| A healthy diet and regular exercise are essential for | | | | - Whole-grain foods - whole-grain foods such as |
| your overall health. Many diseases, including diabetes, | | | | wheat breads, wheat rice, and wheat pasta help you |
| can be managed successfully with a healthy diet. | | | | to control the amount of carbohydrates you take in. |
| Since each disease causes different symptoms and | | | | - Fresh fruits and vegetables - eating fresh fruits and |
| your body needs different nutrients to manage the | | | | vegetables will help your digestive system to perform |
| disease, each disease may require a different type of | | | | correctly. It is easier for your body to turn natural |
| diet. If your body does not properly absorb the | | | | sugar into energy. |
| sugars you are ingesting, you may need to avoid | | | | - Fat - eating less fat is essential to an overall healthy |
| foods that are starchy and contain a lot of sugar. | | | | diet and this allows your body to be able to digest |
| Before you begin a diet that is aimed at managing a | | | | food better and absorb the necessary nutrients. |
| certain disease, it is important to consult your | | | | - Sweets - consuming large amounts of sweets can |
| physician and get a true diagnosis. If your body is | | | | cause your body to retain excess sugar levels in the |
| actually turning starches and sugars into energy | | | | blood because the kidneys cannot turn the sugars |
| properly, you could risk the chance of denying your | | | | into energy fast enough. |
| body of the necessary foods by decreasing the | | | | - Carbohydrates - carbohydrates turn to sugar in |
| amount of starch and sugars in your diet. So, be sure | | | | your body and are necessary in order to have the |
| to check with your physician, who will go over your | | | | energy needed for your body to function properly. |
| symptoms and perform tests to determine the | | | | The key to carbohydrates is learning when you |
| correct diagnosis. | | | | should consume them and how many you should |
| Once you have been diagnosed with diabetes, your | | | | consume. |
| diabetes diet will play an important role in the | | | | - Alcohol - as with any healthy diet, your consumption |
| management of the disease. Your diabetes diet does | | | | of alcohol should be limited. Alcohol has a high content |
| not necessarily restrict the food that you are allowed | | | | of sugars and, just as too much alcohol can impair |
| to consume. Rather the diabetes diet will usually | | | | your body's motor skills and judgment ability, too |
| consist of consuming a variety of foods in the | | | | much alcohol can also impair your body's ability to |
| correct portions that will allow your body to use the | | | | turn sugars into energy. |
| nutrients properly. The two most important aspects | | | | Living Healthy |
| of a healthy diet are eating regular meals as closely | | | | As is the case with most any disease, living a healthy |
| as possible to the same time each day and eating | | | | life-style is the key to successfully managing the |
| the right amounts of the healthiest foods. If you are | | | | disease. An overall healthy diet not only increases |
| already eating a healthy diet, there may not be many | | | | your chance of successfully managing your diabetes, |
| changes. But, if you are not eating a healthy diet or | | | | but allows your body's digestive system to perform |
| do not eat regular meals at around the same time | | | | correctly, allows your brain to function properly, and |
| each day, you may have to make more changes. | | | | allows you to lead a normal lifestyle. Being overweight |
| The key is to become conscious of what your | | | | can increase the risk of diseases such as diabetes to |
| body's needs are and plan accordingly. | | | | cause other medical problems, so it is very important |
| Hints for a Successful Diabetes Diet | | | | to maintain a healthy diet. If you are overweight |
| The following hints will give you some idea of what | | | | when you are diagnosed with diabetes, your diabetes |
| changes you will need to make in your diet to | | | | diet may be somewhat different until you can reach |
| successfully manage diabetes: | | | | and maintain a healthy weight. Be sure to discuss |
| - Eating often - rather than 1-2 large meals per day, it | | | | your diabetes diet with your physician and learn to |
| is healthier to consume 3-4 small meals. This allows | | | | manage your diabetes and give yourself the chance |
| you to eat in healthy proportions without feeling | | | | to live a healthier life. |
| hungry throughout the day. | | | | |