How To Use Diet in Diabetes Management
- September 1, 2010
- 288 Views
Writer
Annette_Stierwalt
Healthy eating is an essential component in any diabetes management plan. Make wise food selections that will help keep your blood sugar level within your target range.
You Will Need
- Carbohydrates
- Fiber-rich foods
- Lean proteins
- Doctor
- Dietician
- Carbohydrate exchange system
Step 1: Count your carbohydrates
Eat a diet comprising 45 to 65 percent carbohydrates. Select healthy carbs, such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and low-fat dairy products.
Don’t skip meals. To avoid unhealthy blood sugar fluctuations, be consistent and eat the same amount of food at the same time every day.
Step 2: Choose fiber-rich foods
Pick foods rich in fiber, such as leafy greens, legumes, whole-wheat flour, and nuts. Aim for 25 to 30 grams of fiber per day.
Step 3: Limit bad fats
Limit your intake of butter and margarine and use olive or canola oil when cooking. Check food labels to avoid saturated and trans fats in processed foods.
Step 4: Choose good protein
Choose lean cuts of protein, such as sirloin or boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Try to eat heart-healthy fish, such as salmon or tuna, at least twice a week.
Coordinate your meals and medication, especially your insulin, to maintain an ideal blood sugar balance.
Step 5: Work with a nutritionist
Ask your doctor to recommend a dietician. A dietician can help you control your eating, help you lose weight, and help you create a daily menu.
Step 6: Use food tools
Use a carbohydrate exchange system. Foods with equal amounts of carbs, proteins, fats, and calories can be traded for another item within the same group.
Frederick G. Banting and John Macleod discovered insulin and were awarded the Nobel Prize for medicine and physiology in 1923.
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