A healthy diet for diabetics is similar to one for people without diabetes. Eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains and careful consumption of carbohydrates as well as portion management are key to maintaining a healthy diet. Creating a meal plan of three to five single-serving meals daily will help maintain your blood sugar level and keep you in overall good health. If you feel you need assistance in planning your meals, a dietitian can help you find the best regimen.
Switch from white flour to whole grain
Pasta is loaded with carbohydrates and calories and it increases your blood sugar level. As an alternative, try whole-wheat pasta, which is high in fiber and has fewer calories. White-flour pastas can still be consumed, but limiting the portion size is necessary to reduce your blood sugar level. Smaller portions of unhealthy foods can dramatically decrease the harm they cause to your body.
Avoid Additives
Processed foods contain high sodium to give them long-lasting shelf life, so replace them with fresh food. Buy fresh fruits and vegetables at your local grocery store or farmers' market to avoid unhealthy additives. Juices that seem healthy often contain high-fructose corn syrup as a sweetener. High-fructose corn syrup has been linked to obesity in many studies and should be consumed in moderation if it's in your diet. Avoid partially hydrogenated vegetable oil (trans fat), which is more harmful than saturated fat and can contribute to cardiovascular disease.
Lean meat and non-fat dairy
Pork tenderloin, lean ground beef and lamb are healthy cuts of meat that are lower in fat, but tend to cost a little more. By removing the skin from chicken you can reduce the amount of saturated fat in your meal. You can also use vegetable oil instead of butter or margarine to reduce fat. Switch from whole milk to non-fat to reduce total fat grams and keep your cholesterol in check.
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