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Fish & Chips?

14 replies

Jimboy · 31/07/2026 17:03

I have just been diagnosed with type 2, can I eat fish and chips?

OP posts:
EverMissWicklowSometimes · 31/07/2026 17:07

Nope. Well you can, but you shouldn't.

emuloc · 31/07/2026 17:15

I make a fish, and chips meal at home, which consists of a fresh fillet of cod, or haddock, which I steam in a steamer, for about 10 minutes, along with a portion of frozen peas, and I make homemade chips in the air fryer which all takes around 20 minutes of cooking time, so really quick, and simple.

MyDarlingRose · 31/07/2026 17:23

A diabetic should only have fish and chips as an occasional treat, choose a small portion, and make two strategic changes: remove the batter and halve (or even third) the chips. This aligns with Diabetes UK’s takeaway guidance, which specifically advises ordering a smaller portion and removing the batter for fish and chips.

Also add a high fibre side to slow the glucose absorption.

Victorius19 · 31/07/2026 17:25

Any starchy carbs send my blood sugars through the roof. Most fish and chip shops will grill a piece of fish if you ask, and I'll have that when DH gets fish and chips - I make a salad to go with mine.

PotatoFan · 31/07/2026 21:25

Jimboy · 31/07/2026 17:03

I have just been diagnosed with type 2, can I eat fish and chips?

Yes unless you have an allergy you can eat fish and chips, so long as you’re happy with the impact it has on your blood sugar. Chips are carbs, peas are carbs,
the batter on the fish are carbs too, and it’s carbs that raise your blood sugar.

Jimboy · 01/08/2026 10:38

Thanks all, looks like a no, no then.

OP posts:
PotatoFan · 01/08/2026 17:04

Jimboy · 01/08/2026 10:38

Thanks all, looks like a no, no then.

Why not check what it does to your blood sugar before ruling it out permanently?

dontmalbeconme · 01/08/2026 17:12

Every week? No. Once in a while, managing your other meals, yes. The chips are far worse for you than the fish. You could have the fish (leaving the batter) weekly if you want.

Ilovemyshed · 01/08/2026 17:22

Every diabetic is different. My husband can eat pasta, but spikes with rice. Home made and baker’s bread is OK, Kingsmill is dreadful for him. Red wine fine, beer not so much.

Moderation is important, but take your time to find out what works for you and what you can tolerate.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 01/08/2026 17:32

I have T2 diabetes, @Jimboy - I was diagnosed about 18 months ago.

I will have fish and chips occasionally - less than once a month - and I only eat a few of the chips.

I use a dexcom continuous glucose monitor, which alarms if my blood sugar goes too high or too low, and I’ve never triggered the high alarms after fish and (a few) chips.

When I was diagnosed, I overhauled my diet - if I have rice or pasta, it is brown rice/wholewheat pasta, and I have small portions. I almost never have bread - I used to have a sandwich for lunch every day, but now I have cold chicken, coleslaw and beetroot, or hummus with raw cauliflower and carrot, or low carb wraps (from the Mission brand) with sandwich filler or grated cheese and coleslaw.

I am eating more fruit than I used to, but I monitor my sugars to make sure the sugar in fruit doesn’t affect me. If I have potato with a meal, I have a very small portions, and fill up the plate with veg or salad.

One thing I have been told - if you cook and chill rice or baked potatoes, then reheat from chilled or from frozen, this changes the carbs, so they don’t spike your blood sugar.

If you go to Dexcom and Freestyle Libre, they will each send you a continuous glucose monitor to try - the dexcom lasts 10 days and I think the Freestyle works for 14 days - so you can experiment and see what effect different foods have on your blood sugar - my SIL is T2 too and she can’t eat tomatoes - they spike her blood sugar badly - but I can eat them with no ill effects.

I was advised to avoid low fat products as they often hide sugar in them - the sugar helps make up for the loss of flavour from reducing the fat. I often have Greek yoghurt with fruit for pudding, and I get the 5% Fage.

PotatoFan · 01/08/2026 17:39

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 01/08/2026 17:32

I have T2 diabetes, @Jimboy - I was diagnosed about 18 months ago.

I will have fish and chips occasionally - less than once a month - and I only eat a few of the chips.

I use a dexcom continuous glucose monitor, which alarms if my blood sugar goes too high or too low, and I’ve never triggered the high alarms after fish and (a few) chips.

When I was diagnosed, I overhauled my diet - if I have rice or pasta, it is brown rice/wholewheat pasta, and I have small portions. I almost never have bread - I used to have a sandwich for lunch every day, but now I have cold chicken, coleslaw and beetroot, or hummus with raw cauliflower and carrot, or low carb wraps (from the Mission brand) with sandwich filler or grated cheese and coleslaw.

I am eating more fruit than I used to, but I monitor my sugars to make sure the sugar in fruit doesn’t affect me. If I have potato with a meal, I have a very small portions, and fill up the plate with veg or salad.

One thing I have been told - if you cook and chill rice or baked potatoes, then reheat from chilled or from frozen, this changes the carbs, so they don’t spike your blood sugar.

If you go to Dexcom and Freestyle Libre, they will each send you a continuous glucose monitor to try - the dexcom lasts 10 days and I think the Freestyle works for 14 days - so you can experiment and see what effect different foods have on your blood sugar - my SIL is T2 too and she can’t eat tomatoes - they spike her blood sugar badly - but I can eat them with no ill effects.

I was advised to avoid low fat products as they often hide sugar in them - the sugar helps make up for the loss of flavour from reducing the fat. I often have Greek yoghurt with fruit for pudding, and I get the 5% Fage.

The low fat has extra sugar in thing is an old myth and not true

Gingerkittykat · 01/08/2026 17:48

Can I ask if you are monitoring your blood sugar? what medications are you taking?

Previous posters are right, the carbs are in the batter and chips but the fats will slow down absorption of the carbs, so probably won't cause a spike. I spike massively with mash but am fine with chips.

Of course it is not a health food, but fish and chips occasionally shouldn't be a problem.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 01/08/2026 19:58

PotatoFan · 01/08/2026 17:39

The low fat has extra sugar in thing is an old myth and not true

It was my diabetic nurse who told me - that’s shocking.

PotatoFan · 01/08/2026 23:29

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 01/08/2026 19:58

It was my diabetic nurse who told me - that’s shocking.

Read some labels and decide for yourself whether there’s sugar added

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