Healthy Eating for Diabetes
Whether you have pre-diabetes, gestational diabetes, or type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus, your nutrition can help control your blood sugar.
Fasting blood glucose, post-prandial (after meals) blood glucose, and glycated hemoglobin A1C (3 month average) can all improve by eating balanced meals.
Improved blood sugar control reduces your risk of complications:
infections
neuropathy (nerve damage which can affect your eyesight and sensation in your hands and feet)
increased risk of kidney and heart disease, and
amputations
What about carbs?
Carbohydrates are found not only in bread, rice, and pasta, but also in fruit, milk, yogurt, and sweets such as cookies, chocolate, and pastries. While carbohydrates increase blood glucose levels, some foods high in carbohydrates can contain excellent nutrients such as fibre, B vitamins, vitamin C, calcium, and more! When we choose to eat carbohydrate containing foods, we should try to balance our meals properly to help control our blood glucose levels.
What can I do?
Accomplishing blood glucose control may be possible through diet and exercise alone, and some people with diabetes may need medication to help. Some dietary strategies to control blood sugar levels include limiting intake of carbohydrates at meals and snacks, and balancing meals with some fibre-rich carbohydrates, lean protein and healthy fats. Eating a balanced diet, aiming for 150 minutes per week of physical activity, and reducing excess body fat can help control diabetes. A Registered Dietitian can help you plan your meals and develop nutrition strategies to take control of your health! Book an appointment today!