Diabetes
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is an inability to properly utilize the foods you eat for energy. It affects millions of Americans and tends to be associated with certain ethnic groups, obesity, and inactivity.
Are You at Risk?
Most people with diabetes have type 2, and there are some pretty clear red flags for those at risk. So what’s the up-side of knowing you’re at risk for type 2 diabetes? Studies show that these people can prevent or delay the onset of diabetes through simple lifestyle changes. For most, that means a small (5-10 pound) weight loss and more daily physical activity. And if you already have diabetes, early diagnosis and intervention can significantly improve your health and quality of life down the road.
What to Eat?
If you have diabetes, you may have questions about how sugars and starches affect your health. Perhaps you’ve been told to avoid sugar or to “count” carbohydrate, but are confused about what to look for. Do you really have to give up pasta and other favorite foods? And what about sugar-free and no-sugar-added foods?
It would be nice if there was an easy answer, like “just avoid sugar”, but many of the foods we eat every day can cause blood sugars to rise if we eat too much.
The good news is nearly all foods fit into a diabetes-friendly diet. Some folks do just fine by following some basic guidelines, others follow a more structured approach to meal planning with exchanges or carbohydrate counting. What ever your method, we’ve got you covered with our three step approach.
So, get ready to plan, shop, cook and enjoy these top-notch foods with our Diabetes 3 Step Approach:
step one: "get started" shopping guide — Offers basic guidelines for grocery shopping and meal planning.
step two: what about exchanges — What are they and how do they work?
step three: count on carbohydrates — The latest tool for teaching diabetes meal planning.
More Iinformation:
The USDA MyPyramid gives general information on balanced eating and activity. This interactive site gives you individualized information on food choices and portions, and includes a dietary tracking feature.
A registered dietitian (R.D.) can help. An R.D. can work with you and your physician to develop an individualized eating plan that's best for you. Ask your physician for a referral or contact the American Dietetic Association.
And many hospitals and outpatient clinics offer American Diabetes Association — recognized education programs that can answer all your questions regarding good diabetes self care. The American Diabetes Association can direct you to approved programs in your area. These services are generally covered by insurance, including Medicare.
