November is American Diabetes Month
NOTE: It’s important for people with diabetes to work closely with their healthcare team (including a physician, registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator) to develop an individualized plan that works with their lifestyle.
Go lower-carb
Molly’s approach with type 2 diabetes: a lower-carb meal plan, often not more than 15-20 grams of carb at meals and snacks (though it might be more depending on the person’s size, appetite and activity level), with a greater emphasis on lean proteins, non-starchy vegetables and healthy fats.
It used to be thought that sugar was the main culprit in spiking blood-sugar levels. Now we know that all types of carbs raise blood-sugar levels, whether it’s sugary sweet or a whole grain.
Carbohydrate-containing foods include rice, pasta, potatoes, beans, cereals and breads (the whole grain and the white versions), as well as fresh fruits, fruit juice, milk and most types of yogurt. Most snack foods like chips, cookies, and other sweets are usually carb-rich foods.
Obviously, whole grains and fresh fruits are more nutritious than refined grains, chips and sugary sweets. But for the most part, when it comes to blood-sugar control, a carb is a carb.
There are, however, two exceptions: fiber and sugar alcohols. So to determine carb content, if a serving of food contains 5 grams or more of fiber or sugar alcohols, you can subtract half the grams of dietary fiber or sugar alcohol from the total carbohydrate content of that food.
Space meals & snacks throughout the day
Aim for small meals and snacks every three to four hours (instead of just one or two big meals throughout the day), so that the body isn’t required to produce such large loads of insulin at one time.
Keep calories – and weight - in check
Losing excess weight – even just 10 to 15 pounds — can lead to better blood-sugar control.
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