Diet and diabetes

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Nutrition and physical activity are important parts of a healthy lifestyle when you have diabetes. Along with other benefits, following a healthy meal plan and being active can help you keep your blood glucose level, also called blood sugar, in your target range. To manage your blood glucose, you need to balance what you eat and drink with physical activity and diabetes medicine, if you take any. What you choose to eat, how much you eat, and when you eat are all important in keeping your blood glucose level in the range that your health care team recommends.

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Five ways to improve your diet

1. Plan your meals. Two common ways to help you plan how much to eat if you have diabetes are the plate method and carbohydrate counting, also called carb counting. Check with your health care team about the method that’s best for you.

2. Balance your calories intake with physical activities. Offset extra calories with more exercise or walk.

3. Watch for foods packed with fat, cholesterol, salt and sugar. The values can be found on the foods packaging and you will often find a healthier version of your favorite food.

4. Know when to eat. Some might need to eat at pre-set times and others have more flexibility. Meal planning helps to prevent low glucose levels.

5. Focus on eating healthy foods such as veggies, fruit, protein and grains.

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Useful tips

Do you need a reminder what makes better diet choices? Use this website for tips to eating well.

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Do you find it hard to make healthier diet choices? See these 7 hacks for easy food planning:

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Source: The American Heart Association and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Nothing in this article should be considered medical advice. Ask your doctor if you have any questions. In a case of medical emergency call 911.

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