Diabetes management typically focuses on controlling blood glucose through exercise and diet. However, heart disease is also a common health problem associated with diabetes, according to Dr. James Balch and Mark Stengler, authors of "Prescription for Natural Cures." Diabetes increases your risks of high blood cholesterol, which can cause stroke and heart attack. Simple strategies can help you maintain a diet that helps you manage blood glucose levels while supporting the health of your heart.
Step 1
Replace fatty meats, such as bacon, steak, chicken legs, sausage and organ meats, with lean meats, such as chicken breast, fish, turkey or lean ground beef. Fatty meats are high in saturated fats, which can cause arterial blockages and raise your risk of heart disease, according to Balch and Stengler.
Step 2
Use fresh or dried spices, such as ginger, cayenne, basil, thyme or turmeric, instead of adding salt to your foods when cooking. High levels of sodium in your diet can raise your blood pressure and damage your heart muscles. Diabetes may increase your risk of high blood pressure, according to the FamilyDoctor website.
Step 3
Use beans in soups, casseroles and stews, as well as in side dishes. Beans are abundant sources of dietary fiber, which may help clear excess cholesterol from your bloodstream. Chickpeas, turtle beans, lentils, lima beans and kidney beans all contain dietary fiber.
Step 4
Add fresh garlic to entrees, soups and side dishes. Garlic contains chemical compounds that may reduce blood cholesterol, according to Michael Castleman, author of "The Healing Herbs."
Step 5
Include fresh, raw vegetables in your diet. Broccoli, artichoke hearts, spinach, kale, eggplant and carrots are all rich sources of dietary fiber.
Tips and Warnings
- Grill or bake lean meats instead of frying to avoid adding excess fats to your diet.
Things You'll Need
- Lean meats
- Spices
- Beans
- Garlic
- Raw vegetables
References
- "Prescription for Natural Cures"; James F. Balch, M.D. and Mark Stengler, N.D.; 2004
- Family Doctor: Diabetes and Heart Disease
- "The Healing Herbs"; Michael Castleman; 1991
