Not everything, but just about everything having to do with your body is in some way affected by your diet. The old adage, “you are what you eat” has never been more accurate. A good diabetes diet – a diet designed to help a person regulate their diabetes – is really just a healthy diet. A typical healthy diet includes eating moderate amounts of healthy food at regularly occurring mealtimes. A healthy eating plan includes eating foods rich in nutrients, low in trans fats, and calories. Some key foods that make up any healthy diet are veggies, fruits, and whole grains.
When you eat excess calories and fat, your body responds by raising your blood sugar levels. If your blood glucose levels are allowed to rise unchecked, it can result in some serious health issues, such as high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia), nerve damage, kidney damage, and heart disease.
Eating healthy also normally leads to weight loss which is a major benefit for anyone suffering from diabetes or hyperglycemia. Obesity has been proven to exacerbate symptoms of diabetes and even lead to insulin resistance which can be very devastating for your health.
Recommended Foods
There is no one size fits all type of healthy diet. Like most eating plans, you have a lot of healthy options to choose from. There are some staples that all healthy diets have in common:
- Vegetables
- Fruits
- Legumes – beans, peas, etc.
- Whole grains
- Low fat dairy products
Fiber rich foods
Dietary fiber is one of the most important parts of any healthy diet. The fiber helps to moderate your digestive system and regulate your blood sugar levels. Some of the best foods to eat for dietary fiber are:
- Leafy, green, veggies
- Fruits
- Legumes
- Nuts
- Whole grains
