Low Carbohydrate Diet for Diabetic Type 2 Patients

Learning to eat properly while managing diabetes can be a formidable task. However, weaving your way through all the diets available today is unnecessary, frustrating, and confusing. To control your Type 2 diabetes with your diet, all you need is a simple set of guidelines to ensure blood sugar control.

Meal Planning

• According to the American Diabetes Association, those who participate in a low-carbohydrate diet have better blood glucose control over time. Approximately 20 percent to 40 percent of your total diabetic diet should come from complex carbohydrates.

  This carbohydrate group consists of foods such as whole-grain breads, brown rice, oatmeal, whole-wheat pasta, multigrain English muffins, oatmeal, and natural cereals. This type of carbohydrate is absorbed slowly into your bloodstream, allowing better blood sugar control.

  Also include natural fruits and vegetables, which are also carbohydrate foods. These foods contain fiber, which naturally slows the process of sugar absorption into your bloodstream.

  Protein should consist of approximately 30 percent of your diabetic diet. It will help you to feel full for a longer period as it is digested very slowly in your system. Consume healthy protein sources such as tofu, soy products, low-fat or skim milk, eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese, legumes, seafood, and skinless chicken or turkey.

  Consumption of fat should also total about 30 percent of your total calories. Along with protein and fiber, fat helps slow the digestion and absorption of sugar into the bloodstream. Shoot for unsaturated fat sources, as they are healthiest for your heart and cholesterol levels. These include unsalted nuts, avocado, olive and canola oil, nut butters, low-fat mayonnaise, and vinaigrette salad dressings.

Snacking

• Blood sugar is best controlled by a steady influx of sugar into your bloodstream. Therefore, it is most beneficial to have multiple low-carbohydrate or balanced snacks during the day. If you eat three square meals during the day, try to have a snack between breakfast and lunch and then again between lunch and dinner.

  Aim to eat something every two to three hours. Try snacks that are low in carbohydrates and have a moderate amount of protein or fat. These could include half a banana and 1 tbsp. of peanut butter, a string cheese, or a light 6-oz. yogurt.

  Low carbohydrate snacking during the day will also keep your blood sugar level enabling you to make sensible nutrition decisions.

Drinking

• The best way to keep hydrated is to consume lots of water. Keep a water bottle and sip it as much as possible. This will keep you hydrated and it can also fight off hunger.

  Do your best to avoid beverages high in sugar such as soft drinks and fruit juices as they can cause highs and lows with blood sugar. Also, try to avoid alcoholic beverages as they may cause swings in your blood sugar as well.

  If you are looking for alternatives to water, try soy milk, skim milk, or low-fat milk. They contain moderate amounts of carbohydrates accompanied by some protein and a bit of fat.

  In addition, a number of diet soft drinks and flavored waters on the market do not contain sugar.