Managing diabetes is a delicate balance. Not only do diabetics have to monitor their blood glucose levels, but they also have to figure out what diabetes foods to eat. Ultimately, if they eat suitable foods for diabetes, they can drastically decrease the number of times they have to administer insulin to correct blood sugar spikes.
Tips for the Dietary Management of Diabetes and Foods to Avoid
Diet is such a fundamental aspect of living. It is something that people often take for granted. They toss whatever food item is close by into their mouths for lunch or dinner. However, people with chronic health conditions, including diabetes, cannot afford to have such a nonchalant attitude towards food. Rather, they have to be diligent about determining what diabetes foods to eat. Ideally, they should make those foods for diabetes central to their diets. In addition, they have to learn what foods to avoid for diabetes. It would be counterproductive for them to eat healthy, diabetes-appropriate food for lunch, and then to undermine that with a sugar-soaked dessert.
Some examples of appropriate diabetes foods to eat are vegetables, fruits, wholegrain cereals, and lean meats. Skinless chicken and fish are particular favorites. It is generally advised to avoid fried foods and foods with high sugar content. However, fatty acids and carbohydrates are still a necessary part of the diet. The key is to eat healthy sources of these nutrients. Such sources should not cause dramatic changes in one’s blood sugar levels. Thus, edible nuts are welcome foods, as are avocadoes and the so-called oily fish (e.g. salmon, trout, sardines and herring). Highly refined food products should generally be excluded from the diet as these tend to be high in calories and to be sweetened excessively. It is most ideal to prepare one’s own food or, at the very least, to monitor the labels of pre-packaged foods carefully.
The most ideal oil to use when cooking is vegetable oil, including canola oil and olive oil. Diabetics should avoid shortening as well as animal fats (e.g. ghee and butter). In addition, diabetics should favor cooking methods that preserve the goodness of food without increasing its calorie content. Stewing is one such cooking method. Grilling and stir frying are yet others. Frying is generally a bad idea, but it is okay to use some vegetable oil in the preparation of a dish like a stew. Alternatively, vegetable salads dressed with olive oil make great diabetes foods to eat.
Some foods come in ‘lighter’ than normal versions. In other words, they have reduced fat content. These include milk, yoghurt, and cheese. It is ideal to go for these, particularly when doing so does not compromise on the quality of the food.
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