Diabetes: Nutrition
Reviewed October 2009
Healthy eating for people with diabetes is not very different from the healthy eating guidelines that everyone can follow. Depending on the type of diabetes, however, some people may need to follow specific rules. In most cases, when this is necessary, patients are referred to a diabetes educator or nutrition professional.
Here are some eating tips that will help everyone manage diabetes and promote good health.
• Establish a routine for meals and snacks. Eat at regular intervals and try to maintain a consistent pattern.
• Eat a variety of foods. Variety in the diet improves nutritional value.
• Eat a plant based diet. This means that most of the food you eat should come from plants. Plants are rich in a vast number of important nutrients.
• Emphasize fruits and vegetables. Try to include a fruit and/or a vegetable at each meal and snack. All fruits and vegetables are nutritious so choose a variety based on what is in season, what is priced right, and what you like.
• Include whole grain and fiber rich foods daily. Example is: certain cereals (shredded wheat, bran flakes, raisin bran); oats and oatmeal; brown rice; barley; bulgur wheat; beans, peas and lentils. Whole grain breads are available but not always easy to find.
• Limit intake of animal fat such as beef, pork, chicken fat and lard.
• Include healthy fats daily. Healthy fats are found in olive oil, canola oil, and fish. Fish and seafood are very healthy additions to everyone’s diet.
• Try to avoid overeating. Pay attention to how you feel, and stop when you feel satisfied, not when the plate is empty. If you need help controlling portion sizes, consider meeting with a nutrition professional who is trained to provide guidelines and counseling on changing eating habits.
Here are some eating tips that will help everyone manage diabetes and promote good health.
• Establish a routine for meals and snacks. Eat at regular intervals and try to maintain a consistent pattern.
• Eat a variety of foods. Variety in the diet improves nutritional value.
• Eat a plant based diet. This means that most of the food you eat should come from plants. Plants are rich in a vast number of important nutrients.
• Emphasize fruits and vegetables. Try to include a fruit and/or a vegetable at each meal and snack. All fruits and vegetables are nutritious so choose a variety based on what is in season, what is priced right, and what you like.
• Include whole grain and fiber rich foods daily. Example is: certain cereals (shredded wheat, bran flakes, raisin bran); oats and oatmeal; brown rice; barley; bulgur wheat; beans, peas and lentils. Whole grain breads are available but not always easy to find.
• Limit intake of animal fat such as beef, pork, chicken fat and lard.
• Include healthy fats daily. Healthy fats are found in olive oil, canola oil, and fish. Fish and seafood are very healthy additions to everyone’s diet.
• Try to avoid overeating. Pay attention to how you feel, and stop when you feel satisfied, not when the plate is empty. If you need help controlling portion sizes, consider meeting with a nutrition professional who is trained to provide guidelines and counseling on changing eating habits.
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