You must pay close attention to your diet to control blood sugar levels and prevent health complications when you have diabetes. Choosing foods rich in complex carbohydrates and fiber may help curb hunger and make sticking to a sensible diabetes meal plan easier. Meeting with your doctor or registered dietitian is a good idea to map out a diabetes meal plan, states MayoClinic.com.
Starchy Vegetables
Starchy vegetables are rich in complex carbohydrates. Carbohydrates in starchy vegetables take longer to digest and may help you feel full longer, according to HelpGuide.com. Examples of starchy vegetables include potatoes, peas, corn, lima beans and sweet potatoes. Balancing carbohydrates carefully as part of your meal plan is important, as too many carbohydrates may spike blood sugar, states the American Diabetes Association. When possible, choose complex carbohydrates over simple carbohydrates.
Beans
Beans are an additional source of complex carbohydrates and fiber. Fiber is the part of a plant that we can't digest, also called roughage. Fiber help satisfying hunger and staves off hunger for a longer period of time. A diet rich in fiber may also help diabetics lose weight, according to the American Diabetes Association, if consumed as part of a healthy diabetic diet. All beans, including kidney beans, black beans, navy beans and pinto beans contain both complex carbohydrates and fiber.
Grains
Whole grains are important for health as they retain more nutrition than refined grains. Whole grains are those which contain the germ, a component that is stripped away during the refining process. Choosing grains such as brown rice, millet, steel cut oats and quinoa allows you to reap the nutrition benefits of whole grain.
Nuts and Seeds
Nuts and seeds are also fiber-rich. Consider adding these foods to your diet to help keep hunger away. Sunflower seeds, almonds, walnuts, peanuts and cashews are good choices. The American Association of Diabetes recommends choosing seeds and nuts that are minimally processed, as these retain more fiber and nutrition that those that have been heavily processed.
Starchy Foods
Food products containing a lot of starch also contain complex carbohydrates. Products made from grains and grain-based flour, such as wheat flour, are likely to help control hunger. Pasta, bread products like biscuits and rolls and crackers are examples of starchy foods. Choosing starchy foods made from whole grain instead of refined white flour provides additional nutrition.
