Diabetes can be a complex condition that seems hard to manage. It’s always important to follow your doctor’s guidance on what to eat and how to control your disease, and a healthy diet can do a lot of good for those who have diabetes. Healthy foods for diabetes prepared properly can help you feel good while supplying your body with the nutrients it needs.
What’s Important for Diabetes?
People with diabetes have difficulty with glucose or sugar. Many foods consumed turn into sugar, creating a spike in how much glucose is in the bloodstream. That’s what makes you feel ill and sometimes tired even if you’re eating. Healthy foods for diabetes don’t cause that high spike. Instead, they help to give your body the nutrients needed for function without adding sugar to your diet. By reducing the number of carbohydrates consumed, which turn into glucose, and eliminating some sugar-based foods and beverages, you can start to feel a bit better.
Examples of Healthy Foods for Diabetes
Which foods are a good option for a person with diabetes? There is a wide range of foods to choose from, including:
- Eggs
- Most types of protein, including beef, pork, chicken, and fish
- Most types of non-starchy vegetables
- Nuts
- Beans
- Avocados
It’s a good idea to invest in a well-balanced diet. That should include foods from all of the food groups whenever possible. When it comes to carbohydrates, aim for whole grains. These take a much longer time for your body to break down so they do not spike your blood sugar as much. That includes whole-grain breads, pasta, and rice. Look for whole-grain products made with natural ingredients for an even better result (skip those with a lot of added sugar). Thankfully, the dining services at Wickshire can help accommodate you to make sure you get the best meal possible.
Diabetic Friendly Snacks
Perhaps the most common problem for people struggling to manage their diabetes is snacking. This is because we often want to reach for something sweet, but it’s important to pick healthier options whenever possible.
For example, choose natural food sugars rather than sugars from candy and pastries, or you may want to skip the fruit altogether. You can also snack on no-sugar lunch meats, hardboiled eggs, and nuts. Even cheese can be an excellent source of nutrients without the sugar content of baked goods.
Plan to have healthy foods on hand at all time. Doing so can help minimize the risk of having a diet that’s based on sugary foods.
Invest in the Right Level of Care for Diabetes
While food is a big part of diabetes management, it’s not the only component. You also have to consider where you live and the services available to help you remain active and engaged with life. Exercise, for example, can help to minimize the complications that come with the disease.
By looking after your food choices and prioritizing exercise, you have a much better chance of successfully managing your diabetes.