Diabetes Management with Diet
Diabetics can benefit from a good nutrition, meal planning and moderation of certain foods. A healthy, well-rounded diet that's high in fibre, low in sugar, low in fats and heart healthy is the key to diabetes management. Those with diabetes, must acknowledge that making healthy food choices and daily meal plans can help manage and control your blood glucose levels. (Image source:Getty)
Know What to Eat
Balanced food choices keep blood glucose levels in the healthy range and lower the risk of complications such as heart disease and stroke. A wide variety of foods, including whole grains, vegetables, fruits, non-fat dairy products, lean meats, poultry and fish, make up the diet for diabetes. There is no one way to incorporate these foods in your diet; talk to your GP to make a diet plan. (Image source:Getty)
Breakfast Menu
You have plenty of options to choose from. One good on-the-go breakfast idea is low-sugar yoghurt. When you have time to eat breakfast at home, make an egg white omelette with toppings of onions, mushrooms and bell peppers. You can also serve yourself a bowl of cereal and milk topped with strawberries. (Image source:Getty)
Lunch Menu
A lean-meat sandwich on whole-wheat bread, a portion of cooked green vegetables and an apple as a dessert is excellent idea for lunch. If you are eating out or with your peers, a salad with no dressing is one way of having a nutritious meal. Just make sure that you don’t delve into cakes, fast foods or foods that can cause your blood glucose levels to spike. (Image source:Getty)
Dinner Menu
The last meal of the day should have protein (such as cottage cheese and beans) and plenty of vegetables. You can add a salad of green veggies and fruits (such as orange slices or grapes) to the side of your plate. Fish is one excellent dinner choice; you can either bake or grill a salmon (or other lean fish) and serve it with whole grain rice for dinner. (Image source:Getty)
Snacking Options
Snacks between the meals can keep blood sugars from dropping low. Boiled eggs, carrot sticks, nuts, celery with peanut butter, cottage cheese, fruits (such as apples and grapes) and low-sugar granola are some of the excellent snacking choices. (Image source:Getty)
Create a Week’s Schedule
One must plan ahead. Make a schedule for the following week's diet, after discussing it with the doctor. Make a flexible menu of what you will have for each meal, with plenty of options. Reviewing the schedule is as important as planning; take time out for the review. (Image source:Getty)
Making the Most out of Foods
As watching portion sizes is key to a healthy diet, you must make sure you get nutrition from all the food groups. Your doctor will advise you on the way to eat so that you make most of the foods. Moreover, he will give you guidelines to pick foods rich in vitamins, minerals and fibre. (Image source:Getty)
Starch and Non-starch Veggies
The largest section of your plate should consist of non-starchy vegetables. Non-starch foods include spinach, carrots, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, cucumbers, mushrooms and green beans. Also, non-starchy vegetables can be eaten more than other kinds of foods; try to use a variety. (Image source:Getty)
Diet and Exercise Help Manage Diabetes
Physical activity should be a regular part of your lifestyle; however, many diabetics find it difficult to exercise. To solve this problem, talk to your health care provider and make sure that exercises don’t have an impact on your blood glucose levels. Walking, biking and swimming are some of the exercises that serve diabetics the best. (Image source:Getty)
