Diabetic Diet Tips

One of the most difficult parts about Type-2 diabetes can be the need to change your diet.  Sometimes, these changes can be very drastic—almost a complete 180 from the type of food you are used to enjoying.  Feeling deprived can lead you to a sense of frustration and anger that is counterproductive to managing your disease.  You may feel as though everything “good” has to be cut out of your life: no more white bread, no more sugar, no more candy, no more ice cream, no more sodas.  You’re suddenly in this whole new culinary world that may not sound all that appealing.  However, there are ways to make this transition easier.

Get Cozy with Fruit

When you add fruit to your diet your body begins to crave their natural sweetness over the sweetness of processed sugar.  Adding fruit to a bowl of oatmeal can help reduce any disappointment you might be feeling
at breakfast.  Since fruit contains fiber and water sugars make their way into your bloodstream at a much slower rate. 

Apples, in particular, actually reduce your body’s need for insulin, and pomegranates don’t even raise your blood sugar level.  You might enjoy replacing your normal Cokes with pomegranate juice!  You might also try water with lemon.  Fruit flavored mineral water can give you the psychological feeling of raising a can or bottle to your lips, which might help make the transition easier.

Eat Protein Snacks

You should not go around feeling hungry and deprived!  Snacking is actually very important for diabetics.  Eggs, cheese, and nuts make excellent snacks because their proteins help control your blood sugar levels and help you feel full.  This keeps your appetite under control and makes the diabetic eating program far less stressful.  Keep hardboiled eggs or string cheese in your fridge and nuts at your desk to keep these snacks quick, easy, and stress-free.

Get Your Family’s Support

It can be difficult to eat your fruits and veggies if no hints of green ever touch your spouse’s plate.  If your house is still filled with chips and ice cream it may be time to talk to your children and your spouse about your need for their help and support while you’re trying to adjust to changing your eating habits.  Since anybody can benefit from healthy eating they might thank you in the long run, too.

Try New Things!

If you’re racking your brains for substitutions or replacements for your favorite meals that are now on the “no-no” list, go ahead and buy that diabetic cookbook.  Trying new things and developing new favorites can soon make your diabetic diet second nature, transforming it from a stressful hassle to a healthy new lifestyle.