Do diabetic patients under treatment feel hungry frequently?

Question

Hi doctor,

What should be included in the diet of a diabetic patient? Is it normal to feel hungry frequently for a diabetic person who is on medication? Please suggest some ways to tackle increased hunger. Thanks.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Once your blood sugar levels are under control and you take proper foods, your hunger will subside. Hunger and thirst will be increased when your sugar levels are more. As you know, for diabetic patients, carbohydrates, fat, and oil are to be restricted. Please try to avoid sugar and sweets, reduce tubers like potato, tapioca, arum, etc., as much as possible. Include more green leafy vegetables. Also, you can take more pulses, either cooked or sprouted, like salads. You can also include raw salad vegetables like lettuce, tomato, cucumber, etc., in more quantities. Green vegetables will fill you up, and you can reduce your carbohydrate intake. Avoid refined items and food like white rice, maida, food made of maida like pizza, white bread, noodles, etc. You can include small quantities of fruits, but do not take any other food during that time. Instead of a meal or to reduce the amount of a meal, you can take fruits. Remember that most fruits increase blood sugar levels a lot. Diet restriction alone is not enough. Please do brisk walking daily for 50 minutes at least (try to cover 5 km). Also, do some exercises. Thank you.