Eating right with Diabetes

If you are a lover of food and you have just been diagnosed with diabetes, it must feel like your world has just crumbled but do not despair as there are many options to pursue with this situation. We have to establish first that icecream, beer, alcohol in general, tons of carbohydrate would have to be drastically reduced in your diet. Once you come to terms with this fact then the rest is easy. Switching to a healthier lifestyle is usually a mindset thing. Once you realise the good it does for you, you start to embrace it better.  Low fat, fat free, 0% trans fat, gluten free would all be terms that you would need to become best friends with. This is about transforming your current lifestyle to a better one so you can live longer and healthier. I urge you not to think of this as punishment but eating your way to a better functioning body. Some items you should consider infusing into your diet if they are not already in your diet are;

• vegetables
• whole grains
• fruits
• non-fat dairy products
• beans
• lean meats
• poultry
• fish

Spinach for example is an excellent vegetable to incorporate into your diet as there are many dishes that can be derived from it. In terms of fruits, you have to be mindful of the fruits you have, pineapples, grapes and bananas are high in sugar and should be consumed sparingly. Fruits like strawberries, apples, pears, plums and guavas in the right amount are recommended. Fruits around the house would be great for moments when you feel like snacking so instead of reaching for cookies and crisps, reach for an apple instead. It is very filling and has great nutrients for the body as well. Eating as a diabetic doesn't have to be a painful experience. Substitute large portions of carbohydrates with larger vegetable portions and protein. Think of a better functioning body as you eat :) In the next article, I would be offering some recipe options for some of the items listed above. Have you recently been diagnosed? What do you eat on a regular basis?