Nutrition

Healthy eating to prevent heart disease Having diabetes means you are at greater risk of developing heart disease. Learn how you can lower that risk by following a healthy lifestyle plan.

Having diabetes doesn’t necessarily mean having to give up all your favorite foods. It does mean careful meal planning. Your healthcare team will help you tailor a meal plan that fits your needs and lifestyle but it’s good to know what types of food you should be including. This section will help you understand key elements of proper nutrition.

Carbohydrates

Although carbohydrates are an important source of energy, they normally affect your blood sugar quickly and last for a shorter period of time. Most likely, you will need to count carbohydrates as part of your meal plan because they can affect your blood sugar radically. Some foods contain more carbohydrates than others. In general, high-carbohydrate foods are in the bread, fruit and milk groups.

Fats

As well, you'll have to try and stay away from high-fat foods, because they usually affect your blood sugar slowly and last for a longer period of time. Follow the tips for grocery shopping to help you choose low-fat or fat-free foods whenever you can.

You can refer to the Diabetes Food Pyramid by visiting the American Diabetes Association.

Vegetables and Proteins

When grocery shopping, you will choose items from the vegetable and meat groups. Vegetables give you vitamins and minerals, and do not really change your blood sugar. Keep in mind that starchy vegetables contain carbohydrate and affect your blood sugar more. The foods in the meat group are higher in protein, but also in calories, cholesterol and saturated fat. Protein raises your blood sugar at a steady rate and gives your body an energy reserve. It's a good idea to have a three-ounce serving or less of protein at lunch and dinner. Follow the grocery-shopping tips to help you select protein foods which have less fat.

Food Labels

Make sure to read the labels on foods. They offer the information you need to make good meal-planning choices.