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