What should I eat if I have an insulinoma?
Insulinomas are rare tumours, therefore there is very little research or existing evidence regarding diet in this condition. Although diet cannot control the release of insulin from the tumour, it can help prevent low blood sugars. People with insulinomas tend to suffer from low blood sugar levels until the tumour has been treated to stop it releasing excess insulin. If you are losing weight, please ask to see a dietician.
Glycaemic index
The glycaemic index (GI) is a measure of how quickly foods that contain carbohydrates will raise blood sugar levels. Foods are given a GI number or classed as low, medium or high GI.
Low GI carbohydrates are released slowly into the blood and therefore are able to maintain blood glucose levels for longer. It is recommended that you try to choose low GI carbohydrates as much as possible during the day to prevent sharp peaks and troughs in your blood sugars.
High GI carbohydrates are released very quickly into the blood and are very useful when you are experiencing a hypoglycaemic (very low blood sugar) episode.
How to switch to a low GI diet
Eat breakfast cereals based on oats, bran and wholegrain wheat e.g. All Bran Flakes, porridge.
Use breads with wholegrain, stone ground flour or sour dough e.g. multigrain, wholemeal, soya and linseed, pumpernickel
Include pasta, noodles, pearl barley or quinoa.
Choose new potatoes, sweet potatoes or yam in preference to other potatoes.
Leave the skins on if you can.
Eat plenty of vegetables and salads.
Add beans, lentils and other pulses to soups, stews, salads and other dishes.
Use basmati or long grain rice, rather than Thai, jasmine, sticky or short grain rice.
Choose grainy crackers and crisp breads e.g. Ryvita Seeded, oatcakes.
Tips for Low GI meal choices:
Breakfast
Muesli*, All Bran, Sultana Bran, Special K
Oat-based breakfast cereal and fruit
Lunch
Baked beans with jacket potato
Lentil-based soup
Variety of breads: pitta bread, breads made with mixed grains and pumpernickel
Grilled chicken, salad, basmati rice and peas
Evening meal
Basmati rice, sweet potato, buckwheat, bulgar wheat, pearl barley, noodles
Vegetables with meal
Pasta-based meals
Beans and pulses (dahl)
Snacks
Fruit
Yoghurt (low fat)
Popcorn
Rye bread, fruit loaf*
Nuts*