Foods for Diabetics

Learning to cook and eat healthier foods is all part ofmanaging diabetes. Foods for diabetics have to be low on the glycemic index to keep a person’s blood sugar from spiking throughout the day to dangerous levels. There are many foods that can be enjoyed that will not only fill you up, but also taste great, it is just a matter of doing some research. Take asparagus, for example, if you already love this vegetable then you are going to love to know that it is one of the healthiest foods you can eat.

Asparagus is a non-starchy vegetable and that is important. Many of the starchy vegetables such as potatoes need to be consumed sparingly as they are high in carbohydrates. Asparagus has healthy antioxidants, high in B vitamins and folate, which is great for cardiovascular health; it is also a good source of vitamin C, potassium, fiber and thiamin. It has no fat, no cholesterol and is low in sodium.

Any diet should include plenty of vegetables, and if you are planning meals for a person who is diabetic there should be plenty of healthy vegetables served each day.

Managing Diabetes Complications With Diet

If you have diabetes, you need to manage levels of high blood glucose – or sugar – in your blood. The right diet can have a huge impact on those levels and maintaining that diet is an important part of managing your disease.

You may not be able to control the disease, but you can manage it with a diet for diabetics, which can prevent many of the complications of the disease.

You can create a customized diet plan just for you with the help of a registered dietician. This diet will take into account many factors, including any medications you’re currently taking, your usual lifestyle, weight and any other health issues.

But a good place to start when managing diabetes or even before you’re diagnosed is:

• Limit foods high in sugar
• Eat smaller portions, spread throughout the day
• Be careful of the quantity of carbohydrates you eat and spread out your consumption
• Eat a variety of whole-grain foods, fruits and vegetables every day
• Limit use of alcohol
• Eat less fat
• Use less salt

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases has an interactive diabetes meal planning tutorial that can be found in English or Spanish at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/diabetesmealplanning/htm/index.htm or http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/diabetesmealplanningspanish/htm/index.htm.

3 Tips for Managing Diabetes

Managing diabetes can prove challenging if you live a busy life. Work, family and other responsibilities can have a negative impact on your eating habits and affect the amount of rest that you’re able to get. There’s no cure for diabetes; and without proper care, diabetes can lead to complications, such as nerve problems, eye problems and kidney problems. Living with diabetes isn’t a death sentence, but you will need to manage the condition to avoid long-term problems.

1. A meal routine is key to managing diabetes, as well as keeping a record of what you eat. Too much sugar or carbohydrates in your diet can cause your blood sugar level to spike. Talk with your physician and discuss foods to limit or eliminate from your diet. Determine foods that are healthy and prepare meals around these safe alternatives. Avoid skipping meals to keep your blood sugar at a healthy level. Eat three meals a day and consume a healthy snack between meals.

2. Exercise is crucial to managing diabetes because physical activity helps you maintain a healthy body weight and improves blood sugar levels. Aim for a minimum of 20 minutes of activity a day — at least three times a week. Good choices include aerobics, resistance training, walking, swimming or biking.

3. Sleep deprivation is practically an epidemic and many adults get less than six hours of sleep a night. While a busy life and heavy responsibilities might contribute to sleep problems, adequate sleep is imperative to managing diabetes Sleeping less than six hours a night can trigger abnormal blood sugar levels, which not only increases the risk of developing diabetes, but can lead to complications in people living with diabetes.

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