10 Dietary Guidelines For Diabetics

There are general dietary guidelines that diabetes sufferers can follow to help keep their blood sugar levels under control:

1) Avoid being overweight. Make sure you eat a balanced, healthy diet based on suitable foods. If you do need to loose weight, see your doctor to formulate a diet that fits your needs.

2) Eat regular meals, exactly how many and how often can usually be decided by whats convenient for you.

3) Eat more starchy, high in fiber foods such as wholemeal bread, beans, peas and lentils. All of these foods cause only a gradual rise in blood sugar levels, as the fiber slows down the release of glucose.

4) Cut down on sugary sweetened soft drinks, cakes, confectionery and chocolate. The sugar is absorbed quickly and therefore causes blood glucose levels to rise more rapidly.

5) Eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables for soluble fiber and vitamins. Fruit makes a ideal snack or pudding, but beware of eating very sweet fruits like grapes and mangoes in large amounts because of their effect on your blood sugar level. If you do eat tinned fruit, choose the ones canned in natural juice, instead of syrup.

6) Ensure that you have portions of meat, eggs or cheese as part of at least two of your meals each day. Keep the portions small if you are worried about gaining extra weight, and remember that fish and pulses are alternative sources of protein.

7) Cut down on fats, which aggravate the diabetics increased risk of coronary heart desease.

Limit salt and salty foods, because of the increased susceptibility to high blood pressure. Be aware of hidden salt in many tinned, smoked and processed foods.

9) Keep alcohol consumption at moderate levels, remembering that low sugar diet beers and lagers tend to have an higher alcohol content.

10) Although artificial sweeteners may be useful, special diabetic products are usually unnecessary.

Elaine Bradley has studied and written about different diets for over 5 years, writing articles and reviews for her local weight watchers group, Elaine soon became respected in the area of dieting information and in the advice she gave. As of late Elaine was persuaded to open up her own blog so that her advice articles, and diet reviews could be made for the world to see, you can visit it at http://easydietoptions.wordpress.com

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