Choosing the right foods to eat when you suffer from diabetes can help in lowering your blood sugar level or maintain it. Find out what should you put on the menu while planning your diabetes diet.
Following a strict diet for treating Type 2 diabetes does not signify that you must stop all the things that you love. You can still enjoy a wide variety of foods, and, in some cases, even help reverse the type 2 diabetes. Indeed, preparing a diet for type 2 diabetes is a balancing act: It includes varieties of healthy fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. The motto is ultimately choosing the right combo of foods that will keep the blood sugar level within the target range and avoid big swings that can result in type 2 diabetes symptoms, like, frequent urination, headaches, dizziness, mood swings, and fatigue.
What should you eat if you suffer from Type 2 Diabetes?
In order to follow a healthy diet for diabetes, you must at first understand how different foods affect your blood sugar level. Carbohydrates, which are present in bread, cereals, milk, fruits, starchy vegetables, and sweets in large quantity, are broken down into glucose in the blood much faster than any other kind of food, which increases the level of blood sugar, potentially resulting in hyperglycemia. Fats and protein do not affect the blood sugar level directly, but both should be consumed in a moderate quantity so that your calories are in control.
Here are a few foods for treating both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes
Fatty Fish
Fatty fish is one of the healthiest foods on the planet. Mackerel, Salmon, Herring, Sardines, and Anchovies are a great source of Omega 3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, which have some major benefits for your heart. Getting enough of these fats daily is very important for diabetics, who have increased risk of stroke and heart disease. Several studies have proved that people who eat fatty fish daily have a lower risk of heart problems.
Green leafy vegetables
Leafy vegetables are very nutritious and low in calories. Also, they are very low in digestible carbs, which raise the levels of blood sugar. Kale, spinach and other green leafy vegetables are considered the best sources of essential vitamins and minerals. Including vitamin C. Studies have proved that increasing the intake of vitamin C reduced inflammatory markers and levels of fasting blood sugar for individuals suffering from high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes. In addition, green leafy vegetables are good sources of zeaxanthin and antioxidants lutein.
Cinnamon
It is a tasty spice with potent antioxidant activity. Several studies have depicted that cinnamon can lower the blood sugar level and improve insulin sensitivity. Long-term diabetes control is typically determined by checking haemoglobin A1c, which reflect your average blood sugar level over 2 to 3 months.
However, a few studies have failed to show that cinnamon benefits cholesterol and blood sugar levels. In addition, you must restrict your intake of cassia cinnamon, the type available in most of the grocery stores. It is suggested to take less than 1 teaspoon every day.
These are the few food items that can keep your diabetes under control.