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The Top Healthy Foods for Diabetics

Just because you have diabetes doesn't mean you are restricted to buying and eating specific diabetic food products. This is a myth that keeps getting circulated but it is simply not the case. In fact, it is perfectly reasonable for diabetes sufferers to eat the same healthy foods as non- diabetics. If you have been diagnosed with the disease for a long time, you will know that diabetic foodstuffs can be very expensive and not very tasty to eat either.

As long as you take good care of your meal choices and ensure a healthy balance of nutritious foods, there is no need for anyone to even know that you are diabetic when you sit down to your dinner. People with diabetes type 2 can enjoy all foods as long as they exercise caution and common sense; if you regularly make bad food choices, it will be reflected in your blood sugar levels as they will be very unstable.

To help control your management of diabetes; patients have found that by following the medicated doses of insulin advised by their doctor, and engaging in a sensible nutritional balance, they are rewarded with good blood glucose regulation.

The Top Healthy Foods for Diabetics

So, let's look at the recommended food selections that type 2 diabetics are encouraged to eat. The biggest shock for you will be the fact that the nutritional advice here is exactly the same recommendations made for people who don't have diabetes but want a healthier lifestyle.

To start with, fruits that are fresh are highly recommended. Berries, bananas, apples, pears etc are all on the tick list. If it's in season then that's a bonus. Not only fresh fruits, but those that are frozen are considered a good choice too. It is only tinned fruits that shouldn't be consumed as these will send your glucose levels rocketing because of the additives and sugar preserves they include.

Everyone knows we need to eat vegetables to maintain well-being but it is shocking that not many people have their recommended 5 a day. For diabetics, vegetables are a superb food selection because they are crammed full of vitamins, nutrients, and fibre to keep your body in a healthy state. As diabetics suffer from a weaker immune system; vegetables help build up your resistance to illness by giving you much needed mineral sources and nutrients to fight off diseases better. It's good to vary the colours of your vegetable choice; for example, if you go for a red pepper one day, choose a yellow one the following day, as this increases the variety of vitamins your body is treated to.

Health professionals do advise diabetics to have a good awareness of their carbohydrate intake. Carbohydrates are key in keeping a diabetic patient's blood sugar levels safely regulated because they slowly release the energy they provide across the day, preventing dips in glucose levels. Although people (especially those on diets) think that carbohydrates make you gain weight - this can be avoided. Choose high fibre carbohydrates such as wholemeal bread, wholemeal pasta and basmati rice for dinner, and start off the day with a bowl of porridge. You'll be amazed at the energy you have and the calories you'll burn as a result.

Nowadays, we always hear about good fats and bad fats - but what is the difference? Diabetics are recommended to use monosaturated fats such as olive oils and rapeseed because a small amount of these types of oils will not harm you. However, it is important to be aware that overindulgence in fats (even good fats) is not recommended for anyone.

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Some people love fish, others hate it; if you're a diabetic it's a good idea to try to train yourself to become a member of the first camp if you aren't already. For all round well-being, fish is a really important dietary supplement because it has polyunsaturated fats and is overflowing in Omega 3. The more oily the fish the more of these essential nutrients it provides and, as these help fight off cardiovascular diseases, this should be a diabetics first choice. The recommended amount of fish consumption is at least twice a week - although if you want more, you can certainly have it. Dark coloured fish like salmon, mackerel and sardines are the best in terms of nutritional value.

Another form of carbohydrate, pulses and beans, are highly recommended by doctors for those suffering diabetes type 2. They are an excellent natural source for blood glucose management and are also tipped to promote safe blood fat levels too. They can be implemented into dishes in a variety of ways; use them when making soups, in salads, casseroles and curries, or why not use them in place of meat for your dinner one night? Whether you like them hot or cold, these beans are an excellent addition to any diet programme.

Lean meat is another food source that is recommended for diabetics and we are all aware of the protein that this kind of meat provides. But did you also know about the important amino acids it provides the body? Diabetics can benefit greatly from lean meat, where the fat has been trimmed off, because the way in which it is digested means that glucose is slowly released into the blood stream resulted in more levelled blood sugar levels.

In terms of dairy products; skimmed milk, low fat cheese and greek yoghurt are recommended for people with diabetes. Unless you have been diagnosed with an intolerance to this type of food, then you can enjoy it in moderation as it adds essential nutrients to your diet.

When looking at drinks that are recommended for diabetics, the best option will always be water. It's the same for anyone since water is the best source of hydration. You should try to keep a bottle on you throughout the day and aim to have it finished by the end. Aside from water, no added sugar juices are a good choice but try to steer clear of fresh orange and apple juice as these are very sugary and will make your blood glucose levels rise.

It depends on what your doctor has advised you on with regards to alcohol; some believe it is fine for diabetics to enjoy alcoholic beverages in moderation, whilst other doctors may be dead set against it. What is certain either way is that if taken, it should be consumed in small amounts. Of course, in terms of a healthy diabetic diet (or any healthy diet for that matter) alcohol does not really have a place because it doesn't offer any nutrients to the drinker. However, if you are a type 2 diabetic intent on including alcohol in your diet, you should try not to overindulge and it is really not advised to drink on an empty stomach. Both of these things will lead to complications such as hypoglycaemia. Diabetics often feel it is unfair that they need to restrict themselves with regards to alcohol, but that is not what we are stating here. The psychological benefit has been recognised before and if you enjoy the occasional drink then that is fine. However, diabetics should follow their doctor's advice carefully with regards to alcoholic consumption and should never have over the advocated allowance.

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