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Diabetics & the New Mayo Clinic Diet

While many people struggle with eating a healthy diet, for diabetes patients this is even more of a challenging task. They must not only take eating for weight control into account, but also for managing their disease. The Mayo Clinic has created guidelines that can help diabetes sufferers manage their diet, making the task less stressful.

  1. Eat Well

    • EverydayDiet.org reports that the Mayo Clinic Diet is based on a healthy weight pyramid, designed to help users keep a proper balance of different foods for proper nutrition.

      For example, fruits and vegetables supply the body with dietary fiber. This helps reduce the risk of heart disease, as well as control blood sugar. Nuts and whole grains are also good sources of dietary fiber. The Mayo Clinic recommends eating 25 to 30 g of fiber daily.

      The Mayo Clinic diet recommends diabetics eat fish at least twice a week. Tuna and cod are lower in fat and cholesterol than meat and poultry. Salmon and herring are high in omega-3 fatty acids, known for heart healthy nutrition.

      Exchange systems use categories of foods. An exchange is a serving of food in a group. Each exchange has the same amount of carbohydrates, protein and calories. This being the case, each exchange has the same effect on the patient's blood sugar.

      Count carbohydrates. It is helpful to plan to consume the same amount of carbohydrates each day. This helps reduce fluctuations in blood sugar levels. The Mayo Clinic also recommends that you eat them at approximately the same times each day. This is especially true if you are on diabetes medicine or insulin.

      For this or any diet plan to succeed, The Mayo Clinic stresses that consistency is key. Patients should have a goal of eating about the same amount of food each day.

    Be More Active

    • MayoClinic.com also recommends raising your level of activity for better overall health and to help control diabetes. Thirty to sixty minutes of activity that raises your heart rate is suggested.

    Have Goals

    • Goals give us a target to focus on, which makes it more likely to be achieved, according to SelfGrowth.com. Share your goal with another person who can help hold you accountable.

    Stay Motivated

    • Keep variety in your food choices. It not only keeps your diet more interesting and keeps motivation high, but also help you maintain good and balanced nutrition.

      DietsInReview.com reminds readers of the importance of maintaining a positive attitude.

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