Diabetes Control Diet

If we have been diagnosed with diabetes, our doctor will mention that we should pay careful attention to nutrition and diet as part of our treatment program. Nutrition experts say that there is no one diet for diabetes, but people with diabetes should follow the nutrition guidelines in the Food Pyramid, while paying special attention to carbohydrate intake.

If we have never attempted to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet before our diabetes diagnosis, it can be difficult to know where to get started. Our doctors will recommend a diet for us. We should eat more starches such as bread, cereal, and starchy vegetables. Aim for six servings a day or more. For instance, having cold cereal with nonfat milk or a bagel with a teaspoon of jelly for breakfast can be a good option. Another starch-adding strategy is to add cooked black beans, corn or garbanzo beans to salads or casseroles.



We should eat five fruits and vegetables every day. Having a piece of fruit or two as a snack, or add vegetables to chili, stir-fried dishes or stews can cut down on sweet temptation. We can also pack raw vegetables for lunch or snacks.

We should eat sugars and sweets in moderation. Including our favorite sweets in our diet once or twice a week at most is enough. We can split a dessert to satisfy our sweet tooth while reducing the sugar, fat and calories.

Soluble fibers are found mainly in fruits, vegetables and some seeds, and are especially good for people with diabetes because they help to slow down or reduce the absorption of glucose from the intestines. Legumes, such as cooked kidney beans, are among the highest soluble fiber foods. Other fiber-containing foods, such as carrots, also have a positive effect on blood sugar levels. Insoluble fibers, found in bran, whole grains and nuts, act as intestinal scrubbers by cleaning out the lower gastrointestinal tract.

Reaching and maintaining a healthy weight is important for everyone with diabetes. Weight control is extremely important in treating diabetes because extra body fat makes it difficult for people with type 2 diabetes to make and use their own insulin.

If we smoke and have been diagnosed with diabetes, our doctor will recommend that we quit because smoking makes problems caused by diabetes worse. People with diabetes can experience blood flow problems in the legs and feet, which can sometimes lead to amputation. Smoking can decrease blood flow even more.

Although alcohol in small amounts can be fit into our meal plan if our blood sugar is under good control, drinking alcohol on an empty stomach can cause low blood sugar. Alcohol can contribute to complications of diabetes.

The body breaks down different types of foods at different rates.



Carbohydrates typically take from five minutes to three hours to digest, whereas protein takes three to six hours and fat can take eight or more hours. Remember that it will take a while to learn how to adjust to the changes in our diet and lifestyle after a diabetes diagnosis. With practice and help, we can have a satisfying diet and keep our blood sugar under control, too.

• Janny Raines
• 01/05/2009, 10:59 AM
• 0 Comments