Diabetes Food Guide FAQs

Registered Dietitians from The Community Diabetes Education Program of Ottawa (CDEPO) first developed the Diabetes Food Guide (DFG) in 1998. It started out as a rough paper copy of a hand drawn rainbow, based on the previous Health Canada’s Food Guide, with pictures of different foods stuck on it by tape. It was used as a tool to provide healthy eating guidelines to clients of CDEPO. Focus groups with other community dietitians were held to validate the tool and suggestions were incorporated. The final copy was created in 2000. It was the winner of 2001 CDA/DES Practical Diabetes Resource Award. The current CDEPO Diabetes Food Guide is based on the updated Health Canada Food Guide (2019).

Canada’s Food Guide is a very general tool for healthy eating guidelines for all Canadians, but does not focus on carbohydrate foods or meet the specific nutritional needs of people with prediabetes and diabetes. There was a need for a simple tool for teaching healthy eating guidelines to people with diabetes which focussed on meal planning, identifying carbohydrate foods and carbohydrate counting.

CDEPO’s Diabetes Food Guide was developed to address this specific need. It is a unique tool, which combines the concept of Canada’s Food Guide as well as Diabetes Canada’s “Beyond the Basics” resource. This unique, simple, one-page guide is “tailored” to the needs of people with diabetes, which teaches meal planning and identifies carbohydrate foods. In the new revised version, client’s can follow the simple “plate method” for meal balance and carbohydrate control. As they progress in their healthy eating journey with diabetes, they can learn to carbohydrate count using the same DFG.

Yes, the DFG is based on Health Canada’s Food Guide (2019) and it takes into account the most recent Diabetes Canada’s Clinical Practice Guidelines for healthy eating for individuals living with diabetes.

The following resources were referenced for nutrition information:

• Nutrient Value of some common foods
• Canadian Nutrient File
• USDA
• Food labels

CDEPO’s internal DFG Committee, which consists of Registered Dietitians who are Certified Diabetes Educators, oversees the update and modifications of the DFG.

The DFG Committee aims to review and update the DFG every 5 years.

This tool is not recommended to be distributed to general population without being accompanied by education by a healthcare provider. The DFG is a “teaching resource”, and the information on the DFG needs to be explained by healthcare provider who is knowledgeable in diabetes education (e.g. a registered dietitian or certified diabetes educator). It is recommended that healthcare providers read the “Health Care Provider Tool” to familiarise themselves with how to use the DFG.

The The Health Care Provider Tool was developed to support healthcare providers in using the DFG. The Health Care Provider Tool helps healthcare professionals better understand/or help guide how to use the DFG with their clients.

The DFG is currently available in the following languages:

• Arabic
• Braille
• Chinese
• English*
• French*
• Italian
• Portuguese
• Somali
• Spanish
• Vietnamese

*updated versions 2025

The DFG has also been culturally adapted to include foods from various cultures or regions of the world:

• Arabic (available in English and Arabic)
• African-Caribbean (available in English and French)
• Chinese (available in mandarin)
• Indigenous (available in English)
• Italian (available in Italian)
• Portuguese (available in Portuguese)
• Somali (available in Somali)
• South Asian (available in English)
• Spanish (available in Spanish)
• Vietnamese (available in Vietnamese)

We have updated the English and French DFGs (not the culturally adapted versions) to reflect the plate model. All other languages and culturally adapted DFGs will be gradually updated to reflect the plate model. Due to this, the updated version has a different price than the older versions of the DFGs.

The DFG is available for purchase in physical format. The DFG is a 2-sided resource, printed on high quality paper in colour, and comes as tear away pads. It is shipped to organizations across Canada. You can place an order here.

DFGs are not eligible for refunds:

• We do not offer refunds for DFGs that have already been purchased and delivered.
• Damaged physical guides: If your physical guide arrives damaged, we will replace damaged guides at no cost to you, upon receiving proof of the damage.

For more information or to request replacement of damaged guides: Email us at [email protected] with your order details (include the DIA # and any additional/relevant documentation, such as pictures of damaged guides).

For more information, comments or questions, please email us at [email protected].