Proper Eating Can Help Control Diabetes

Those with diabetes can help themselves maintain control of their disease by making the right choices when it comes to eating meals. A diabetic's food choices are one of the most important aspects of controlling their disease and possibly helping avoid many of the devastating effects caused by it.

The purpose of eating properly for those with diabetes is to keep blood glucose levels within the proper range. Eating the right foods, eating the right amounts and eating at the right times are all important in achieving proper blood glucose levels.

Something that is very important to keep in mind is that if a diabetic has not been eating properly for some time, their medications may need to be adjusted to compensate for the person's improper eating. Often times, the person will not be honest with their doctor about their eating habits. So, anyone with diabetes that decides to change their diet so that they can help alleviate problems associated with diabetes needs to keep in close contact with their doctor. Changes in their diet could cause changes in their blood glucose levels and it may be necessary for their doctor to readjust their medication.

When choosing the rights foods, the American Diabetes Association has several recommendations. When choosing carbohydrates, include lots of fruits and vegetables and stay away from pastas. For protein, eat 2 -3 servings of fish each week. Turkey and chicken are also good choices of protein. Also, choose lean cuts of meat such as pork loin and sirloin. When it comes to fats, try cooking with olive oil instead of vegetable oil and eat sources of monounsaturated fats such as nuts and olives. Diabetics should stay away from foods with sugar such as cookies, pies and candy. Lastly, try to drink six to eight glasses of water every day and stay away from soft drinks.

Proper eating for a person with diabetes also means not eating too many calories. The amount of calories that should be consumed depends on gender and size. A small to medium sized woman should limit their daily calorie intake to 1,200 to 1,600 calories. A large woman or a small to medium sized man should limit their daily calorie intake to 1,600 to 2,000 calories. A large man should limit their daily calorie intake to 2,000 to 2,400 calories. Any of these groups should increase their daily calorie intake by 200 to 400 calories if they exercise on a daily basis depending on the intensity of the exercises.

Eating at the right times is another important part of a proper eating plan for those with diabetes. Three well-rounded meals daily with three snacks between meals is a good guideline. Snacks should be eaten three to four hours after a meal and a meal should be eaten one and a half to two hours after a snack. Eating at proper times helps maintain blood glucose levels throughout the day. Eating meals too close to one another will raise glucose levels too high while eating meals too far apart will allow glucose levels to fall too low.

Diabetes can lead to other serious complications. These complications can be prevented or at least reduced when a proper eating plan is incorporated into the daily life of a diabetic.