| Diabetes is a disease that affects the blood's | | | | Pyramid with required serving amounts: |
| sugar levels creating a higher amount than the | | | | Grain, Beans and Starchy Vegetables - 6 or more |
| body can manage with its own, natural insulin. | | | | servings per day |
| Therefore, most often times, it must be | | | | Choose whole-grain and whole-wheat breads and |
| maintained with medication. But in addition to | | | | flours over the white variety for baking and |
| prescription medication, exercise and eating habits | | | | eating. Beans are a great source of fiber as well |
| play a huge role in maintaining a healthy blood | | | | as low in sugar. Pretzels and low-fat crackers are |
| sugar level. A specific, healthy eating diet plan | | | | perfect choices for snacking and if they're the |
| must be incorporated to a diabetic lifestyle - no | | | | lower-salt varieties, even better. |
| ifs, ands or buts about it. | | | | Fruit - 2 to 4 servings daily |
| For the majority of people with diabetes, a | | | | Citrus fruits are the best for diabetics. Eat whole |
| healthy eating diet plan includes several, smaller | | | | fruits in their natural state over the canned |
| meals throughout the day on a more condensed, | | | | assortments because aside from having less |
| periodic basis in order to help in successfully | | | | sugar, they also contain more fiber. If choosing |
| maintaining sugar and glucose levels. And because | | | | the canned, frozen or juice variety, always pick |
| a diabetic is eating more often, it's imperative that | | | | those that do not contain added sweeteners or |
| those meals consist of good food choices. Let's | | | | syrups. |
| take a look at some tips for healthy eating habits | | | | Vegetables - 3 to 5 servings a day |
| in this realm.o Choose foods with lower fat | | | | Dark green and deep yellow vegetables are the |
| contents including the use of non-stick sprays | | | | best way to go. Eat freshly prepared vegetables |
| when cooking instead of oil as often as possible.o | | | | whenever possible. If choosing the prepared |
| Stay away from fruit juices and other beverages | | | | variety, pick those are made without the addition |
| that contain high fructose levels including naturally | | | | of sauces and/or salt. |
| sweetened drinks.o Decrease salt intake and salty | | | | Milk and Dairy - 2 to 3 serving every day |
| foods like pickles, packaged soups and processed | | | | Drink low or non-fat milk. Choose only low-fat |
| meats.o Read the food labels on prepared | | | | yogurt made with artificial sweeteners. |
| products before ingesting because even | | | | Meat, Poultry, Fish - 2 to 3 servings daily |
| something seemingly harmless can pose a risk. | | | | Always choose leaner cuts of red meat and trim |
| There is actually a food pyramid designed | | | | all fat before preparing. Consume more pork, fish |
| specifically for people with diabetes. And guess | | | | and chicken - remove the skin before cooking. |
| what it's called? The Diabetes Food Pyramid! It's | | | | Bake, broil, grill or roast instead of frying. |
| an exceptional guideline for what and how much | | | | Fat - limit fat intake, specifically trans and |
| to eat that anyone with this disease should be | | | | saturated. |
| aware of and utilizing every day. It's broken down | | | | By always taking prescribed medications, sticking |
| into the same basic categories as the regular food | | | | to a fitness routine and healthy eating diet plan, |
| pyramid, but the recommend serving sizes are | | | | successful management of diabetes will be almost |
| different as are the specific, coordinating foods. | | | | guaranteed. Always consult a physician before |
| Following is an overview of the Diabetes Food | | | | starting any new lifestyle routine. |