Being a healthy diabetic means eating healthy foods and exercising on a regular basis. In fact, it is the best prevention for avoiding complications such as blindness, neuropathy, heart disease and limb amputations.
Diabetes is becoming more prevalent as we shift away from the traditional foods high in fiber and low in fat which our ancestors ate. Now, our diets consist of foods high in processed carbohydrates and simple sugars, high in saturated fats and low in fiber. Our present day packaged foods are highly processed and devoid of much food value.
The key to a healthy diet is to eat foods high in fiber such as fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grains, nuts and seeds.
Fast foods, processed foods, high sugar intake, and red meat can increase your risk of getting type 2 diabetes. Also, stay away from fat-free foods as they make your insulin levels go up and down, which causes you to add fat to your body. Basically, stay away from any foods that will cause your blood sugar to rise rapidly. Fiber rich foods help stop the rapid spikes in blood sugar.
Eating the right foods is extremely important, and it is in your best interest to make the right choices. Meal planning involves choosing healthy foods, eating the proper amount, and most of all, eating in moderation. It is better to have 5 or 6 small meals or snacks than a few large meals which leave you feeling stuffed. Supplementing with vitamins and minerals is also a must.
Choosing foods which are lower on the glycemic scale will help to keep the blood glucose levels lower. Foods low on the glycemic scale convert to sugars in your bloodstream at a slower rate, and thus you minimize the spikes in your glucose readings. Foods high on the glycemic index would be the starchy and sweet foods, such as potatoes, rice, pasta, and most fruit. There are glycemic indexes you can refer to by searching the internet for glycemic values. This will help you to learn how various foods affect your blood sugar levels.
Combining your healthy eating with exercise on a daily basis is the key to living a healthy life as a diabetic. Control your diabetes. Don't let it control you.