Regular high blood sugars, or hyperglycemia, can put you at risk for diabetes or cause health problems in people with diabetes, so maintaining healthy blood sugars on a regular basis is important. What you eat has a significant impact on your blood sugar levels and can help prevent development of type 2 diabetes and the need for blood sugar-lowering medications or insulin.
Background
The best way to determine if a blood sugar-lowering diet is recommended for you is to have your blood sugars checked by a health care professional. According to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, pre-diabetes is recognized as having a fasting blood sugar level of 100 to 125 mg/dL, and diabetes is diagnosed as a fasting blood sugar level of 126 mg/dL or higher.
Significance
People with pre-diabetes can help control blood sugars, reverse the condition and possibly prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes by exercising, eating right and reaching a healthy weight. According to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, pre-diabetics can prevent or delay diabetes by reducing dietary fat and calories to lose weight, losing 5 to 7 percent of their body weight and exercising for 30 minutes five days per week.
Identification
A high blood sugar, or carbohydrate-controlled, diet is a meal plan designed for people with pre-diabetes or diabetes to control carbohydrates, especially sugars, and typically includes weight loss. The exchange system is commonly used by dietitians to help plan meals. However, when following a carbohydrate-controlled diet it's most important to become familiar with high-carbohydrate foods and avoid eating too many carbohydrates at one time. The Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research recommends a diet that contains 45 to 65 percent of calories from carbohydrate, 15 to 20 percent protein and 20 to 35 percent fat to help control blood sugar levels.
Factors
Consuming 25 to 30 g of fiber each day has been shown to help control blood sugar levels, according to the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Foods high in fiber include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, high-fiber cereals, oatmeal, legumes, nuts and seeds.
Recommendations
Weight loss and carbohydrate control can be achieved through diet. The American Dietetic Association recommends that overweight and obese individuals lose one to two Ibs. per week by reducing daily calories by 500 to 1,000 per day. Limiting sugars and spacing carbohydrate foods throughout the day is also recommended. Healthy foods that contain carbohydrates include breads, cereals, fruit, milk, starchy vegetables, such as corn and peas, legumes, milk and yogurt. Less nutritious carbohydrate-containing foods include sweets, candy and other added sugars, and therefore should be limited as much as possible.
