If you have diabetes, you need to know which types of foods will help your body manage your condition. Diabetes is diagnosed when your body is not able to control your blood sugar level. The foods that you eat can make this problem worse, because they cause your blood sugar to rise rapidly. If these high levels continue, you can develop problems with your kidneys, eyes and nerves.
Foods to Eat
Eat foods that do not cause rapid increases in your blood sugar levels. These include plant foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds. These healthy choices provide the essential carbohydrates, protein and healthy forms of unsaturated fat that your body requires for proper function, but they do not cause rapid increases in blood sugar. Choose healthy forms of unsaturated fat from plant foods and fish. Fish contain essential omega-3 fatty acids that can decrease your risk for developing heart disease.
Foods to Avoid
There are also foods that you need to avoid. Limit your intake of saturated fat from animal products and processed foods. Trans fats from processed and fast foods should be avoided completely. Other foods to avoid include sugary drinks, foods high in sodium and refined carbohydrates such as white pasta, white bread and white rice. These foods can further interfere with your body's ability to regulate your blood sugar levels.
Diet Guidelines
When picking the types of food that you will eat you should follow some basic diet guidelines. These include limiting sweets, eating small meals often, keeping track of how many carbohydrates you eat, choosing healthier forms of fat and limiting your alcohol consumption. A typical diet will include three to five servings of vegetables, two to four servings of fruits, two to three servings of milk or dairy and two to three servings of fish or lean meat per day.
Considerations
Diabetes can be managed and prevented in many cases through natural methods such as proper diet and exercise. Each person is different and it is important that you work with your doctor, dietitian and other health care providers to determine a proper meal plan based on your condition, level of fitness and whether or not you need to take medication. If you do not currently have diabetes and you are concerned about your blood glucose levels, you can have a blood test to determine if your levels are in the proper range.
