Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease. Type 2 diabetics make insulin, but muscle cells resist attaching to it, causing higher blood sugar levels that can increase your risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease and other complications. A diet plan for type 2 diabetes should include low glycemic foods that contain healthy fats and soluble fiber and be customized to treat any other conditions you may have. Consult your doctor about your condition and diet.
Low Glycemic Foods
Eating low glycemic foods can help you control your blood sugar. Low glycemic foods contain sugar that is metabolized slowly and does not cause a spike in your blood sugar. High glycemic foods are quickly metabolized and could severely increase your blood sugar levels and elevate your risks for short- and long-term complications, such as coma and cardiovascular disease. Low glycemic foods include peaches, pears, whole bran cereal, barley, whole grain pumpernickel, peanuts, soy beans, carrots and yogurt.
Healthy Fats
Healthy fats are important in a type 2 diabetes diet plan because they can help you reduce your risk of heart disease. Healthy fats include monounsaturated fatty acids and omega-3 fatty acids.
Foods high in monounsaturated fatty acids include olive oil, avocado and almonds. Walnuts and fatty fish, such as anchovies, herring, salmon and sardines, are rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids. A healthy diet plan for type 2 diabetes avoids foods high in cholesterol and saturated fat, such as meat, poultry and dairy. Soy foods, such as tofu and tempeh, are good sources of protein and healthy fats and do not contain cholesterol.
Soluble Fiber
Soluble fiber is not a nutrient, but it has health-promoting properties. Soluble fiber in fruits, vegetables, legumes and other foods may slow down the absorption of sugar into your blood, help you control blood sugar and reduce your blood cholesterol levels. Research by Michael McIntosh, Ph.D., published in "Nutrition Reviews" in 2001 demonstrates that type 2 diabetics who consume a diet rich in soluble fiber experience significant improvements in blood sugar and cholesterol compared to diabetics who consume a diet with moderate amounts of fiber.
Customized Diet for Health Risks
Customize your diet to treat both type 2 diabetes and any other conditions you have so you can reduce risks of complications. Research by Lubia Velazquez-Lopez published in "Revista Medica Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social" in 2008 discovered that diets for patients with type 2 diabetes customized to treat or reduce risk of comorbidities, such as obesity, hypertension and high blood cholesterol, significantly reduce weight, waist circumference, fasting blood sugar and glycolated hemoglobin, a substance in your blood that indicates your blood sugar levels over a 12-week period. The research also demonstrates a customized diet increases HDL-cholesterol, the good cholesterol and improves kidney function. Consult your doctor about your diabetes and other conditions to determine the most appropriate diet plan.
References
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Diabetes, Heart Disease, and Stroke
- Harvard Medical School: Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load for 100+ Foods
- University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Center for Integrative Medicine: Glycemic Index
- American Diabetes Association: Fat and Diabetes
- United States Department of Agriculture: National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference
