Diabetes Type 2
Updated: Aug 29
Type 2 diabetes is a long-term health condition that causes the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood to become too high. It develops when the body does not use insulin effectively (known as insulin resistance) and/or when the pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin to keep blood glucose levels within a healthy range.
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that helps glucose move from the bloodstream into the body's cells, where it can be used for energy.
Many different factors can affect blood glucose levels, including what and how much we eat and drink, physical activity, medication, illness and stress. Carbohydrate-containing foods have a particularly important effect because carbohydrates are broken down into glucose during digestion.
Eating a healthy, balanced diet is an important part of managing Type 2 diabetes. Alongside appropriate medication, physical activity and regular health monitoring, healthy eating can help to manage blood glucose levels, support a healthy weight, and help manage blood pressure and cholesterol.
Good management of Type 2 diabetes can also help reduce the risk of serious long-term complications, including:
heart disease and stroke
retinopathy – damage to the blood vessels in the retina, which can affect vision
peripheral neuropathy – nerve damage, particularly affecting the feet and legs
kidney disease
problems with the feet, including wounds and ulcers that may be slower to heal
Regular diabetes reviews and health checks are important because some complications can develop gradually and may not cause obvious symptoms in their early stages.
The good news is that eating well with Type 2 diabetes does not have to mean bland meals, expensive ingredients or changing everything overnight. Small, realistic and sustainable changes can make a meaningful difference to diabetes management and overall health.
For people receiving care at home, food is about much more than nutrition. Meals can provide routine, comfort, enjoyment, independence and valuable social connection. Supporting someone living with Type 2 diabetes is therefore not simply about putting the “right” food on the plate. It is about helping the person to eat and drink well in a way that is realistic, enjoyable and safe, while respecting their individual preferences, culture, lifestyle, independence and choices, as well as taking account of their medication and overall health.
This article explores dietary recommendations for people living with Type 2 diabetes, drawing on guidance from the NHS and Diabetes UK. It also offers practical ideas for individuals, families and carers to support healthier eating and drinking as part of everyday life.
Important: This article provides general information and should not replace personalised medical or dietary advice. Anyone taking medication for diabetes — particularly insulin or medicines that can cause hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose) — should discuss significant changes to their diet or usual meal pattern with an appropriate healthcare professional.
Is there a special diabetes diet?
Living with Type 2 diabetes does not mean giving up the foods you or a loved one enjoy or having to follow a complicated “diabetic diet”. There is no single diet that is right for everyone with Type 2 diabetes. Instead, guidance from the NHS and Diabetes UK focuses on healthy, balanced eating while recognising that individual needs will vary.
If you are supporting someone living with Type 2 diabetes, it can be tempting to try to protect their health by taking control of what they eat or deciding that certain foods are completely “off limits”. However, this can make mealtimes unnecessarily restrictive or stressful and may reduce the person's sense of choice and independence.
A more person-centred approach is to encourage healthier choices while involving the individual in decisions about their food and drinks wherever possible. Favourite foods can still have a place, and healthier changes can often be made by adapting familiar meals rather than replacing everything a person knows and enjoys.
Carbohydrates: what do people with diabetes need to know?
Carbohydrates are often one of the most confusing aspects of eating with diabetes. Foods containing carbohydrates include bread, rice, pasta, potatoes, cereals, fruit, pulses and some dairy products.
During digestion, carbohydrates are broken down into glucose, which enters the bloodstream. Both the amount and type of carbohydrate eaten can therefore affect blood glucose levels, with the total amount of carbohydrate consumed being particularly important.
Carbohydrates do not generally need to be removed from the diet. Many carbohydrate-containing foods provide energy, fibre, vitamins, minerals and other important nutrients. Instead, the NHS and Diabetes UK recommend choosing healthier, higher-fibre sources of carbohydrate where possible, including:
wholemeal or wholegrain bread
brown rice
wholewheat pasta
oats and other wholegrain cereals
beans, chickpeas and lentils
whole fruit
vegetables
Higher-fibre foods can be particularly valuable because fibre supports digestive and heart health and can help us feel fuller for longer. Choosing less refined, higher-fibre sources of carbohydrate can also help support better blood glucose management as part of an overall balanced diet.
More refined carbohydrate foods, including white bread, white rice, cakes, biscuits and many highly processed snacks, are generally best eaten less often or in smaller amounts. This does not mean that these foods need to be completely forbidden. What matters is the overall pattern of eating, as well as the type and amount of carbohydrate consumed.
Portion size is also important. A large serving of rice, pasta or potatoes, for example, will usually contain considerably more carbohydrate than a smaller serving. A simple approach can be to serve a moderate portion alongside plenty of vegetables and an appropriate source of protein, creating a more balanced meal without making it feel unnecessarily restrictive.
For people taking insulin or diabetes medication that can cause hypoglycaemia, significant changes to the amount of carbohydrate eaten or to usual meal patterns may affect blood glucose levels and medication requirements. These changes should therefore be discussed with the person's diabetes healthcare team rather than making major dietary or medication adjustments independently.
Vegetables, fruit and other nutritious foods
Including a variety of vegetables regularly in meals is a simple and practical way to support a healthy, balanced diet. They provide important vitamins, minerals and fibre and can be incorporated into familiar meals without completely changing the foods someone enjoys.
Simple ideas include:
adding extra vegetables to soups, stews, casseroles and curries
serving vegetables alongside fish, chicken or another source of protein
adding salad vegetables to sandwiches and wraps
keeping whole fruit available as a convenient snack or dessert
using frozen or tinned vegetables when these are easier or more convenient to prepare
Fresh, frozen and tinned fruit and vegetables can all contribute towards a healthy diet. When choosing tinned varieties, options without added sugar or with less salt can be helpful where available.
What about fruit?
People living with Type 2 diabetes do not need to avoid fruit. Whole fruit provides fibre as well as important vitamins and minerals and can form part of a healthy, balanced diet.
Whole fruit is generally a better everyday choice than fruit juices and smoothies. Juicing or blending fruit releases sugars from the structure of the fruit and reduces some of the benefits associated with eating it whole. Fruit juices and smoothies can also make it easy to consume a larger amount in a short period of time.
An apple, orange, pear, banana, handful of berries or another favourite fruit can make a simple and enjoyable snack or dessert.
The NHS Eatwell Guide recommends aiming for at least five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables each day. Variety is important, and choices can be adapted according to the person's preferences, culture, appetite and individual nutritional needs.
Choose healthier sources of protein
Protein is an important part of a healthy, balanced diet. It helps maintain muscles and other body tissues and can also help meals feel satisfying. Healthier sources of protein include fish, eggs, beans, lentils, chickpeas, unsalted nuts and seeds, tofu and lean, unprocessed meats.
Pulses such as beans, chickpeas and lentils are particularly useful because they provide fibre as well as protein. They are also versatile and can easily be added to familiar meals such as soups, casseroles, curries and salads.
Fish is another nutritious choice. Oily fish such as salmon, mackerel and sardines provide omega-3 fatty acids, which are beneficial for heart health. UK healthy-eating guidance recommends aiming for at least two portions of fish each week, including one portion of oily fish.
It is also advisable to limit how often processed meats such as bacon, ham, salami and sausages are eaten. Red meat, including beef, lamb and pork, can still form part of a balanced diet, with leaner, unprocessed choices generally preferable.
Think about what you drink too
What we drink can have an important effect on both blood glucose levels and overall health.
Staying well hydrated is important, particularly for older people who may not always recognise or communicate that they are thirsty. Water is an excellent everyday choice. Sugar-free drinks, and tea or coffee without added sugar, can also contribute to fluid intake.
Sugary fizzy drinks, energy drinks and other sugar-sweetened beverages can contain significant amounts of free sugar and can raise blood glucose levels quickly. Fruit juice and smoothies also contain free sugars and should be limited to a combined total of around 150ml per day.
For someone receiving care at home, supporting good hydration can sometimes be as simple as offering drinks regularly, making sure a preferred drink is within easy reach, or providing a choice of drinks throughout the day. Individual needs should always be considered, particularly where a healthcare professional has advised that fluid intake should be restricted.
What about alcohol?
People living with Type 2 diabetes do not necessarily need to avoid alcohol altogether, but moderation is important. Alcohol contains calories and drinking regularly or in larger amounts can make weight and diabetes management more difficult.
UK guidance recommends drinking no more than 14 units of alcohol per week on a regular basis. If drinking this amount, it is advisable to spread consumption across three or more days and to include alcohol-free days.
Alcohol can also increase the risk of hypoglycaemia for people taking insulin or certain diabetes medicines. For these individuals, drinking alcohol on an empty stomach can increase that risk further.
Anyone who is unsure whether alcohol is safe alongside their medication or another health condition should seek advice from their GP, pharmacist or diabetes healthcare team.
Fats, salt and sugary foods
Not all fats are the same. Unsaturated fats, found in foods such as olive and rapeseed oils, nuts, seeds and oily fish, are generally healthier choices than foods high in saturated fat. However, all fats are high in calories, so the amount used still matters, particularly where weight management is part of someone's diabetes care.
Foods high in saturated fat, salt and free sugars are generally best eaten less often and in smaller amounts. These can include cakes, biscuits, sweets, chocolate, crisps, sugary drinks and many highly processed foods.
Simple alternatives can help. Keeping whole fruit, unsalted nuts or seeds, and unsweetened yoghurt available can provide convenient options for snacks while still allowing the person to choose what they would like to eat.
Importantly, living with Type 2 diabetes does not mean that favourite foods or treats have to disappear completely. An occasional piece of cake, favourite dessert or other treat can still be part of an enjoyable and balanced life. Food is often connected with celebrations, family traditions, culture and social occasions, and these experiences matter too.
Rather than focusing on individual foods as being “good” or “bad”, it can be more helpful to consider someone's overall pattern of eating. Making healthier choices more often, while enjoying favourite foods occasionally and in appropriate portions, can provide a more realistic and sustainable approach.
Foods marketed specifically as “diabetic” or “suitable for diabetics” are not necessary. Diabetes UK advises that these specialist products do not provide particular benefits for people with diabetes, and some may still be high in fat or calories. A varied, balanced diet using ordinary everyday foods is generally a better approach.
Portion sizes matter — but individual needs matter too
The amount we eat can be just as important as the foods we choose. Even nutritious foods can contribute to weight gain when portions regularly provide more energy than an individual needs.
Simple ways of creating balanced portions can include:
serving a variety of vegetables
choosing an appropriate portion of rice, pasta, potatoes, bread or another carbohydrate
including a suitable source of protein
using unsaturated oils in modest amounts when cooking
using a smaller plate where this is helpful and appropriate
allowing the individual time to eat and decide whether they would like more
However, portion advice should never be applied as a one-size-fits-all rule.
Older people, people who are underweight or frail, those recovering from illness or surgery, and people experiencing poor appetite or unintended weight loss may have very different nutritional requirements. For some individuals, maintaining their weight and ensuring that they receive enough energy, protein and fluids may be a greater immediate priority than reducing portion sizes.
This is particularly important in home care. Changes such as eating noticeably less than usual, regularly leaving meals unfinished, losing weight without intending to, struggling to prepare or eat food, or experiencing a persistent loss of appetite should not simply be treated as dietary choices.
Where there are concerns about someone's weight, appetite, nutritional intake or increasing frailty, these should be reported appropriately and advice sought from the person's GP, diabetes healthcare team or registered dietitian.
A simple approach to everyday meals
Eating well with Type 2 diabetes does not have to mean abandoning favourite foods, family recipes or traditional and cultural cuisines. Familiar meals such as curries, stews, pasta dishes or roast dinners can often be adapted with small changes while still remaining enjoyable and recognisable.
For individuals and family carers wondering where to start, it can help to keep things simple. Where appropriate, think about making meals:
More colourful: include a variety of vegetables and whole fruit throughout the day.
Higher in fibre: choose options such as wholegrain bread, brown rice, oats, pulses and wholewheat pasta where appropriate.
Balanced: include vegetables, an appropriate portion of carbohydrate and a source of protein.
Lower in salt and saturated fat: choose less processed foods more often, use unsaturated fats such as olive or rapeseed oil in modest amounts, and experiment with herbs, spices, garlic, ginger or lemon to add flavour without relying heavily on salt.
Prepared using healthier cooking methods: baking, grilling, steaming, poaching or roasting can provide alternatives to frying, while still producing enjoyable and flavoursome meals.
Lower in added and free sugars: choose water or sugar-free drinks more often and enjoy foods such as cakes, sweets and sugary drinks occasionally rather than making them an everyday choice.
Small changes can make a difference
Healthy eating does not need to involve completely replacing someone's usual meals. Often, a few simple adaptations can make a familiar dish more balanced. For example:
Breakfast: try porridge or a wholegrain cereal with whole fruit, or choose a lower-sugar version of a favourite cereal.
Sandwiches and light meals: try wholegrain or seeded bread, wraps or pittas and add salad or vegetables where enjoyed. Fillings might include egg, chicken, tuna, hummus or another favourite source of protein.
Chilli: use leaner mince, or replace some of the meat with beans or lentils. Adding peppers, tomatoes or courgettes can increase the vegetable and fibre content, while brown rice can provide a higher-fibre alternative to white rice.
Pasta: tomato-based sauces can provide an alternative to richer cream-based sauces. Adding vegetables, beans, lentils, fish or lean meat can help create a balanced meal, served with wholewheat pasta where this is enjoyed.
Curries: traditional curries can still be enjoyed. Where appropriate, try using a modest amount of unsaturated oil, adding extra vegetables or pulses, choosing leaner cuts of meat, and serving with wholemeal chapati or an appropriate portion of rice.
Roast dinners: a traditional roast can remain firmly on the menu. Including plenty of vegetables, choosing leaner meat where appropriate and being mindful of added salt and saturated fat can make it part of a balanced diet.
The aim is not to create a completely different way of eating overnight. Small changes to familiar meals are often more enjoyable, realistic and sustainable — and respecting what a person likes to eat remains an important part of person-centred care.
Eating regularly and medication
Some people living with Type 2 diabetes take insulin or other medicines that can cause hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose). For these individuals, changes to usual eating patterns — such as missing meals, eating considerably less than usual or significantly reducing carbohydrate intake — can affect blood glucose levels and may increase the risk of hypoglycaemia.
Any blood glucose monitoring should be carried out in accordance with the individual's diabetes care plan and advice from their healthcare team.
Diabetes medication should not be stopped, reduced or otherwise changed without appropriate clinical advice. Similarly, very restrictive or very low-calorie diets should not be started without discussing them with the person's diabetes healthcare team, particularly where diabetes medication is being taken.
If someone regularly misses meals, develops a poor or noticeably reduced appetite, experiences symptoms of hypoglycaemia or loses weight without intending to, this should be reported appropriately and discussed with a relevant healthcare professional.
For someone receiving care at home, changes in eating and drinking patterns can be particularly important to notice. Carers can support the individual by following their agreed care plan, encouraging appropriate food and fluid intake, and reporting significant changes or concerns rather than making independent changes to medication or prescribed dietary advice.
Weight management and Type 2 diabetes
For some people who are living with overweight or obesity, losing weight can improve blood glucose levels and wider health and may, in some circumstances, help Type 2 diabetes go into remission.
Remission means that blood glucose levels remain below the diabetes range without the need for glucose-lowering medication for a period of time. It does not mean that Type 2 diabetes has been permanently cured, and continued health monitoring remains important.
Weight loss, however, is not an appropriate goal for everyone living with Type 2 diabetes.
Older adults, people who are frail or underweight, those experiencing poor appetite or unintended weight loss, and people living with certain other health conditions may have very different nutritional priorities. For these individuals, maintaining weight, muscle strength and adequate nutrition may be more important than trying to lose weight.
Where weight loss would be beneficial, gradual and sustainable changes to eating habits and physical activity can help. Individual circumstances should always be considered, and professional advice may be appropriate before making significant changes.
For eligible adults, the NHS also provides the NHS Type 2 Diabetes Path to Remission Programme. This is a structured programme involving a nutritionally complete, low-calorie total diet replacement phase followed by supported food reintroduction and longer-term help with healthy eating, physical activity and weight maintenance.
This programme is delivered with professional support and is not the same as attempting an extreme or very low-calorie diet independently.
The role of physical activity
Regular physical activity can be another important part of managing Type 2 diabetes. Alongside healthy eating and appropriate medical treatment, being active can help the body use insulin more effectively, support blood glucose management and provide wider benefits for cardiovascular health, mobility, strength and wellbeing.
General UK guidance recommends aiming for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week. Moderate activity usually means moving enough to increase the heart rate, breathe faster and feel warmer while still being able to hold a conversation.
This does not have to be achieved all at once. Activity can be incorporated into everyday life in ways that are realistic and enjoyable for the individual.
Importantly, every person's abilities and circumstances are different.
For an older person, someone recovering from illness or surgery, or somebody living with reduced mobility or frailty, appropriate activity may look very different. Walking around the home or garden, standing and moving regularly, completing everyday activities or taking part in suitable seated exercises may all provide opportunities for movement.
The aim should be to support safe activity within the person's individual abilities, preferences and any professional guidance they have received. Someone who has been advised to limit activity, has significant mobility difficulties, is at risk of falls or has another health condition affecting exercise should follow advice from the relevant healthcare professional.
In home care, encouragement can make a meaningful difference — but it should always be supportive rather than pressured. Helping someone remain involved in everyday activities and maintain as much independence and mobility as possible can be just as important as formal exercise.
When to seek professional advice
General information about healthy eating can be helpful, but it cannot replace advice based on an individual's own health, medication and nutritional needs.
A person's dietary requirements may be affected by diabetes medication, kidney or heart disease, swallowing difficulties, frailty, allergies, food intolerances, poor appetite and other health conditions. What is appropriate for one person living with Type 2 diabetes may therefore not be appropriate for another.
Advice should be sought from an appropriate healthcare professional if there are concerns about a person's blood glucose levels, medication, weight, appetite, eating or drinking.
It is particularly important to seek advice if someone:
is losing weight without intending to
develops a persistent poor or noticeably reduced appetite
regularly misses meals or is eating or drinking significantly less than usual
experiences repeated or suspected episodes of hypoglycaemia
develops new difficulties with chewing or swallowing
has been advised to follow a specialist diet or restrict their fluid intake
has concerns about how their diabetes medication relates to their meals
Depending on the concern, support may be available from the person's GP, diabetes nurse,
pharmacist, registered dietitian or another member of their healthcare team.
For someone receiving care at home, carers can also play an important role by noticing and reporting significant changes in eating, drinking, appetite or general wellbeing in accordance with the person's care plan. Carers should not diagnose a problem or independently alter medication or prescribed dietary guidance, but their observations can help ensure that concerns are recognised and escalated appropriately.
How Bennett Care Hampshire Can Help
Living well with Type 2 diabetes is not only about knowing what constitutes a healthy diet. Everyday factors such as shopping, preparing meals, remembering to eat and drink, staying active and being able to enjoy food safely and independently can all make a difference.
At Bennett Care Hampshire, our compassionate staff can provide practical, person-centred support to people living with Type 2 diabetes in the comfort of their own homes.
We recognise that every person is different. Their routines, preferences, culture, appetite, abilities and health needs are individual to them. Our approach is therefore not about imposing a particular diet or telling someone what they can and cannot eat. Instead, we work within the individual's agreed care plan to support their choices, independence and wellbeing.
Supporting choice and independence
Food is deeply personal. It can be connected to culture, family, memories, celebrations and lifelong routines.
Where support with meals is required, we involve the individual as much as possible — from choosing what they would like to eat and helping to plan meals, to shopping for ingredients and preparing familiar dishes.
Where appropriate, small adaptations can be made to favourite meals to support healthier eating without unnecessarily taking away the foods someone knows and enjoys.
Most importantly, we respect the person's right to make their own choices.
Practical support with meals and hydration
Depending on an individual's assessed needs and agreed care plan, our staff may be able to support with:
planning and preparing nutritious, enjoyable meals
shopping for food and everyday essentials
checking that suitable food and drinks are available at home
supporting the individual to remain involved in preparing meals where they are able and wish to do so
encouraging regular meals and appropriate hydration
making drinks, snacks and meals safely accessible
recording food and fluid intake where this forms part of the person's care plan
noticing and reporting significant changes in appetite, eating, drinking or general wellbeing
providing companionship during meals where this is wanted
For someone experiencing reduced mobility, memory difficulties or other challenges, these seemingly small areas of support can make everyday eating and drinking safer, easier and more enjoyable.
Noticing when something changes
Regular care visits can also provide opportunities to notice changes that might otherwise be easily missed.
A person may begin eating less than usual, repeatedly leave meals unfinished, lose interest in food, struggle to access drinks, experience difficulties preparing meals or appear to be losing weight.
Our staff do not diagnose medical or nutritional problems or make independent changes to diabetes medication or prescribed diets. However, where concerns arise, we can record and report observations appropriately and, in accordance with the person's care plan and consent, help ensure that concerns are shared with the appropriate Professionals .
Supporting everyday activity
Where appropriate to the individual's abilities, wishes and care plan, our staff can also encourage people to remain involved in everyday activities and maintain as much independence and mobility as possible.
This does not necessarily mean formal exercise. For some people, it might mean taking a walk, spending some time in the garden, helping to prepare a meal or continuing with everyday activities around the home.
The level of support will always depend on the individual's circumstances, mobility, preferences and any professional guidance they have received.
More than preparing a meal
Sometimes support at mealtimes is about much more than the food itself.
For someone living alone, preparing and sharing a meal can provide conversation, companionship and a reassuring sense of routine. For another person, the most valuable support may simply be having someone nearby while they prepare their own lunch or being encouraged to continue doing the things they can safely manage themselves.
At Bennett Care Hampshire, we believe good care starts with seeing the person, not simply their diagnosis.
Our aim is to provide compassionate, respectful support that helps each individual maintain their independence, dignity, choices and the everyday routines that matter to them — while working alongside families and healthcare professionals whenever additional support or advice is needed.
Final thoughts
Living with Type 2 diabetes does not have to mean giving up the enjoyment of food or completely changing a lifetime of familiar habits. Healthy eating is about finding a realistic and sustainable balance that works for the individual.
Small changes can often make a meaningful difference. Choosing higher-fibre foods more often, adding extra vegetables to familiar meals, staying well hydrated and remaining as active as individual circumstances allow can all form part of living well with Type 2 diabetes.
Just as importantly, food should continue to bring enjoyment, comfort and connection. Favourite meals, cultural traditions and special occasions still matter.
For family members and carers, good support means encouraging healthier choices without unnecessarily taking away a person's independence or control. It means involving the individual, respecting their preferences and recognising when changing needs or concerns may require professional advice.
There is no single approach that will suit everyone. What matters is finding an approach that reflects the person's health needs, abilities, lifestyle and choices — and that can realistically be maintained over time.
At Bennett Care Hampshire, this reflects something we believe strongly: good care is not simply about supporting a health condition. It is about supporting the whole person to live with dignity, independence, choice and as much enjoyment of everyday life as possible.
References and further support
NHS – Treatment for Type 2 Diabetes: lifestyle changes, healthy eating, weight management and diabetes education. (nhs.uk)
Diabetes UK – I have Type 2 Diabetes: what can I eat? Practical guidance on carbohydrates, fruit, meals, snacks and healthier food choices. (Diabetes UK)
Diabetes UK – Healthy eating: general healthy eating guidance for people living with diabetes. (Diabetes UK)
Diabetes UK – 10 tips for healthy eating with diabetes: practical advice on carbohydrates, fibre, salt and balanced eating. (Diabetes UK)
Diabetes UK – The Eatwell Guide: guidance on applying healthy balanced eating principles to diabetes. (Diabetes UK)
NHS England – Type 2 Diabetes Path to Remission Programme: information about the NHS-supported remission programme. (NHS England)
Further support can also be accessed through the NHS and Diabetes UK. The NHS provides a free Healthy Living for people with Type 2 Diabetes online service, while Diabetes UK provides information, education and practical resources about living well with diabetes. (NHS England)
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