Best Diets To Have When You Have Diabetes

The right diet always helps in controlling the blood sugar and weight thereby making you feel better. There are a lot of famous eating plans that can give you a roadmap to achieve that. You should always choose something that you can follow, that’s easy to stick with and has nash you like.

Start With the Basics

Check your portion calories and size. Slash out all the sweets, fried foods, sugary drinks, and anything that’s salty and fatty. Instead, focus more on having lots of vegetables, lean protein, whole grains, low-fat dairy items, fruit, and healthy fats. Moreover, you should eat in the interval of every few hours to keep a check on your blood sugar levels. Your doctor can help you with all the basics of a diet so that it works for you.

Low-Carb

Who said to give up carbohydrates just because you are suffering from diabetes. You can still have carbs by trying a diet that limits them, such as Atkins or South Beach, with the consult of your doctor. A lot of research about the benefits of low-carb diets for type 2 diabetes patients is still inconclusive. However, in a review written by 25 famous experts, this style of eating should be the initial step for managing the disease since it has the potentials to reduce high blood glucose.

Mediterranean Diet

This diet is also known as heart-healthy diet as it includes lots of fruits, vegetables, fish, chicken, olive oil, nuts, legumes, and whole grains. Red meat, butter, and salt should be avoided as often as possible. Studies also suggest that diet can help in keeping the blood sugar levels in control. You can also have a glass of wine (one for the women and two for the men) with meals, according to the American Diabetes Association.

The Zone Diet

Its primary target is to keep the blood sugar level stable. Meals have 30% protein, 40% carbs, and 30% fat. Carbs are ranked as healthy or nonhealthy purely based upon the glycemic index. You can have foods like barley and chicken, but not potatoes or egg yolk.

Prepackaged Diet Meals

Either you have them delivered to your door or you pick them up from the grocery store, there is a large variety of ready-made meals present in the market. Be cautious: if it has a long list of ingredients then the meals are also not diabetes-friendly. Some brands, such as Jenny Craig, and Nutrisystem, also offers meals specially made for diabetes. Consult your doctor to help you in narrowing down your choices.

Gluten-Free

Gluten is a kind of protein present in grains such as rye, wheat, and barley. People who have digestive disorders such as celiac disease should try to avoid it. Famous belief is that going gluten-free diet can help you to lose weight, improve your digestion, and boost energy. However, these claims are not backed up by scientists. Moreover, gluten is present in everything from daily salad dressing to vitamins. So there is no need to follow such diet unless your doctor asks you to do it.

Vegetarian and Vegan

Limiting all sorts of animal products such as fish, chicken, and yogurt can be a healthier way to eat. Just buy a lot of fresh produce and other whole foods, as compared to stuff such as meatless chicken nuggets. Research suggests that people who have plant-based diet gain more fiber and fewer calories and fat in comparisons to nonvegetarians.

Raw Foods

Individuals who follow this diet think that cooking at high temperatures destroys the vital nutrients present in the food. So they prefer eating lots of fresh vegetables, fruits, seeds, and nuts. They prefer making meals with the help of gadgets such as blenders and dehydrators. Though eating in this way can help you to lose weight, however, there is no relevant evidence to prove its also effective in improving diabetes symptoms. The bottom line: There are healthier, more effective diets out there.

Alkaline Diet

The theory behind the alkaline diet is that foods such as meat, wheat, and sugar make your body highly acidic, which often leads to long-term health problems. On the other hand, foods such as vegetables and seeds can shift your body’s chemistry, making it more alkaline, thereby helping you to stay healthy and slim. But there is very little research available to support these ideas, so for time being pass on this one.