Sodium & Diabetics

People with diabetes are encouraged to limit their sodium intake in an effort to prevent or control high blood pressure, which is more common among diabetics. According to the Joslin Diabetes Center, high blood pressure is the leading cause of heart disease.

Intake

• The America Diabetes Association recommends that sodium intake among diabetics be limited to 2400 mg or less per day, according to the University of Virginia Health System. Even if a person with diabetes does not have high blood pressure, the Joslin Diabetes Center still recommends a limited sodium intake. This is because some people may be "salt sensitive" and experience higher blood pressure after high sodium consumption.

Foods High in Sodium

• Most foods contain sodium. Sodium is often added during processing of packaged food. Cured meats and fresh and canned fish, canned foods, frozen dinners and package mixes usually contain high sodium.

Labels

• On food labels, low sodium means that one serving of the food contains 140mg or less of sodium. Very low sodium means that one serving contains 35 mg or less. Sodium-free means that the food has less than 5 mg of sodium per serving.

Low-Sodium Options

• Many pre-packaged items come in low- or no-sodium options. Some soups can be purchased with a lower sodium content. Also, many canned vegetables come in salt-free or low-salt varieties as well. Even lower-sodium salt can be found at grocery stores. "No salt added" does not always mean low-sodium.

Other Options

• Many other spices can be used in place of salt. Lemon juice can be squeezed onto vegetables to add flavor. Garlic can be added to nearly anything. All it takes is a little creativity and maybe a little experimentation to find suitable salt alternatives.