Diabetes and the Power of Nutrition

Thanksgiving is quickly creeping up, which means there will probably be a little uptick in our calorie intake soon, and those who struggle with diabetes have to pay closer attention to what they’re eating.

Have you ever felt lost or confused when it comes to which foods to consume when living with diabetes? Well, you are not alone! It’s totally normal to feel like every food group is off-limits when you are dealing with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes – especially during the holiday season! Nutrition plays a powerful role in your diabetes, but there are ways to balance a healthy diet and still eat some of your favorite foods.

What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a group of diseases that affect how your body uses blood sugar (also known as glucose). Glucose is imperative to the health of the cells that make up your muscles and tissues. Being an important source of energy, glucose is also your brain’s power fuse. With diabetes, your body does not produce enough insulin – a hormone that disperses glucose throughout the body. This disease can lead to excess sugar in your blood and lead to serious health issues, which is why nutrition plays such an important part in diabetes.

Managing Your Diabetes:
Our pancreas is the organ that creates the hormone insulin, and our bodies use insulin to lower our blood sugar. For patients with Type 2 diabetes, unfortunately, their bodies do not use insulin properly or don’t produce enough, otherwise referred to as “insulin resistance.” Glucose is produced by the body from the foods you eat, mainly carbohydrates.

When it comes to our diet there are 3 major nutrients we need, also known as the “macronutrients.” These macronutrients include carbohydrates, protein, and fat.

Carbohydrates:
Carbohydrates are essential as an energy source and include sugar, starch, and fiber. As a category of energy nutrients, sugars (simple carbohydrates) and starches (complex carbohydrates) are your body’s main fuel sources.

• Starches are found in bread, pasta, cereal, potatoes, beans, peas, and lentils.
• Natural sugars are in fruits, milk, and vegetables.
• Added sugars are found in desserts, sweetened beverages, and candy.
• Fiber is in all plant foods— vegetables, fruits, and beans. A fiber-rich diet may help to control the rise of blood glucose after eating and helps us stay fuller longer.

Many people with diabetes fear carbohydrates and have been told to avoid them, however, the key is to choose the right type and the right amount. Schedule a visit at one of our Aylo Health Primary Care offices to see how many carbs you should include in your meals!

Protein:
Protein is used by the body for building, repairing, and maintaining tissues. It helps us build lean muscle and it keeps our body fuller for a longer period of time.

• Protein is found in animal sources, such as meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs, and is present in other sources such as nuts and legumes.
• Most people need 20-30 grams of protein per meal.

Fats:
Not all fats are created equal. The differences among fats are all about their chemistry – they are either unsaturated or saturated. Fats reserve energy, slow down digestion, provide essential fatty acids, and carry fat-soluble vitamins. Dietary fats also help keep hair and skin healthy, insulates the body, protects organs, and fills fat cells.

• Monounsaturated fat sources are avocados, nuts, nut butter, olive oil, and canola oil. These fats contribute to our “good” cholesterol, which is the HDL.
• Polyunsaturated fats are foods like salmon, tuna, sunflower seeds, flax seeds, and walnuts.
• Saturated fats are bacon, butter, cream, cream cheese, and sour cream. These fats contribute to our “bad” cholesterol, which is the LDL. So, it’s best to limit our intake of these types of fats.

The balanced plate method is a great way to promote optimal blood sugar control and to ensure you are getting all vital nutrients at each meal!

We know how stressful it can be when it comes to nutrition and diabetes, but that’s why we’re here – to provide the best options possible and create a customized meal plan to give you optimal health. Visit any of our Aylo Health Primary Care offices and let us make living with diabetes easier for you.

Low-Carb Sweet Potato Casserole
Low-Fat Green Bean Casserole
Healthy Carrott Cake Muffins