Diabetes mellitus is a very well-known and highly dreaded metabolic condition due to its lasting effects on other bodily functions like circulation, healing, neuropathy, etc. Type 2 diabetes is caused when the body does not make enough insulin, allowing glucose levels to build up to dangerously high levels in the blood. A common misconception is that consumption of sugary foods alone can cause diabetes. This is wrong, as any food we eat is converted to glucose or different related forms of sugar which need to be broken down in our body. Eating a lot of sugary stuff just means you are putting more glucose into your body. Does this mean starvation will work? No way! Managing blood sugar levels with diet needs to be done in a careful and well-planned manner.
Foods That Stabilise Blood Sugar
We will help you by giving you a list of items you should and should NOT eat in the following list:
● You should aim to get multiple servings of fresh greens like cabbage, palak, kale, methi and others. You can eat them in the form of dry poriyals, sundals, curries etc. and also add them to chapati or paratha dough for greater flavour and nutrition. The same works for beans, citrus fruits and sweet potatoes.
● Millets and whole grains are excellent substitutes for rice and bread like rotis or chapatis. You also get low GI atta these days.
● Veggies like carrots, greens, cucumber, cauliflower, spinach, and lettuce- are all great non-starchy options.
● You should aim to reduce white bread or rice portions and starchy items like potatoes, tubers, etc.
● You should also try to add more probiotic rich compounds into your diet for your gut to perform well.
● You should eat protein-rich foods while also limiting snacking.
● You should also drink plenty of water.
● The right kind of food along with proper spacing of meals and portion control can greatly help manage your blood glucose levels sustainably and efficiently.
Klinio Diabetes Management
Our lives have turned into super busy days and even more tired nights with hardly any time to breathe, let alone plan meals. This is why we think it a great idea to allow an app to make a properly balanced diet plan The app is called Klinio- which can be thought of as a diabetes management plan- it allows you to customize meals based on weight and other important parameters like dealing with high blood pressure, cholesterolemia, diabetes after you have chosen the right options provided in the app. This will help remove the guesswork in meal planning and let you go about your routine with a little less stress. But you should remember that this app CANNOT be the same as getting a properly planned and personalized diet plan from a dietitian and hence has its own set of limitations. Other apps work in the same way. You can choose which ones work for you best.
Conclusion
Diabetes is a little hard to deal with but not impossible to handle. With proper meal planning, portion control, physical exercise and not snacking too much- you can get back to lower blood glucose levels. If you persevere long enough, you may see a major reversal of your symptoms too! Isn’t this an encouraging thought? If you have struggled with prepping and meal planning, you could look at apps that can provide you with home-delivered, personalized, dietitian-approved foods. You won’t have to go shopping for ingredients and wonder about cooking either. Convenience at its best, right? But we still believe you should talk to a doctor for the best results.
FAQs
1) Why is diet management important if you are diabetic?
It is for two simple reasons- to keep you feeling fuller for longer and to prevent any glucose spikes or lows- both of which are bad for you.
2) What should a diabetic diet consist of?
You should focus on getting nutritious foods, portion control and spacing meals out in the right manner for best results.
3) Should I stay away from carbs completely?
No, this is a wrong thing to assume. You should reduce carbs like white rice or breads but can substitute with millets and whole grains which have lower GI values and will keep your blood glucose levels stable for longer periods of time.
4) What is GI and why is it important?
A low GI (glycemic index) food item will not be broken down very quickly and cause a glucose level spike in your blood which means low GI foods are good for you. Our snacks however are high GI items- which means you will feel hungry quicker than usual. So stay away from them./
5) How can glucose levels be monitored?
You can use a blood glucose monitor daily and also talk to a doctor who can help you come up with specialized diet plans