Diabetic Nutrition and Diet
Achieving Good Diabetic Health
From Everyday Food Choices
The common thread running through every diabetic nutrition and diet program relies heavily on filling up daily with fresh fruits and non-starchy vegetables, low fat meat and dairy products, plus the importance of whole grains and a few starchy carbohydrates. An occasional treat from sweets and beverages can then be added for variety and to quell that impulse known as temptation. The Three Basics Of A Good Diabetic Nutrition And Diet ProgramAfter diagnosis, the first thing your doctor and health care team are going to focus on is the big 3 treatment protocols. Often, if you are successful with the first two, chances are great you may not have to rely on the third.- Meal Planning: with the aid of a nutritionist or dietitian to set up and determine a reasonable diabetic nutrition and diet program that works for you, and which you will be willing to follow. All of this gets based on your lifestyle, eating habits and likes and dislikes.
- Exercise: means movement. Keep your body parts active and you will automatically be rewarded with lower blood sugar levels.Remember though, exercise does not have to mean a gym or grunting and groaning in your basement.
Go walk the dog daily, play a round of golf, wash the car the old-fashioned way, rake some leaves, weed the garden or flower beds or clean the house. You get the idea here - any kind of movement is exercise. Do something you enjoy daily and forget the grind of jumping jacks, deep knee bends or that "bicycle to nowhere". - Medications: after steps 1 & 2 have been unable to keep your blood sugars in check, your doctor is going to prescribe medications. Normally you will be asked to keep a journal of your daily blood sugar readings, the foods you eat get recorded as to what, time of day and quantity you ingest. All of this information is used by your doctor to determine the correct medication and dosage schedule for your situation.
Nutritional PowerhousesOne easy way to get some of those diabetic nutrition and diet conscious foods into your daily food plan is to "think red". Red fruits and vegetables are brimming with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytonutrients. When eaten in combination, your body receives the benefits of a nutrient-rich diet without the pill bottle or vitamin bottle often being needed. Mix and match some of these to reward yourself with continuing good health.- Red Cherries: are good fresh or dried as an addition to cereals, baked goods, rice and fruit mixtures, salads or in smoothies
- Red Raspberries: are a fiber-packed fruit rich in antioxidants and vitamin C. Mix up 1 cup of berries with 1/2 cup water plus a squirt of lemon juice and cook over low heat until it just starts to boil. Add 1 or 2 drops of Stevia to your taste and a very small amount of cornstarch and water blended. Cook for 1 more minute until mixture slightly thickened. Use this as a topping for whole grain waffles, nonfat yogurt or a thin slice of angel food cake.
- Cranberries: are for more than just "turkey day". Add them to salads, sandwiches, desserts or muffin recipes for a quick boost of nutrient health.
- Red pears, grapes or pink grapefruit are all packed with more of a nutritional punch than their green or yellow counterparts. This is because of the higher concentrations of nutrients found in the red varieties.
- Red Beets: are brimming with phytonutrients proven to protect against some forms of cancer.
- Red Peppers, Red Cabbage and Red Leaf Lettuce: these all boost your vitamin C and beta-carotene levels which again tend to prevent certain types of cancer.
Although not a 100% guarantee of good future health, this type of diabetic nutrition and diet program does help insure a stronger immune system which is a deciding factor in whether your body can help prevent future disease or illness. Convenience Foods/Fast Food DietFitting in a nutritional daily menu from pre-packaged or fast foods into a diabetic nutritional and diet program takes a lot more work and advance planning. Some of the foods themselves are not such poor choices, the problem is the cooking methods. Then after adding all those preservatives and additives (to ensure longer shelf life before the restaurant uses it), they have pretty much negated any benefits your body can derive from the finished product. Check closely the ingredient labels and nutritional labels, ask questions of the staff or check on-line. Many restaurants now have their entire menu's nutritional program on-line.Decrease These
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pizza with all the toppings
| whole grain pizza crust loaded with vegetables, low sodium sauce, tons of veges and skim milk mozzarella cheese
| common fast food faire: cheeseburger, fries and soda
| use pre-cut fruits and veges from the salad bar. Go easy on the cheddar cheese, croutons, eggs, bacon, potato and macaroni salad plus high fat salad dressings
| breaded and deep-fried vegetables or pre-packaged foods high in trans fats
| use frozen pre-cooked roasts, chicken fillets or chicken tenders without the breading
| salt, sugar, fatty meat selections or high fat dairy products
| add low-fat or nonfat dairy products, cottage cheese yogurt and ice cream, pick loin, choice or select cuts of fresh meats
| breaded, deep-fried or seafood dishes cooked in a cream sauce
| add fresh fish in your diet, many varieties which are cooked and prepared without breading and high fat sauces
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So because many families, more and more because of time-crunched schedules, are using pre-made, pre-cut and already prepared selections from the fast food counter or restaurant, it has often become the norm where no one seems to be cooking a dinner meal anymore. So fitting a well-planned diabetic nutrition and diet program into these parameters means a lot more careful grocery shopping and more care just grabbing a meal on the way home. Try starting with stocking the pantry with some easy substitutions, some healthy products for quick brown bag lunches and keep in mind the right choices from the carb smart program. Also, start trying to limit your selections of pre-made dinners, entrees and snack foods and with time and practice your daily diet will become so routine that you no longer have to spend time trying to make the best choices for your conversion to a diabetic nutrition and diet program.
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*Disclaimer*
This site is not intended to replace the advice and supervision of your professional medical treatment plan. Although all of the information is true and accurate to the best of our knowledge, we still recommend you carefully check all food labels before consuming any food product. We can not assume any legal responsibility for any illness obtained while following the advice contained on this site.
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