The Diabetes Un-Diet

You, know , I was diagnosed 10 yaers ago with diabetes. it was pretty scary at first. and for the first year or so I had to give myself insulin injections. I had, up to this point always told myself that there was no way I could ever give myself an injection of any kind. But , when your life depends on it , you learn to adapt real easy. Fortunately , as I learned all I could about this disease and started eating better and getting more excersie, I was able to get off the insulin. now I control it with oral medication and eating better. Unfortunately, i have put back on some ,but not all of the weight I had lost. Which can be a side effect of diabetes(weight gain). But anyway, I keep my blood sugar in excellent control. My A1C levels are consistently between 5.4 and 5.9. If you don't take this disease seriously, or live in denial about it, then your just asking for a load of trouble. Unfortunately, I know people in my life that are in denial about it and don't take it seriously. Not much I can do about that. But anyway, here is some simple eating guidlines to help maintain healthy blood sugar levels. -Kent

Managing diabetes comes down to one main goal: controlling your blood sugar levels. It's the key to reducing your risk of developing serious complications, such as heart disease, renal failure, nerve damage, and blindness. And making great meal choices can go a long way toward helping to keep your blood sugar levels within a healthful range.

When it comes to managing your blood sugar through your eating choices, don't think of it as dieting or saying no to yourself. Think of it as an un-diet -- where you focus on what you say yes to. Because the truth is, it's not about what you don't eat. It's about what you do eat. It's about choosing good foods, balancing your meals, and watching portion sizes. And eating regularly (no skipping!).

Here are just a few of the things you get to say yes to when you're eating for better blood sugar control.

Hearty grains: Those nutty, toasty whole-grain breads and cereals are so much more interesting than plain old white bread and cornflakes, right? This is definitely one area where eating right tastes great! Choose complex, high-fiber, whole-grain options whenever you include carbohydrates in a meal. We're talking whole-grain breads, cereals, and pasta, which will help keep your blood sugar steady.

The season's best: Those juicy, colorful fruits and veggies you see at the grocery store and farmers market? They're not a treat. They're a must. Because most fruit and veggies are nutrient rich, calorie poor, and fiber filled, they are an excellent choice for people with high blood sugar. Just keep it healthy by avoiding added sugars, butter, heavy cream, or sauces. Instead, use vinegar, lemon juice, herbs, and spices for your veggies, and eat your fruit whole.

reamy treats: Yummy yogurts and savory cheeses are not off limits for you. In fact, to stay healthy, your body needs the protein, calcium, and other nutrients that dairy provides. Just choose low-fat or fat-free milk, cheese, yogurt, and sour cream products to keep your saturated fat intake down.

Perfect protein: Lovely broiled fish steaks, toasty nuts, crunchy chickpeas . . . sound like a hardship? It's not. Many of the healthier protein sources are also some of the tastiest. Choose lean cuts of meat, skinless chicken, omega-3-rich fish, eggs, beans, peas, nuts, and seeds to get your protein while reducing your saturated fat and cholesterol intake at the same time. And use low-fat cooking methods such as grilling, broiling, and stir-frying.

Stick to a Schedule
When you eat also factors into your diabetes management plan. So to help keep blood sugar levels steadier, try to eat several small meals throughout the day instead of a few large meals.