What Should You Eat?

Although diabetes is not necessarily a life threatening disease, it is a life altering one. One of the most vital things for a patient to be aware of is their diet. Diabetes patients' diets are not as simple as you’d think. Ingesting too much sugar will put patients at risk of high blood sugar. Ingesting too little will lead patients to suffer from low blood sugar, a condition known as hypoglycemia. The amount of insulin in the body will also alter the blood sugar level. A proper balance between the amounts of the two should do the trick. So the question is, what can patients eat to ensure this balance? Of course, the amount of insulin and sugar needed varies for each person. For now, we will focus on the diet for type 2 diabetes patients.

First, it's better to choose more foods from the bottom of the food pyramid. Foods such as breads, grains, and other starches are more preferable than foods with more fats, oils and sugars.

Breads and grains have many nutrients such as vitamins, fiber and other minerals. Plus, they contain complex carbs that will take the body longer to digest thus fueling energy for the body longer. 

Vegetables also contain a myriad of valuable nutrients, as well as fiber and are naturally low in fat and sodium. Fruits have similar nutritional benefits. They contain valuable nutrients such as carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and fiber as well as being naturally low in fat. However, when choosing between fruits and vegetables, keep in mind that fruits contain more carbs and natural sugar.

Following the foods listed above, it is next best to intake protein. Protein is not solely meat such as beef, chicken, fish, etc. but beans, tofu and other foods as well. It is better to ingest non-meat proteins because it helps lower the amount of fats eaten.

Finally it is also beneficial to eat some dairy which includes foods made from milk. However, you should avoid eating foods with fats, oils and sugars because they are packed with calories and little nutrition.