Diabetes is a group of diseases that affect blood glucose, according to the Mayo Clinic. Type 1 diabetes is a condition that usually occurs early in life, where the body attacks the cells that produce insulin. In this case, insulin injections are needed in conjunction with a nutritious diet to keep blood sugar from spiking too quickly. Type 2 diabetes is a condition that usually occurs later in life, where the body becomes insulin resistant. Type 2 diabetes can usually be managed with a combination of good diet, exercise, and sometimes medication.
Step 1
Avoid trans fats and saturated fats as much as possible. Diabetes raises the risk of heart disease, and the experts at the Mayo Clinic suggests eating no more than 7 percent of your daily caloric intake be made up of saturated fats. Read the labels on each product before you eat it, and ensure you are not going over your saturated fat limit.
Step 2
Add as many fresh fruits and vegetables as possible to your diet to increase your intake of healthy carbohydrates. Healthy carbohydrates don't break down into sugar as quickly as refined carbohydrates, providing you with a more stabilized blood glucose level.
Step 3
Increase your intake of fiber. Fiber can help control blood sugar throughout the day, according to the experts at the Mayo Clinic. They suggest eating about 30 grams of fiber every day. Foods especially rich in fiber include whole grains, bran, nuts and beans.
Step 4
Stay consistent. Blood sugar will stay stable throughout the day if you stick to an eating pattern, eating similar foods at similar times of day. The experts at the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse recommends eating six times a day--breakfast, lunch and dinner, and three in-between snacks.
Step 5
Avoid alcoholic drinks unless your doctor states otherwise. Alcohol can cause blood sugar to drop low, especially on an empty stomach.
Tips and Warnings
- Diabetes diets work best to control blood sugar when used in conjunction with regular exercise.
- Consult your doctor before going on any diabetes diet plan.
