Maintaining good health involves eating and consuming the right kind of foods. If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, it’s important to develop an understanding of proper nutrition. Diabetic nutrition focuses on controlling the amount of glucose, or sugar, in the blood. What we eat directly affects blood sugar levels, so making the right food choices is fundamental to prevent deterioration in health and quality of life.
There is no one exact diet that medical experts should recommend for a diabetic patient, it depends on factors such as the extent of the disease and the person’s weight and age. People suffering from diabetes should be referred to a registered dietitian who would be able to put together a specific dietary guide.
Diabetic nutrition must also take into account the individual’s eating habits and personal schedule. Guidelines for proper diabetes control focus on eating at the same time each day of the week, which helps keep blood sugar levels stable and ensures insulin is working properly.
It is particularly important at the start of a new diet to check blood sugar levels regularly, because this is the only way a diabetic can understand which foods and drinks have a positive or negative impact on their blood sugar levels. The best diet would usually be one that is high in fiber and low in fat, sugar and salt. Dietary fiber can be obtained from certain vegetables and fruits, as well as from whole grains such as brown rice and brown bread.
A balanced approach is the best option, it can be dangerous to omit certain food groups altogether as it can then lead to other health problems. For this reason, it is advisable to consume a limited amount of fat, particularly through the consumption of chicken and nuts and seeds. Red meat should be reduced to a negligible amount. For most diabetics, alcohol should not be consumed as it can be high in sugar. Soda drinks, fruit juices and sugary teas must also be kept to an absolute minimum.
A nutritionist may suggest following a replacement diet. This is a plan that involves swapping out different foods to give the individual some choice and variety. Giving up certain foods can be difficult at first, but it should be clear that diabetic nutritional diets don’t have to be bland or unappetizing, there are many delicious dishes that can still be eaten.
Thanks to Julian Hee
