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| Diabetes Diet |  Some scientists claim that there is no “diabetes diet”. As the foods that are good for controlling your blood sugar levels are good for everyone. However, people with diabetes need to monitor total amounts of carbohydrates they consume carefully. Among all components of nutrition (carbohydrates, fats and proteins) carbohydrates affect your blood sugar levels to a greater extent. Nevertheless, for most people with diabetes, total fat consumption and protein intake must be monitored as well.
In order to maintain your blood glucose levels, you have to make healthy food choices, exercise regularly, and take the medications your doctor prescribes. Your dietitian can provide nutrition education to help you develop a personalized meal plan that fits your lifestyle and activity level, and corresponds with your medical needs.
Dietary Tips
- You have to eat a wide variety of foods. Your ration should contain plenty of fruits, vegetables, meats, and other forms of protein like nuts, dairy products, and grains.
- Try to maintain your healthy weight.
- Select foods rich in fiber like fruit, cereals, and whole grain breads. They are rich in essential vitamins and minerals. Your daily intake of fiber should be 25 to 35 grams. Fiber helps to improve your sugar and cholesterol levels.
- Watch your portions. Eat only the amount of food in your meal plan. Excess calories result in excess weight. Your dietitian will help you determine what portion sizes you can eat.
- Women with gestational diabetes should eat multiple meals and snacks per day.
- Don’t skip meals.
- Eat meals and snacks at certain times every day. If you are taking a diabetes medication, eat your meal and take your medication at the times each day.
Note: If you are taking some of the newer diabetes medications, some of these tips may not apply to you. You should ask your doctor the tips you should follow.
Diabetics are most likely to have heart disease, stroke and disease of the small vessels in the body. They have to control their blood pressure and limit the amounts of fats in the diet. This will help them to lower the risk of these complications.
For example, meats and dairy products are major sources of saturated fats that should be avoided. Most vegetable oils are high in unsaturated fats that are fine in limited amounts. Olive oil is a good source of monounsaturated fat, the healthiest type of fat. Liver, heart and other organ meats and egg yolks are particularly high in cholesterol. Your doctor or nutritionist can advise someone on this aspect of diet.
People with diabetes have to limit the amounts of saturated fats, and increase the amount of regular exercise. Besides, they have to receive medical therapy that can lower bad LDL cholesterol and increase good HDL cholesterol.
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