As a diabetic, you face the challenge of healthy eating every day to manage your condition. You must balance a diet that provides adequate energy with one that will not complicate management of your condition. A diabetic diet addresses the factors that affect blood sugar, namely carbohydrate intake and diet schedule. Because carbohydrates can cause spikes in blood sugar, you need to plan meals carefully to maintain stable glucose levels.
Carbohydrate Goal
The American Diabetes Association recommends diabetics consume up to 130 g of carbohydrates a day, spread evenly throughout the day. Eating carbs releases glucose into the bloodstream, which can cause unsafe spikes in blood sugar if the carbohydrate content of your meals is imbalanced. Focus on carbs with the best health value rather than foods and beverages with added sugars. Carbs provide an important source of energy. Spreading your carbs evenly throughout the day ensures more stable blood sugar levels.
Meal Schedule
A schedule of small, frequent meals keeps your blood sugar stable. Three meals and three snacks a day mean you always have adequate energy. Each meal and snack should contain some carbs. For example, you could limit larger meals to 30 g of carbs each and divide the remainder evenly among snacks. Your choice of carbs is equally important. Avoid foods with added sugars, such as baked goods or candy, which contain high amounts of simple carbs and cause spikes in your blood sugar. Instead, build your diet around healthier choices such as fruits and vegetables. Whole grains will digest more slowly, leaving you feeling full longer and causing more gentle rises in blood sugar.
Special Scenarios
Whenever you engage in physical activity that may affect your blood sugar, plan to have a snack after to avoid a drop in blood sugar. Vigorous exercise can quickly deplete your available sugar stores, setting you up for complications. Likewise, stressful situations, such as surgery, can lead to spikes in blood sugar that are equally dangerous. In these cases, carefully monitor your blood sugar and make adjustments to your eating schedule as necessary. The more strenuous your activity, the greater will be your need to replace carbs.
Gastroparesis
A frequent eating schedule may also help provide relief from other complications caused by diabetes, including gastroparesis or delayed stomach emptying. Diabetes can lead to nerve damage that can affect your digestive system. If you have this condition, avoid high-fiber and high-fat foods and instead eat healthy carbs with lower fiber counts, such as fruits. Meal planning can help you get both conditions under control and prevent additional complications.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: 2011 National Diabetes Fact Sheet
- "Diabetes Care"; Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes --- 2008; American Diabetes Association; January 2008
- American Diabetes Association: Carbohydrates
- American Diabetes Association: Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Glucose)
- National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse; Hypoglycemia; October 2008
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse; Gastroparesis; July 2007
