What Can I Eat To Manage My Diabetes?

Diabetes is a condition where your body is not able to make enough insulin onr the insulin is not being used properly. Insulin enables your body to get energy from glucose – the sugar broken down from the foods you eat. A poor balance between insulin and blood glucose levels can result in high glucose (hyper-glycemia) or low blood glucose (hypoglycemia ) levels in your blood. Maintaining blood glucose levels around acceptable levels is important and research has shown that it can help prevent complications in your eyes, kidneys, blood vessels and more. Under your physicians guidance, diabetes and blood glucose levels are managed with Medical Nutrition Therapy, an individualized meal plan, exercise and medications as needed. The foods you eat, total calories, activity and body weight are some of the factors that can affect blood levels. Foods that contain carbohydates can raise blood glucose levels. Fats and protein can also affect weight, if eaten in excess. Keep a daily log of your meals and blood glucose levels to better understand fluctuations. Include a daily exercise plan into your regimen (after talking to your physician). Become familiar with food labels and ingredients. Your Dietitian can help you with this.