Best Food Tips for a Type 2 Diabetes Diet

whole grain bread

One of the most essential steps to avoiding complications from type 2 diabetes is managing your diet. This means knowing both what to eat and what not to eat.

Avoid less healthy carbohydrates

In order to keep your blood sugar in check, you’ll want to avoid less healthy carbohydrates such as foods or drinks with added fats, sugars and sodium.

  • Instead of sipping soft drinks, try sparkling water with a refreshing slice of lemon, lime, or cucumber. Same goes for your favorite vanilla cappuccino with whipped cream. Leave out the whipped cream and sweeten your drink with a few drops of sweetener.
  • Can you limiting your consumption of high-carb white-flour treats? Keep these foods as a treat for once in a while and get used to whole-grain varieties. soon you won’t notice the difference.
  • Since salt works wonders as a preservative, most packaged and processed foods contain plenty of it. Salt is an electrolyte that increases blood pressure. Since people with diabetes are more likely to have high blood pressure, skip packaged foods. Remember high blood pressure is also a risk factor for heart disease,
  • Give up fruit juice for water. And eat fresh fruit instead because this contains valuable fiber.
  • Granola and energy bars seem like a healthy option, but you’ll be surprised at the added sugars and artificial ingredients present in most bars. Look for that contain whole-food ingredients, such as oats, nuts, or dried fruit,
  • Looking for great yogurt? The majority of yogurt contains added sugar, which can contribute to higher blood sugar levels. The very best yogurt option is plain Greek yogurt. And skip the sprinkles, granola, or candies.

Eat Wisely

Choose healthy carbs like whole-wheat products, brown rice, oats, and legumes.

Limit saturated fats

Your best practice is to avoid saturated fats, found in high-fat dairy products and animal products, such as butter, beef, hot dogs, sausage, and bacon. Avoid trans fats too that are found in processed snacks, baked goods, shortening, and stick margarine.

  • Skip fried foods especially when they are breaded too. With deep-fried chicken you get both lots of carbohydrates and unhealthy fats. Too much fat in your diet can lead to weight gain, she adds, which can worsen type 2 diabetes. Weight gain can also increase your risk of heart disease, which is already elevated when you have diabetes, according to the American Heart Association.

Eat Wisely

Rather than eating breaded and fried favorites like chicken nuggets, shrimp, okra, and onion rings,roast or bakeg these foods without the crumbs. Try a coating of fresh herbs or spices. Skip red meat and opt for fish, nuts, skinless chicken and tofu.

A healthy diet can help with weight loss. Losing just 10 to 15 pounds may help you prevent and manage high blood sugar…so use these tips.