People with diabetes can eat anything anyone else to eat. However, there are types of food for people with diabetes that are better for diabetic health than others. The most important type of food that a person with diabetes should eat is non-starchy vegetables, which provide fiber and a variety of nutrients without causing blood sugar levels to rise.
Whole-grain based foods are another great type of food for people with diabetes. Whole-grains provide soluble fiber which helps to lower cholesterol levels when eaten in adequate amounts, according to DiabetesSelfManagement.com. On the other hand, refined grain products tend to provide significantly less fiber than whole grains and often cause blood sugar levels to rise more quickly.
Food Choices for People with Diabetes
Even if you have a general understanding of what foods are best for diabetics to eat, making food choices on a day to day basis can be difficult. In general, when choosing food for people with diabetes it is best choose whole-grain products instead of white enriched breads, pastas, tortillas, and rice. It is also better to choose whole-grain cereals than those that include little amounts of whole grains and lots of sugar, according to WebMd.com.
It is much healthier for a food to be baked than fried. If a food has been fried, try to ensure it was fried in a healthy type of oil such as canola oil, olive oil, vegetable oil, or peanut oil. If a food is baked, such as cookies are muffins, it should be made with these types of oils. If it is a packaged product, read the label to be sure it contains no trans fat.
Fresh fruits and vegetables are always better than canned. When choosing canned vegetables, it is better to choose those that are low in sodium for cardiovascular reasons. When choosing canned fruits, choose the “no-sugar added” variety and those that are canned in their own juice, not heavy sugar syrup. Jams and juices should also be as close to natural as possible with little or no added sugar.
Finally, when choosing meats always choose the lower fat cuts. Baked, grilled, and stewed meats are best. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends eating fish several times a week, but to ensure they are not fried but rather baked, broiled, or steamed. Skim milk, low-fat yogurt, and other low-fat dairy products are best when choosing food for people with diabetes. These choices are much lower in saturated fat and calories.
