| A healthy diet and regular exercise are essential | | | | such as wheat breads, wheat rice, and wheat |
| for your overall health. Many diseases, including | | | | pasta help you to control the amount of |
| diabetes, can be managed successfully with a | | | | carbohydrates you take in. |
| healthy diet. Since each disease causes different | | | | - Fresh fruits and vegetables – eating fresh |
| symptoms and your body needs different | | | | fruits and vegetables will help your digestive |
| nutrients to manage the disease, each disease | | | | system to perform correctly. It is easier for your |
| may require a different type of diet. If your body | | | | body to turn natural sugar into energy. |
| does not properly absorb the sugars you are | | | | - Fat – eating less fat is essential to an |
| ingesting, you may need to avoid foods that are | | | | overall healthy diet and this allows your body to |
| starchy and contain a lot of sugar. | | | | be able to digest food better and absorb the |
| Before you begin a diet that is aimed at managing | | | | necessary nutrients. |
| a certain disease, it is important to consult your | | | | - Sweets – consuming large amounts of |
| physician and get a true diagnosis. If your body is | | | | sweets can cause your body to retain excess |
| actually turning starches and sugars into energy | | | | sugar levels in the blood because the kidneys |
| properly, you could risk the chance of denying | | | | cannot turn the sugars into energy fast enough. |
| your body of the necessary foods by decreasing | | | | - Carbohydrates – carbohydrates turn to |
| the amount of starch and sugars in your diet. So, | | | | sugar in your body and are necessary in order to |
| be sure to check with your physician, who will go | | | | have the energy needed for your body to |
| over your symptoms and perform tests to | | | | function properly. The key to carbohydrates is |
| determine the correct diagnosis. | | | | learning when you should consume them and how |
| Once you have been diagnosed with diabetes, | | | | many you should consume. |
| your diabetes diet will play an important role in the | | | | - Alcohol – as with any healthy diet, your |
| management of the disease. Your diabetes diet | | | | consumption of alcohol should be limited. Alcohol |
| does not necessarily restrict the food that you | | | | has a high content of sugars and, just as too |
| are allowed to consume. Rather the diabetes diet | | | | much alcohol can impair your body’s motor |
| will usually consist of consuming a variety of | | | | skills and judgment ability, too much alcohol can |
| foods in the correct portions that will allow your | | | | also impair your body’s ability to turn |
| body to use the nutrients properly. The two most | | | | sugars into energy. |
| important aspects of a healthy diet are eating | | | | Living Healthy |
| regular meals as closely as possible to the same | | | | As is the case with most any disease, living a |
| time each day and eating the right amounts of | | | | healthy life-style is the key to successfully |
| the healthiest foods. If you are already eating a | | | | managing the disease. An overall healthy diet not |
| healthy diet, there may not be many changes. | | | | only increases your chance of successfully |
| But, if you are not eating a healthy diet or do not | | | | managing your diabetes, but allows your |
| eat regular meals at around the same time each | | | | body’s digestive system to perform |
| day, you may have to make more changes. The | | | | correctly, allows your brain to function properly, |
| key is to become conscious of what your | | | | and allows you to lead a normal lifestyle. Being |
| body’s needs are and plan accordingly. | | | | overweight can increase the risk of diseases such |
| Hints for a Successful Diabetes Diet | | | | as diabetes to cause other medical problems, so it |
| The following hints will give you some idea of | | | | is very important to maintain a healthy diet. If |
| what changes you will need to make in your diet | | | | you are overweight when you are diagnosed with |
| to successfully manage diabetes: | | | | diabetes, your diabetes diet may be somewhat |
| - Eating often – rather than 1-2 large meals | | | | different until you can reach and maintain a |
| per day, it is healthier to consume 3-4 small | | | | healthy weight. Be sure to discuss your diabetes |
| meals. This allows you to eat in healthy | | | | diet with your physician and learn to manage your |
| proportions without feeling hungry throughout the | | | | diabetes and give yourself the chance to live a |
| day. | | | | healthier life. |
| - Whole-grain foods – whole-grain foods | | | | |