Healthy Eating for Diabetics: An Overview
For people with
diabetes, a lifestyle that helps control and manage the disease, which includes healthy eating, is vital to minimizing possible complications that can occur as a result.
Healthy eating for diabetics begins with a balanced diet. This means eating more grains, fruits, and vegetables and eating less meat, sweets, and fats.
Creating a Healthy Meal Plan
As a diabetic, a healthy eating plan does not need to be difficult.
Tips include the following:
- Eat a variety of foods, as recommended in the Diabetes Food Pyramid, to get a balanced intake of the nutrients your body needs -- carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals.
- Make changes gradually. It takes time to achieve long-term goals.
- Reduce the amount of fat you eat by choosing fewer high-fat foods and cooking with less fat.
- Eat more fiber by eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables every day.
- Eat fewer foods that are high in sugar, like fruit juices, fruit-flavored drinks, sodas, and tea or coffee sweetened with sugar.
- Use less salt in cooking and at the table. Eat fewer foods that are high in salt, like canned and packaged soups, pickles, and processed meats.
- Eat smaller portions and never skip meals.
- Learn how to determine the right serving sizes for you.
- Learn how to read food labels.
- Limit use of alcohol.
