Proper nutrition plays a crucial role in managing diabetes, helping to maintain blood sugar levels and prevent complications. A dietitian can provide invaluable support in this journey, offering expert guidance to improve a person’s quality of life while managing diabetes.
Diabetic Nutrition
When you first heard the words, “You have diabetes (or pre-diabetes),” you were probably shocked. After the initial surprise wore off, you might have had questions like:
“How could this happen to me? I’m not overweight?”
“I didn’t think I ate that much sugar. What happened?”
“What do I do now?”
“Should I stay away from eating sugar altogether?”
Although you will likely need to make significant lifestyle and diet changes, working with a dietitian can help ensure a high quality of life. A diabetes diagnosis is not a death sentence. Many people with diabetes live fulfilling lives and can even enjoy the new meal plans they’ve worked on with their dietitian.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes centers on the body’s ability to process glucose and produce insulin. Insulin is needed to facilitate the use of sugar in the body’s cells for energy, but when a person has diabetes, their body either doesn’t produce insulin, or the cells have developed insulin resistance. In either case, excess sugar remains in the bloodstream, which causes elevated blood glucose (or blood sugar). If blood sugar remains elevated for prolonged periods of time, it could lead to permanent damage to kidneys, eyes, and blood vessels.
What are the Signs of Diabetes?
If people in your family have diabetes, it means you could be more likely to get it too, and knowing what to watch for can really help. If there are things that feel different to you, or you recognize signs of diabetes or pre-diabetes, talk to your doctor. They’re there to help you.
Remember, knowing what to look for and talking to your doctor when you need to is a great way to take care of your health.
What Foods Should I Avoid if I Have Diabetes?
Most people associate diabetes with consuming too much sugar when in reality, diabetes centers more around carbohydrates than sugar. Carbohydrates include a wider variety of foods, such as starches, fruits, and grains, which all convert to sugar in the body after consumption. Carbohydrates higher on the glycemic index, such as white bread, white sugar, and potatoes, should be eaten sparsely or in moderation to maintain the health of a person with diabetes.
Even so, a healthy diabetic diet need not eliminate all carbohydrates. Carbohydrates with a lower glycemic index, such as oats and brown rice, fit well in a meal for a person with diabetes, and even some fruits, such as apples, oranges, or kiwi.
What Foods are Best for a Diabetic Diet?
You may hear “diet” and automatically think “food restrictions.” Indeed, many fad diets and meal plans like Atkins, South Beach, and Keto significantly reduce (or eliminate) entire food groups or types of foods. It’s not actually a good idea to eliminate an entire food group, and the best diet for a person with diabetes should include a variety of healthy choices. Just be mindful of using carbohydrates that are lower on the glycemic index and include plenty of protein to balance the meal. A whole foods approach is best for a person with diabetes, as well as staying clear of processed foods and sugar. A great diet should at least include the following:
- Plenty of fruits and vegetables: potatoes are okay to include in your diet, but only if they are not the main food staple and you consume other vegetables
- Whole grains: whole wheat, brown rice, barley, quinoa, oats
- Proteins: chicken, turkey, fish, eggs, nuts, beans, lentils, and tofu
How Can a Dietitian Help with Diabetes Nutrition?
Managing diabetes through proper nutrition is crucial to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Working with a dietitian can help you create a personalized meal plan that addresses your needs and helps you manage your blood sugar levels.
If you’re ready to take the next step in managing your diabetes through nutrition, contact us to schedule a consultation with one of our expert dietitians. Together, we can help you achieve optimal health.
