Healthy​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ Eating Tips: Preventing and Managing Diabetes

People with diabetes should always ensure that their blood sugar levels are well-regulated. Mainly, this can be achieved through changes in lifestyle. Otherwise, bad blood sugar control will cause blood-related complications that will be difficult to treat. Among the most dangerous health problems that can be caused by poorly controlled diabetes is the generalised infection of organs, such as the skin, intestines, eyes, nerves, and kidneys.

Prakash​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ Diabetes Hospital, Patna, is all about providing health-promoting advice and proper eating habits that lead to diabetes control and its cessation. As the leading diabetes hospital in Patna, Prakash Diabetes Hospital is highly experienced in the treatment of diabetes and its complications. Also, we have the Best Diabetes Doctor in Patna who can help you. If you are a victim of diabetes-related complications and need assistance, please contact the medical team and experts at Prakash Diabetes Hospital. They will support you through treatment and management stages, and ultimately, you will feel relief.

It may be somewhat ironic that diabetes, a disease related to lifestyle, which affects both the endocrine and metabolic systems, can only be managed through lifestyle changes. For persons with diabetes, here are ten helpful dietary suggestions available to you in order to address the symptoms.

Why is Diet Important for Diabetics?

Blood sugar-lowering medications will not be sufficient to manage diabetes in a person. A good diet must be followed. Different diabetes types will require different modes of management.

Type 1 Diabetes:

Insulin injections may be the sole support for people suffering from type 1 diabetes. The overall carbohydrate intake will be the most important thing that people with type 1 diabetes will be monitoring to keep their blood sugar levels normal. The amount of carbohydrate ingested should be in correspondence with the quantity of insulin that the body has received. A good management of Type 1 Diabetes is to come up with a plan that consists of whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and lean protein, and dispense insulin in such quantities.

Type 2 Diabetes:

People​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ with type 2 diabetes are very often overweight and, at the same time, are not successful in getting rid of the extra pounds when they try. In the case of persons suffering from type 2 diabetes, it will be the most effective way of achieving blood glucose control if weight is lost through a healthy diet and an exercise program. The risk of complications from type 2 diabetes, as well as that of the development of other diseases, decreases dramatically when blood sugar is kept at a normal level.

What is involved in a diabetic diet?

A diabetic diet mainly follows the principle of moderation in eating. By practising moderation in meals, one would make the best use of the insulin in the body, whether it is produced by the body or given as a drug.

A dietitian with registration credentials can determine a meal plan that agrees with your health goals, choices, and lifestyle. Moreover, they can also give you some hints on how to better you’re eating habits, e.g. by picking the right portion sizes for your body type and level of activity.

Foods that are recommended ‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌

You will want to ensure you have a good calorie intake by selecting nutrient-rich food. Include healthy carbohydrates and foods high in fibre, oily fish and ‘good’ fats in your ‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌diet.

Make Good Food Choices:

Diabetics often have a significant craving for sweet foods. Remember that one of the key symptoms of diabetes is “increased appetite”. It is possible to effectively quell hunger by eating the right foods and avoiding unhealthy foods. If you are going to manage this the right way, you must choose foods with some nutritional value as well as satiating qualities. Here are some good examples:

• Whole grains, e.g. millet, jowar (sorghum), ragi (finger millet).
• Fruits and vegetables
• Protein-rich foods, e.g. chickpeas, lentils
• Low-fat milk or plant-based milk, e.g. almond milk, can work nicely.

Cut back on your salt consumption’s

The intake of salt in large amounts could result in the elevation of blood pressure and, consequently, in heart diseases as well as strokes. The danger is even greater if you are a diabetic. Hence, it is really crucial to watch the salt usage very closely, and one should not go beyond the salt allowance of 6 grams (the same as one teaspoon) a day. Many processed foods are also salted, so it would be wise to become familiar with reading food labels and then choosing the ones with less sodium if you are going to take any processed foods at all. It is usually very easy to get the exact quantity of salt you are using when you are cooking your own food. You can, at the same time, replace some salt with herbs and spices to keep the taste and fun without salt.

Cut back on your red and processed meats.

Cutting back on carbohydrates might make you want to compensate with more meat to keep your hunger under control. Nevertheless, one thing that should not be done is to switch to eating more red and processed meats—the latter category includes bacon, ham, sausages, beef, and lamb, along with hot dogs and processed sausages. It is stated that such a diet may lead to heart disease and, lastly, even cancer.

Why not swap red and processed meats for these foods instead?

• Beans and lentils are great sources of protein that are also very affordable.
• Eggs
• Seafood
• Chicken and turkey, for example, are types of poultry.
• Non-salted nuts

Beans, peas, and lentils are not only high in fibre but also have a low glycemic index. Thus, they are perfect substitutes for processed and red meats, and additionally, they keep you satiated for a longer period of time.

People generally know that eating fish is good for the body, but if one makes a point to emphasise the matter, then oily fish like salmon, Rohu, or Hilsa are the most healthful fish. The reason for that is their rich content of omega-3 fatty acids, which aid in having a healthy heart. So, let there be oily fish on your dining table at least twice a week.

Add more fruits and vegetables to your diet.

It’s common knowledge that fruits and vegetables are healthy. You can make healthy snacks during the day when you add more fruits and vegetables to the main meals, or when you feel like having a snack. Besides, you will get all the vitamins, minerals, and dietary fibres necessary for a healthy day.

Do you have to stop eating fruits because they are high in sugar? The answer is definitely no! Whole fruit is healthy for everybody, including diabetics. Fruit indeed has some sugar, but this is natural sugar (in contrast to added sugar or free sugars that are found in foods such as chocolate, biscuits, and cakes)

Fruit juice sugars are also free sugars, and therefore, eating whole fruits is the ideal solution. Fruit can be found in different forms, i.e., fresh, frozen, dried, and canned (in juice, not syrup). It is better to eat fruit throughout the day rather than eating large amounts all at ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌once.

Choose​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ Healthy Fats

Firstly, use good fats instead of high-fat fried foods, and avoid processed foods that are high in sugar and salt. If you are overweight, fat intake must be very well controlled. Since your weight is very closely related to your diabetes, the control of it becomes essential. Besides that, fats are the main source of energy for the brain and diabetic peripheral neuropathy is one of the most common diabetes complications. Hence, healthy fats should be part of your daily meals.

Reduce Free Sugars

Cutting down on sugar may look impossible at the starting point, but eventually, you will be able to make small and practical changes in your daily life. One good move can be to replace energy drinks, carb-loaded sodas, and fruit juices with water, milk, or unsweetened tea and coffee.

The​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ lowering of free sugar intake is one of the measures that can maintain blood sugar levels and keep a person fit. In addition to that, low- and no-calorie sweeteners (commonly referred to as artificial sweeteners) are a great resource for reducing sugar intake. The use of these sweeteners without the substitution of other high-calorie foods or drinks may result in a short-term loss of body weight. Nevertheless, it is important to remind ourselves that ultimately, the total sweetener consumption has to be decreased.

Choose Healthy Snacks

Diabetics are often forced to eat only three meals a day. In case you are going to eat something between meals, it should be very healthy food. Rather than eating wafers, biscuits, or chocolate, you should choose healthy snacks like unsalted nuts, seeds, or dry-roasted chickpeas. You can also make beet and carrot salad with hummus or Greek yoghurt. Moreover, if you are aiming at stabilising your blood sugar, you are also advised to control your portion sizes and measure your food.

Do not consume alcohol or smoke.

Very important is the avoidance of both alcohol and smoking. Alcohol is a very energy-dense food, and after its consumption, it brings about blood glucose level changes that are very difficult to predict. For this reason, if someone wants to keep the blood sugar levels under control, reduction of alcohol consumption to a minimum is of utmost importance. Besides alcohol, there are a lot of healthy drinks that are also refreshing and thirst-quenching, so choose any of them. By smoking and drinking heavily, you put your heart in danger directly, and thus, the major causes of cardiovascular diseases, smoking, and excessive drinking, are the result of these unhealthy habits.

Be careful with the consumption of “diabetic foods”

Previously, it was standard to put a label on certain foods calling them “diabetic foods,” but now it is not allowed. These foods are not better than other healthy foods, which is a point that has no supporting evidence. Most of them have the same amount of fat and calories as the foods they are similar to, and thus, the effect on blood sugar levels will also be the same. What is more, they may cause diarrhoea sometimes.

Mineral and vitamin supplements

There is no evidence that mineral and vitamin supplements help in the control of diabetes. Therefore, unless your doctor prescribes it to you, such as folic acid during pregnancy, it is better not to take ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌them.

Nutrients necessary for the body must come from a wide range of foods. Some supplements may greatly reduce the efficiency of the medications you take for your diabetes or may aggravate your diabetes complications, for example, kidney disease.

Regular Exercise

Losing weight is one of the major steps in the control of blood sugar levels. Regular exercise and sweat will surely be your allies in this endeavour. In fact, you must keep track of your calories throughout the day – both those taken in and those burned. Exercise not only helps keep blood sugar levels in check but also improves metabolism and the conversion of food into energy.

Conclusion

Every​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ diabetic patient is different; actually, each one of them has very different requirements. It is highly essential, under the direction of a diabetes specialist such as the Best Diabetes doctor in Patna, to sustain good eating habits and also to make the right food choices. The doctor will make it clear to you what you have to do in order to keep diabetes under control and how to stay away from complications later on. Just let me remind you that even though diabetes is not curable, it can be controlled and managed.

Prakash Diabetes Hospital is among the top diabetes care centres in Patna, where patients can get a variety of integrated and comprehensive treatment options for all types of diabetes. If you are “Looking for the Best Diabetes doctor in Patna,” our specialists will be delighted to fulfil your requirements. The above-mentioned dietary tips are quite useful for diabetic patients. Don’t sit idle, begin to eat nutritious food right away and be the master of your ‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌diabetes!