Diabetes is considered as a lifestyle disease. It may develop as a result of diet and other lifestyle habits that people follow in their lifetime. A diet high in carbohydrates, saturated fats, sugar and processed foods, combined with lack of regular exercise or activity can increase the risk of developing the said disease. Aside from promoting regular physical activity, maintaining a proper diet is a major factor in trying to manage the disease.
The proper diet is important for managing diabetes. But more than that, the right diabetes diet is one that is personalized for a person’s needs. There is no diet regimen that is an all-in-one solution for diabetes management. One key reason is that a diet should be followed in the context that it should be eaten every day. The right diet is one that a person can follow in a lifetime. That is why fad diets are not the solution to managing diabetes since people usually just follow them on the short term. Most fad diets are not sustainable and are just popular for those who wish to lose weight or to treat their diabetes temporarily. But the most effective diet for diabetes management is an eating regimen that not only helps manage the disease but also one that a person can stick with as part of his or her lifestyle.
Ideally, the proper diabetes diet is a healthy one. It should not solely focus on cutting down the calorie intake. A recommended diet for managing diabetes is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, heart-healthy oils and low-fat dairy. Proper and balanced portions are also important. It also encourages healthy food preparation and reduced salt intake. A good diabetes diet is one that also keeps track of saturated fat intake. Limiting saturated fat intake to seven percent daily of total calories is ideal for diabetes management. Cholesterol intake should not be more than 200mg on a daily basis.
A typical diabetes diet is also of the low-carbohydrate kind. It focuses on eating lean proteins to keep you full and satisfied longer without adding too much fat. To manage and regulate blood sugar levels, it is also important for diabetics to eat three main meals each day with healthy snacks in between. It is also important to keep the same meal schedule daily to avoid erratic changes in blood sugar levels. Diabetics are also encouraged to drink lots of water or low-calorie drinks to keep hydrated throughout the day.
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