If a doctor diagnosesthat you suffer from diabetes, what does that mean in regards to your eating habits? First, you will have to become more aware of nutritional factors that can affect your health. The diabetic treatment program that you will encounter is based upon the Food Pyramid with an emphasis on the amount of carbohydrates that are consumed. When following a diabetic diet, an individual should eat around the same portions of food at the same time of the day. This will aid in the maintenance of blood sugar levels.
A diabetic should implement a diet that focuses on eating a well-balanced meal. The diabetic diet strives to eat more starches, including bread, starchy vegetables and cereal. Six servings per day should satisfy this suggestion.
When trying to add more starches to a diet, one could have a breakfast consisting of cereal, soy milk or choose to eat a bagel with a teaspoon of jam. When eating salads or casseroles, the addition of garbanzo beans, cooked black beans or corn is a great way to get the starches you need.
Every day, the diabetic diet calls for the consumption of about five fruits and vegetables. When reaching for a snack, you should now choose an apple or orange. Raw vegetables also make great snacks or an addition to a lunch meal.
When preparing a stew, stir-fried meal or chili, the more vegetables the better. Since sugar is an important factor when following a diet for a diabetic, sweets and foods containing a high amount of sugar should be consumed in moderation.
Once or twice a week, a favorite sweet treat may be permitted, but anything more can affect blood sugar levels. For example, when eating out, splitting a dessert is a good way to cut down on the calories, sugar and fat.
Fiber is also an important aspect of a diabetic diet. The best kinds of fiber to seek out are soluble fibers, which can be found in vegetables, fruits and in some seeds.
These food items help to increase the rate at which glucose is absorbed into the intestines. The highest soluble fiber foods that you can find are legumes, such as cooked kidney beans. A list of healthy foods to incorporate into a diabetic diet can be found below:
Food Suggestions for a Diabetic Diet
Apples-
High in: Fiber
Beans-
High in: Folic acid, iron, potassium, zinc, fiber
Berries, especially the dark kinds-
High in: Vitamin C, minerals
Broccoli-
High in: Vitamin C, folate, fiber, selenium
Kale-
High in: Vitamin C, folate, fiber, selenium
Brussels Sprouts-
High in: Vitamin C, folate, fiber, selenium
Cauliflower-
High in: Vitamin C, folate, fiber, selenium
Carrots, as well as other bright yellow vegetables-
High in: Vitamin A, Vitamin C, fiber
Oily fish, such as mackerel, salmon and sardines-
High in: Vitamin B3, B12, essential fatty acids, selenium
Garlic
Ginger
Whole grains-
High in: Vitamin B, Selenium, fiber, folate
Grapes
Red wine
Onions
Oranges-
High in: Vitamin C, folate, potassium, fiber
Nuts-
High in: Vitamin E, Vitamin B1, essential fatty acids, folate, fiber
Sweet Potatoes-
High in: Vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin A
Soy
Spinach, as well as other dark green leafy vegetables-
High in: Vitamin C, folate, Vitamin A
Tea, especially green tea
Tomatoes-
High in: vitamin C, biotin, minerals
