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Food for Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas begins destroying insulin that the body produces. Insulin regulates blood glucose levels, and without it, excess sugar builds up in the bloodstream. Insulin injections are required before meals to prevent blood sugar from getting too high. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body stops producing insulin, often due to poor diet and obesity. Although blood glucose levels should be monitored, insulin is not always necessary to maintain blood sugar levels. Many Type 2 diabetics rely on diet and exercise alone to maintain their blood sugar.

  1. Blood Sugar Levels

    • Blood sugar levels rise and fall throughout the day depending on the amount of food you eat, when you eat, and what you eat. Foods that contain large amounts of sugar and refined carbohydrates, like white bread, cookies, cupcakes or candy, will cause blood sugar to spike suddenly. Before meals, the standard target blood sugar level should be 70 to 130 mg/dL for a person with diabetes. Two hours after a meal, blood sugar should be 150 mg/dL or less. It can be difficult to maintain your blood sugar when you do not pay attention to your diet and what you eat. Limiting your oils, fats and sweets and cutting out refined carbohydrates will even out your blood sugar and make it easier to monitor.

    What to Eat

    • When a diabetic eats a meal, it should be filling, nutritious and on time. If possible, carry a protein-filled snack like unsalted almonds or walnuts, or a piece of cheese with you. This way, if you have to wait for a meal or get stuck in traffic, you can keep your blood sugar from dropping. Eat as many fruits and vegetables as possible throughout the day and fill the rest of your meals with lean proteins like lean chicken, ground turkey and black beans. Cheese and dairy should be eaten in moderation, as well as fatty proteins, like red meat.

    What to Avoid

    • If you take insulin to regulate your blood sugar, the occasional sweet can be monitored by taking more insulin, but if you do not take insulin, the more sweets you eat, the higher your blood sugar will surge and the more out of whack your body will feel. Try to eat regular meals so your body does not start to crave unnecessary snacks or desserts. If you are craving something sweet, eat a piece of fruit. This will raise your blood sugar, but will not cause it to spike he same way refined sugar or refined carbohydrates will.

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