There are two main forms of diabetes, primarily defined by whether the diabetic requires insulin. For diabetic individuals who do not require insulin, the disease sometimes can be controlled entirely by diet. While many different diabetic diets exist, the best food program for you will depend on your own physiological response to food, the degree of diabetes and your personal preferences.
Diabetic Diets
Some diabetics find it easiest to stick to a strict food program that involves counting the amount and type of carbohydrates eaten at each meal. Because carbohydrates raise blood sugar more significantly than other foods, this kind of plan can help a diabetic keep his blood sugar stable. Others rely on the glycemic index, a measure of how quickly and significantly a given food raises the blood sugar. Someone on this type of diet avoids high glycemic foods, such as white bread and white rice, and makes low glycemic choices, such as whole grains, to keep blood sugar stable.
Importance
Using food choices to control your diabetes can make the difference as to whether you need to take medication for your disease or even whether you eventually may need to begin an insulin program. When diabetes goes out of control, it can lead to nerve, kidney and heart problems. Making healthy food choices also can help you lose weight, which makes controlling blood sugar easier.
Food Choices
In general, a diabetic who is not on insulin should consume frequent small meals and snacks built around vegetables, fruits, whole grains, seafood, lean meat, non-fat dairy and healthy unsaturated fats. Try to maintain a balance of carbohydrates and protein at each meal. For example, a meal may contain brown rice, vegetables and chicken breast to supply both macronutrients. Balanced snack options include apple slices with peanut butter or whole wheat crackers with cheese.
Considerations
No matter what method you use to keep your diet balanced, make a point to choose foods that are as close to natural as possible rather than heavily processed versions. This ensures that you get optimal nutrition out of the foods you do choose. Avoid foods that are high in sodium, saturated fats and trans fats. These can contribute to heart disease, which is already a higher risk for people with diabetes. In addition to changing your diet, add exercise to your daily schedule. Physical exercise helps maintain blood sugar and stave off some of the complications of diabetes.
