Stephen Wells

Managing Diet, Diabetes Supplies and Exercise Means Managing Diabetes

Learning about and maintaining the right diet may be the best thing diabetic patients can do to improve their overall health. Let’s take a look at what the diabetic diet may look like. 

People with diabetes managing their lifestyle know how important it is that food intake is in balance with medications in order to manage blood glucose levels and maintain a healthy body. In combination with maintaining their recommended diabetic supplies and an individually designed exercise routine, learning about and maintaining the right diet may be the best thing diabetic patients can do to improve their overall health.

Managing diet may sound like it takes a good deal of time and effort, which may be true if an individual is facing making big changes. With a working knowledge of proper choices and a good dose of discipline, that individual will find it is possible to enjoy meals both at home as well as when dining out. The health care team is one resource to help patients move towards making the best possible dietary choices. Other resources include online providers of diabetic supplies - the website through which patients order diabetes testing supplies and test strips may offer tips and recipes for diet too.

Let’s take a look at what the diabetic diet may look like. There is no “perfect diet” for everyone. Each patient is different but the body knows how to make use of the right types of foods.  By learning to harness the power of food each individual can help the body do what it does best; utilize the fuel it is given. One of the most popular diets is the Zone diet. For those who need guidance, and like the idea of having food choices laid out for them, this may be one good option. Available in books and through  online resources, the Zone diet helps maintain the body in great condition and lessens the risk of complications from diabetes.

A well rounded diet is best for every person, but for people with diabetes it’s a must in order to help maintain healthy blood glucose levels.  Variety is important to the well balanced diet.  Foods that should be included in the diabetic’s everyday meal plan include:

·        Lean meats such as poultry and fish

·        Beans

·        Fruits and vegetables

·        Whole grains

·        Dairy products

·        Healthy fats

To ensure good food choices are made, it helps to understand the glycemic index.  In fact, even individuals without diabetes can benefit from eating the right foods from this index.  Also called the GI, the glycemic index measures how a carbohydrate food affects blood glucose.  A food that has been given a high GI rating is one that will cause a steeper increase in blood glucose than a food with a lower GI.  Simply learning which foods have lower ratings on the glycemic index and paying attention to the inclusion of these in their diet, empowers people with diabetes to gain significant control over managing their condition.

Living with diabetes certainly does require self-education.  And as a result, the choice to take the steps to control their diabetes through diet is a clear call for most patients, allowing them to have significant input into, and the best of results from, their treatment plan.  Utilizing all of the resources freely available patients find a healthy, happy lifestyle is once again theirs to enjoy.

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