People with diabetes must pay attention to what they eat to manage the condition and avoid weight fluctuations. While it may seem challenging, it’s possible to eat healthily and control your blood sugar. Here’s how you can maintain healthy glucose levels while enjoying food that’s good for you.

4 Tips for Healthy Eating as a Diabetic

1. Enjoy Simple Carbohydrates

Your body needs carbohydrates for energy. Simple carbs get broken down quickly and are commonly found in dairy products, fruit, and refined sugar products. Complex carbs take longer to metabolize, so they provide long-lasting energy. Many starchy foods are considered complex carbohydrates because they take longer to digest.

It's important to properly balance complex and simple carbs in your diet and focus on nutritionally dense sources, such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains because they contain vitamins, minerals, and fiber as well as sugar.

2. Eat High Fiber Foods

Fiber also helps you feel full longer, preventing overeating that can lead to weight gain. Soluble fiber dissolves in water and reduces cholesterol and glucose levels. Enjoy carrots, citrus fruits, beans, and oats to get these benefits. On the other hand, insoluble fiber can’t be digested by your body, so it provides roughage to encourage regular bowel movements. Green beans, potatoes, and nuts are excellent sources of insoluble fiber. Enjoy both fibers for smooth bowel movements and lower blood sugar.

3. Skip High Amounts of Sugar

Fructose is in many foods and beverages, from high fructose corn syrup in soda to natural honey. Having soft drinks with a meal or enjoying a pint of ice cream can spike your blood sugar levels, making it challenging to regulate your levels and worsening diabetes symptoms. Indulge in high-sugar items on occasion, but know that you may require some low-sugar foods to reduce their impact.

4. Learn About the Glycemic Index

The glycemic index (GI) denotes how eating foods will affect blood sugar. Many people with diabetes look for low or medium GI foods that won’t have drastic effects on their blood sugar due to their low sugar content.

If you plan to eat something that has a high GI, balance it by enjoying something with a low measurement. Consuming non-starchy vegetables, like carrots, may cancel out the high GI from popcorn. Medium GI items, like quick oats or couscous, shouldn’t change your blood level too much because they don’t contain a lot of sugar.

If you want help managing your diabetes, contact the professionals at Delhi Internal Medicine in Cincinnati, OH. This team has over 55 years of combined experience and offers 24-hour assistance through its email system and helpline. They’ll take the time to learn about your lifestyle, so they can make suggestions on how you can control your blood sugar. To get more information about how they can help, visit the website or call (513) 347-3302.