Diabetes, a disease that affects how the body uses blood sugar, occurs when the immune system destroys cells in the pancreas that produce insulin or makes cells resistant to insulin. This results in high blood-sugar levels because insulin controls how sugar enters the bloodstream. High blood sugar can result in cardiovascular disease, nerve and kidney damage, blindness and bone and joint problems. Diabetics can maintain their health by controlling blood sugar levels, and they can accomplish this by eating the right foods.
Lentils
Lentils, a dried bean, can help diabetics control their blood sugar levels. Its soluble fiber content digests slowly, providing steady, slow-burning energy. Foods that digest slowly prevent blood sugar from spiking because sugar and glucose are released evenly into the bloodstream. One cup of lentils contains 62.6 percent of the daily recommended intake of fiber. A 2001 study published in the journal Nutrition Review reports that participants who consumed at least 50g of fiber per day had lower levels of both blood sugar and insulin.
Oats
Incorporating oats into the diabetic diet can help control blood-sugar levels over the course of a day. Oats offer an abundance of soluble fiber. One cup provides approximately 17 percent of the recommended daily intake of fiber. As with lentils, eating oats slows digestion, which decreases the rate at which sugar and glucose releases into the body. Blood sugar levels stay even and help patients control their diabetes. Diabetic Living recommends looking for oat products that contain heart-health claims on the labeling, which says they contain 3g or more of soluble fiber as allowable by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Healthy oat options for diabetics include oat groats, steel-cut oats, old-fashioned rolled oats, quick-cooking rolled oats, instant oatmeal, oat bran and oat flour.
Almonds
Almonds can play a role in helping diabetics control their blood sugar levels. A 2006 study published in the Journal of Nutrition reveals that eating 60g of almonds each day can help blood-sugar spikes after eating meals that contain high levels of carbohydrates. Researchers say that incorporating almonds into the diet may not only control blood-sugar levels but also can help prevent diabetes. The World's Healthiest Foods website suggests adding almonds as a snack between meals, adding them to salads and pasta or spreading almond butter on toast to help control blood sugar.
