RECOMMENDED DIET AND LIFESTYLE / RECOMMENDED DIET AND LIFESTYLE Healthy eating means eating a wide variety of foods including: Vegetables Whole grains Fruits Dairy products Beans Meat Fish It is always best to include a variety of different foods and to limit portion sizes. Pick foods rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber. However, in Rwanda it is still a challenge for many to find enough to eat. For diabetics it is especially important to eat regularly in order to manage their disease. A healthy diet should be supplemented by physical activity. During exercises, the muscles transform sugar into energy which results in lower blood glucose levels. Exercise also causes the cells to become more sensitive to insulin, which in turn enables the insulin to work more efficiently to transport sugar into the cells. Regular exercise along with healthy meal planning can reduce a person’s risk of developing diabetes. In fact many people with type 2 diabetes can manage their blood glucose levels bymeal planning and exercise alone.
