Diabetes is a blood sugar disease in which the glucose levels are persistently high. The body procures glucose through the foods you eat and uses the hormone insulin to regulate its use throughout the body. Type 1 diabetes is when the body does not produce enough insulin, while type 2 diabetes is when the body does not adequately use or make insulin, MedlinePlus reports. Eating foods conducive to treating diabetes can help you control symptoms and reduce any diabetic complications like heart disease, damage to the eyes, kidneys and nerves, and amputation.
Beans
According to an April 2010 U.S. National Institutes of Health study, Type 2 diabetic who regularly ate bean pods reported a significant regulation in their blood sugar levels. The American Diabetes Association states that the low-glycemic index for diabetes include the nutrients calcium, potassium, fiber, magnesium and vitamins A, C and E. Beans, like kidney, pinto or black, have an ample amount of soluble and insoluble fiber, while also providing an ample source of magnesium and potassium. The American Diabetes Association also says that they provide as much protein as an ounce of meat without the added saturated fat, which can raise cholesterol levels.
Fish
According to researchers at the University of California San Diego, omega-3 fatty acids found in fish is highly effective in reducing chronic inflammation and insulin resistance. According to MayoClinic.com the fish types that contain the highest amounts of omega-3 fatty acids are salmon, herring and tuna. The American Diabetes Association recommends eating salmon and other fish varieties that are not fried or breaded as these do not count towards the goal of 6 to 9 oz. of fish per week.
Dark Green Leafy Vegetables
Working well within the constraints of the low-glycemic index are dark green leafy vegetable varieties, including spinach, arugula, broccoli, collard greens, kale and Swiss chard. The Center for Young Women's Health notes these vegetables as excellent sources of the vitamins A, K, D and E, as well as folate, fiber, potassium and calcium. The American Diabetes Association attests to the powers of dark green vegetables for diabetics, stating its low-calorie, low-carbohydrate contents let them eat large amounts.
References
- MedlinePlus: Diabetes
- American Diabetes Association: Diabetes Superfoods
- The Center for Young Women's Health: Dark Green Leafy Vegetables
- "Journal of Medicinal Food"; Beans and Diabetes: Phaseolus vulgaris Preparations as Antihyperglycemic Agents; A. Helmstadter; April 2010
- Eurekalert: Why Fish Oils Work Swimmingly Against Diabetes
- MayoClinic.com: Omega-3
