Having diabetes can be very difficult because of changes in your eating habits. Diabetes is a kind of disease that has an impact on the glucose level of the body causing a decrease in the production of insulin, a hormone that converts sugar into energy. Regular exercise and proper meal management as well as medication, whenever prescribed, are needed to keep the body’s glucose level normal.
Among the three, proper meal management is the most crucial in maintaining a low glucose level because unhealthy eating is the main cause of diabetes. To promote a healthy diabetic living, you should start a healthy diabetic gourmet diet.
Diabetic gourmet diet basically involves certain limitations on the foods that you eat as well as its amount. Diabetic patients are advised to eat in small amounts the entire day on planned intervals to effectively maintain the body’s glucose level. It is also very much important to eat foods that can provide all the nutrition that you can get to manage diabetes.
Here are some tips on diabetic gourmet diet:
- Diabetic gourmet diet emphasizes cutting down on sugar, fat and carbohydrates. As much as possible, avoid foods that contain a high level of these substances.
- Avoid carbonated drinks, juices and beverages that have a high level of fructose.
- Do not eat salty foods like chips, quick-cook foods and processed meats.
- Always read food labels and check out the nutritional contents.
There is a diabetes food pyramid that serves as a guideline in diabetic gourmet diet. The diabetes food pyramid is divided into categories similar to the basic food pyramid. However, their serving amounts differ from each other.
Here are some guidelines based on the diabetes food pyramid:
Grains, beans and vegetables
Eat whole wheat breads rather than white bread. Include plenty of beans in your diet because they are rich in fiber and at the same time low in sugar. Eat crackers that are low-fat as a replacement for chips that are high in fat and salt.
Fresh fruits
It is highly recommended to eat fresh fruits rather than canned, sweetened ones. Fresh fruits have lesser sugar and at the same time they are rich in fiber. If you buy canned fruits or juices, be sure to pick the unsweetened ones.
Fresh green and leafy vegetables
Eating green and leafy vegetables is very essential in diabetic gourmet diet. Try to eat them fresh, as much as possible.
Dairy products
For dairy products, always go for non-fat milk and yogurt.
Meat products
Pick the leaner portions of beef and pork. Remove the fat portion and the skin. Fish is a lot better meat choice. Steam, grill or roast meats rather than frying.
Diabetes can be managed through proper diabetic gourmet diet. To know more about it, you can consult your doctor or a registered dietician.
