Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects the way in which your body uses blood glucose, also known as blood sugar. If you have diabetes, it means that you have an excess of glucose in the blood, according to MayoClinic.com. If you are a diabetic, carefully plan your diet to avoid high sugar, non-nutritive foods. Supplementing your diet with diabetic super foods can help control your condition to reduce the risk of complications.
Avocado
Avocados are an oily berry fruit, although many consider it a vegetable. They are an excellent source of fiber, monounsaturated fat and water, which all help to reduce blood sugar and flush out acids, according to Robert and Shelley Young in the book "The Ph Miracle for Diabetes." The compounds phytosterol and glutathione help to prevent cataracts and macular degeneration, which is often a complication of diabetes. They are also one of the best sources of vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that helps to keep blood vessels healthy and reduce constricted blood flow leading to amputations, the authors notes.
Beans
Beans are a low gastrointestinal food, meaning it has low carbohydrates, which are detrimental to diabetics. Like whole grains, beans contain both soluble and insoluble fiber, vitamins and minerals, according to Robert Atkins, et al., in the book "Atkins Diabetes Revolution." The high fiber content helps to reduce glucose levels in the blood and regulate insulin. It also makes you feel fuller longer and is beneficial if you are a type 2 diabetic resulting from obesity.
Fish
A study published in the 2008 November issue of the "American Journal of Kidney Diseases" found that eating fish twice a week may help diabetics. The study used a sample of 517 diabetics, many of whom had type 2 diabetes, and found that those who ate fish twice a week had less albumin in their urine. This suggests that fish can prevent kidney disease in diabetics, which is a serious complication of the disease.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Diabetes
- "The pH Miracle for Diabetes"; Robert Young and Shelley Young; 2004
- "Atkins Diabetes Revolution"; 2004
- USA Today: Eating Fish Twice a Week May Help Diabetics
