days" for more proof.

Your Dr. will tell you there is no cure but you will pay your Dr. lots of Money for the rest of your life on drugs, checkups and even surgeries.

The article does not say "eat it all in one meal". Diabetics know that they should eat several times a day, small portions. Food that is tasty AND good for you is usually best option. And yes, diabetics will be that for life, unfortunately. How they treat themselves will make all the difference in control and good long life ahead. My mom is 93, diabetic and very active. She eats everything she likes and includes all of the above--in moderation!!! She is NOT on insulin. I hope she makes it to 100.

farmed salmon.... ugh, that's terrible.

I was thinking the same thing about the salmon. The Omega 3/6 balance is all thrown off when the fish are eating nothing but corn. I only buy US wild-caught fish. The flavor and health benefits are worth the slight extra cost.

Dear pat84, Be careful buying farmed rasied salmon. They live in a small area in their own feces and have to be given antibiotics before they can be harvested. You in turn are ingesting those antibotics, which helps raise the resistance level to many of our antibbiotics. This has contributed to many of our super bugs today which our antibiotics will not kill. Also try using olive oil instead of butter when grilling your portabello mushroom. It is much more healthy than butter. Happy cooking.

@ Steve - Like I said some people can treat it with food and exercise so their markers all go back into the normal range. I suspect if they changed their eating habits back their markers would all shoot back up our of proper range. The fact is they are still diabetic. They just have it under great control. Good for them and I hope that control lasts their whole life. I also hope for their sakes if they were to ever need major medical care, they are smart enough to tell their doctors that they are diabetic but controlled. It's still important.

I'm diabetic too. It's something I know a lot about. I don't use insulin. Mine is controlled by drugs and diet. At times I have been able to keep my blood sugar low and my A1C down in the low 5's. Not quite back to normal. Some months It's a lot harder.

hey Pat84

i caught the fact that you said farm raised salmon- look into the nutrition difference between wild caught and farm raised. Wild caught has the Omegas that farm raised is missing . In farm raised they are not fed the natural foods found in the ocean and in fact their flesh is white so the fish handlers have to dye the flesh pink.

Wild pacific salmon, please. Farmed salmon can have artificial color, low food value, and be raised in a pen diseased in dirty water.

Salsify please post a link to an article backing up that assertion about farm raised salmon. I would be interested in knowing where you are getting your "facts".

I was shooting insulin because my Type 2 was so bad when I found out I was diabetic. After losing 25 lbs., however, I was not only off insulin but also glipizide. My blood glucose was steady at 85-98 all day! So, Steve-1019964, now you know a 6th person and Gneisenau, yes, a diabetic, while not being 'cured', CAN be insulin and meds-free!

Salsify is correct, Wild salmon is much better for you. Just do a google search for the differences.

Good comment. I also wondered why the article didn't specify that one should eat steel cut oats or regular oats that are not processed into instant oatmeal. Processed is processed. Anything processed is a very poor second choice to the non-processed version.

berries are one of the best food for blood sugar..The glycemic index is the sugar content..That is not a list of the rate of absorption.. because of the fiber content in berries, it is absorbed slower than a processed food, or a food not designed for us like milk.. How many people develop diabetes that are eating regular portions of fruit before hand.. I agree the instant oats is a non no..

Berries are low on the glycemic index, under 55. Instant oatmeal is medium, between 55-70. Fat free milk is low, under 55, so is good for you and can slow the absorbtion of a higher indexed food if ingested with it. I agree with the steel cut or even rolled oat choice over instant, but even instant is okay if that's the only way some one will eat it, just don't eat it every day.

Not true: some diabetics think they can outsmart sodas and juices with their insulin!!

There are low sugar instant oats available, and they are good. Berries have NATURAL sugars, not processed, so they are good for you in MODERATION. As for fruit juice, it counts as a serving of fruit.

It also lowers cholesterol for type 2 diabetics. A half a cup of pomegranate juice daily will also lower blood sugar and cholesterol. And, 2 tablespoons of vinegar before a meal will slow the rate of absorption of carbs, slowing the rise in blood sugar. Think vinaigrette on your salad or a swig of pickle juice.

The only problem with using cinnamon to lower blood glucose is the amount that has to be consumed per day in order for it to work.

In addition eliminate refined sugar. I use organic molasses, organic honey, organic brown sugar, or organic maple syrup. The big thing to eliminate is High Fructose Corn Syrup (Corn Sugar) because so many food items contain it and it will spike your glucose levels. Also all sugar substitutes should be avoided because they are completely unsafe for consumption.

@Fog. Just because its organic doesn't mean it doesn't spike blood sugar as much. Organic sugar is just as bad as refined. They are both bad. HFCS is a bit higher on the sweetness scare but not by much. The best idea is to cut out ALL extra sugar sources. Keep to berries which are low in sugar.

Just make sure you are getting real cinnamon and not cassia. Real cinnamon is hard to come by. Cassia is what you find in the store. It is toxic in large amounts. Even cinnamon sticks are cassia. Real cinnamon rolls into a single scroll. Cassia makes a double scroll.

I realize a lot of people say sugar is sugar. Sugar is how type-2 diabetics got in the situation in the first place. Many still cannot totally give up sweets and a sweet that spikes sugar levels less is preferable. Natural, unrefined sugars are better than the opposite. Yes, please drastically reduce sugars in general. But use a sugar that hurts least, if you need to use a sweetener. The benefits of organic cinnamon and organic turmeric should be included in your daily diet as well.

Wow, are you from the stoneage? Sugar is not the only reason people are diabetics. How about all the fast foods and super sizing and get it fast don't worry about cooking tonight, take the pre-processed product out of the freezer and stick it in the oven. Don't worry that on portion has over 2,000 calories and about 2,ooo grams of sodium. Just get and eat. And after all is said and done tell someone to stop eatting. Tell them with them working, taking care of the children, and their homes that they need to stop eatting sugar. Please! It takes an average diabetic 5 to ten years to figure out how different foods affect them. Sugar is in alot of what we eat every day. Its just in pies and cookies.

My A1c, glucose and cholesterol levels are great...all normal. I just try to stick with complex carbs, poultry and fish, veggies-of course-and almost all meals made at home. That way I know what is in my food. And, yes, fruit too in moderation.

Go for wild salmon instead of farm raised if you can get wild caught fish at your local market. Farm raised salmon has artificial colors put it in to give it that reddish color, not to mention the protein quality and taste aren't as good.

@luckybc--cinamon does indeed lower blood sugar. Be careful of amounts consumed, my blood sugar has been as low as 60 using cinnamon! Be sure to test if consuming large amounts of cinnamon.

Beans and Quinoa are both a carb and a protein. Stick to brown rice if you are diabetic and must indulge. White rice is no good for anyone diabetic or not.

Sweet potatoes are low glycemic foods as well as spaghetti squash, which has one of the lowest glycemic indices of ANY food, and it is DELICIOUS!!!! Go to a site like foodnetwork.com to find out how to prepare it. I had it before and you could have fooled me that I had pasta on my plate. unbelievably delicious.

I eat white rice. I rinse it before I cook it. Brown rice spikes my lvls. Not everyone is the same with what they eat and how it affects them.

SO WRONG. I agree with the dairy but whole grains (the real stuff not the faux grains) are wonderful and high in fiber. Once a day in moderate serving, high fiber whole grain is important for balance nutrition.

Why would you eat eggbeaters and then add 2 of the worst ptocessed foods to them? Pepperoni is loaded with fat and sodium, and velveta is not a natural cheese.

To keep from getting gas from beans, either soak them over night and drain them before cooking, OR make sure the beans are covered with about 2" of water, bring them to a boil for 2 minutes, remove them from the heat, add 1/8 teaspoon of baking soda, put a lid on them and let them sit for 1 hour. Drain them and then cook them.

Steve - I Googled your information after reading your post and found that there is little scientific evidence to support the wide-ranging health claims of the alkaline diet proponents. In addition, the theory behind the alkaline diet is not widely accepted by the medical community. Most of the hits that I got when I Googled this were sites with vested interests. In other words, they had something that they wanted to sell you to increase the pH of your blood.

the only thing you need to buy to make your body alkaline is fresh raw fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. I guess the farmers would have a vested interset in those.. Of course the theory is not widely accepted by the medical community.. Alopathic medicine is the treatment of SYMPTOMS of diseases.. It is not a model of health or cure, nor is wellness and cures profitable to the vested interest of the medical community..Sickness is though

I guess the farmers would have a vested interset (sic) in those

Mark - try Googling "acidic or alkaline diet" and see how many hits you get from charlatan companies that want to sell you pills, etc., to make your blood alkaline before posting a smart alec comment about farmers and their vested interests (BTW, it's interest, not interset). You will also find journal articles describing scientific research on the health claims of an alkaline diet that state there is no conclusive evidence to support the assertion that an alkaline diet prevents cancer, cures diabetes, etc. So much for your conspiracy theories regarding the medical community. It's amazing what people will believe without further investigation.

People are Naturally Alkaline by Nature, It is not a fad or diet. The foods in this article may be fine foe Managing Diabetes but will not cure it. An Acidic body equals a toxic body. Processed foods, tobacco , alcohol artificial sweeteners and chemical food additives is what messes with the pancreas and keeps it from producing insulin. 100% Raw Vegan diet will cure type 2 within 2 weeks and in many cases type 1. Something this article can't claim.

eating is, for most people, one of the great pleasures of everyday life. for most of us, eating a raw vegan diet would be torture, plain and simple. it is disgusting. people who feel compelled to eat that way have obviously got some deep, serious issues with regard to food and control. just as much as the issues of people who are obese and can't lay off the cheeseburgers.

What prevents the pancreas from producing insulin in type one diabetics is anitiobodies that destroy the beta cells. Nothing you can eat or do can reverse this or cure it. Diabetes has no cure.

Aiiie22

The Raw Vegan Diet is the original diet of man, Garden of Eden diet, Before eating meat, processing foods or cooking them. NO other animal on earth but man cooks or processes their food. Raw food has living enzymes which are needed for proper distribution and digestion. Cooking Kills the enzymes and most of the vitamins.

It is too bad that someone eating a salad, an apple or Banana disgusts you. There are billions of people out there that may disagree with you.

What disgusts me is People who ignorantly ENJOY there fast food, processed food, false chemically enriched plastic food and get sick and die everyday all for the sake of "It tastes Good" We "the disgusting health Nuts" like Jake La-lane have to pay high costs for your medical problems and you funerals.

Steve, good post. I absolutely agree. One thing I have learned though is that some veggies are actually more nutritious cooked and give you a richer dose of lycopene for example, i.e. tomatoes

Few people really understand the basics of nutrition and our Doctors are the worst. DO YOUR OWN FACT FINDING - Good nutrition is VERY simple. The food marketers don't want the secret out because they thrive on complicated food that is expensive. Look at vegetables, They now have butter & salt and are in steaming bags and COST TWICE WHAT PLAIN OLD FROZEN VEGGIES COST WITH NOTHING ADDED.

@Steve:

Type 1 diabetes has no cure. The portion of the pancreas that secretes insulin is attacked by the body to the point that the beta cells are killed off. With those gone, you have no insulin production. Type 2, as you claimed, can be controlled by a tight diet. Type 1 diabetics will have to take insulin injections for the rest of their life, diet can not "cure" it.

Also, everyone's body chemistry is different. What affects one person negatively may not affect the other at all. You have to tailor your diet to your body's processing of the different foods. You can do it by checking your blood sugar levels and then adjusting your diet.

Metformin is certainly good stuff. Since I've been on it, I feel 100% better, my A1C is back in the normal range too. BTW one of the best ways to get barley in your diet is beer, nature's most nearly perfect food. One a day, in the evening, you'll sleep better, feel refreshed when you wake, good stuff for your heart too.

If you want a change from shredded wheat, try Kashi Puffs. Seven whole grains plus sesame seeds and absolutely no sugar.