Healthy food choices are a critical component of diabetes care. Choosing the correct foods and avoiding others will help patients keep their blood sugar in check and reduce the side effects that occur with wide fluctuations in blood sugar. Diet is also important for keeping other factors such as weight, cholesterol, and blood pressure within healthy ranges.
Diabetic Diet Recommendations
- Snack between meals (every 3-4 hours) to avoid overeating at meal time
- Increase fiber intake, which improves blood sugar control and helps lower cholesterol
- Use plate method
- 1/2 plate vegetables
- 1/4 plate bread, pasta, rice, potato
- 1/4 plate meat, poultry, fish
Foods for Diabetes
- Lean meats
- Fish
- Vegetables
- Beans
- Whole grains
- Non-fat dairy
- Fruits (in moderation due to high sugar content)
- Nuts (in moderation due to high fat content)
Foods to Avoid with Diabetes
- High in sugar (high glycemic load)
- Simple carbohydrates (high glycemic index)
- High saturated fat foods
- Highly processed foods
