Top 5 Diet Tips For Diabetics

The moment your blood report shows that your blood glucose level has risen to the diabetic range, you need not think that you are thrown into a world of dietary restrictions, forever! Modern medicine has successfully busted myths like you can never enjoy your chocolate cake again in your life, or you have to forget your favorite pizza or hotdog. You can still have sweets and carbohydrates. It is not that consuming high quantities of protein alone is going to be beneficial for you.

Many diabetics maintain their blood sugar levels well within control by following a balanced diet. The best thing for you to do would be to visit a clinical dietician and work out a dietary plan for you, which you will enjoy following. If that has brightened up your mood, you can have a look at the dietary steps mentioned further.

Diet Options For Diabetics

Eat High-Fiber And Slow-Release Carbohydrates

High-fiber slow-release carbohydrates are digested slowly, resulting in a slow rise of blood glucose levels, preventing the generation of high amounts of insulin in a short period of time, which is desirable for diabetics. The slow and steady release of energy keeps you active for a longer period of time.

Brown rice, wild rice, sweet potatoes, yam, winter squash, cauliflower, whole wheat pasta, whole wheat bread, high-fiber breakfast cereals such as bran, and rolled oats are foods that belong to this category. You can include moderate portions of these foods in your breakfast. White rice, white potato, refined flour foods, processed foods and instant oatmeal are some of the foods that lack fiber and have fast-release carbohydrates. These should be avoided. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables (avoid starchy fruits and vegetables) and avoid processed foods.

Be Sweet-Smart

You do not have to totally curtail your sweet intake, if you are diabetic. The trick lies in trading off certain foods for having sweets in moderation. You can easily work out a plan to eliminate a carbohydrate the day on which you want to have something sweet.

For example, if you want to have a piece of chocolate cake, you can omit eating your bowl of rice or pasta for that meal. Eat your food slowly and enjoy while having it. This will help you reach satiety with a small amount of food and you will avoid overeating. Also, have sweets with your main meals, as otherwise they will tend to spike your blood sugar levels rapidly. Avoid sweetened soft drinks and other edibles that have a high concentration of sugar.

Include Healthy Fats

Include some low-fat foods along with your sweets, as fats slow down digestion, thereby retarding the absorption of glucose from the ingested sweet. Peanut butter, yogurt, ricotta cheese or nuts are healthy choices of fats that are not very heavy.

The foods that contain saturated, hydrogenated and trans-fats should be avoided. You can check the labels of food products that you buy for the inclusion of these fats and their percentages in the food products that you buy.

Have Coal Foods

Coal foods are the ones that are high in their protein and fiber content. Beans, seafood, lean meat and whole grains, are some common foods that belong to this category. They often replace the white foods that are low in fiber and of the fast-release type.

Avoid Alcohol

Avoid alcoholic drinks or drink them in moderation, as alcohol may interfere with your diabetic medication. Avoid sweetened alcoholic drinks and have them with a meal (if you have to) rather than as a standalone drink. Consume drinks fixed with zero-calorie drink mixers.