Developing healthy eating habits is especially important for diabetics to appropriately manage their blood sugar levels throughout the day. However, healthy eating habits for the general population do not necessarily apply to diabetics. Advice on diet crafted specifically for diabetics helps develop the right food practices to keep symptoms under control.
Meal Timing
Understanding when to eat is important for diabetics. eHealthMD notes that diabetics who want to maintain healthy eating habits should try to eat their meals and snacks at the same time each day. Keeping meals on a regular schedule can be extremely important if you are taking certain diabetic medications. Discuss scheduling issues with your physician at the time of prescription.
Portion Control and Consistency
Another healthy eating habit for diabetics is portion control. According to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, the recommended calorie consumption is 1,200 to 1,600 per day for diabetic women and 1,600 to 2,000 for diabetic men. Depending on height, target weight and daily activities pursued, such as exercise, these recommendations may change after consultation with a dietitian or other health-care professional. In addition to observing caloric control, eHealthMD recommends diabetics keep their meal portions at about the same size each day rather than overeating one day and cutting back the next, which can contribute to blood sugar instability.
Food Balance at Meals
Diabetics should also monitor the types of foods they eat at each meal. The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse recommends eating foods in specific ratios to each other for balance, and provides a food pyramid that diabetics can use along with portion guidelines to design well-balanced meals. According to eHealthMD, a healthy food balance for diabetics would be 40 to 60 percent of calories from carbohydrates, 20 percent from proteins and 30 percent or less from fats. Consult a dietitian to customize this to your individual dietary needs.
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