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Home » Diets that Work » Diabetes and nutrition – The Robesonian

This is the second in a series of columns about managing diabetes as part of the observance of November as Diabetes Awareness Month.

Individuals diagnosed with diabetes may have found themselves asking, What am I allowed to eat?

Have you gotten a good answer to this question? Probably not.

Thats likely because everyone responds to the same foods differently. Theres not a single magic diet that works for everyone who has diabetes. The good news is there are some simple rules that everyone can follow to help make sure your diet is working for you.

The next time you fix yourself a plate of food, try to imagine dividing your plate into four sections that are about the same size. Two of those four sections should be full of nonstarchy vegetables. Nonstarchy vegetables are things like asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumber, green beans, lettuce, spinach and zucchini.

Thats right! Half of your plate should be made of vegetables.

One of those sections should have grains and starchy foods. Grains are things like beans, bread, pasta, rice or tortillas. Starchy foods are things like apples, blueberries, strawberries, cantaloupe, corn, potatoes and peas.

Finally, look at your plate again. The last section of your plate should be protein. Chicken, eggs, low-fat cheese, fish, tofu and turkey are all good sources of protein.

Another important part of building a diet that helps you manage your blood sugar is looking at what youre drinking. Sugar-sweetened beverages are loaded with sugar and carbs, which increases your blood sugar and your waistline. When you can, choose unsweetened tea rather than sweetened tea. Try to stop drinking sodas and soft drinks. Even diet sodas raise your blood sugar. Water is always a safe choice. If water is too boring, try flavored seltzer waters. Seltzer water has no sugar, no calories and no sweeteners, but more flavor.

If youre looking for a more measurable way to use diet to manage your blood sugar, give carb counting a try!

Carbohydrates, or carbs, are the starches, sugar and fiber in food. Your body breaks down the carbs you eat into glucose, or blood sugar. Your body then uses that blood sugar to fuel your muscles and brain throughout the day. When you have diabetes, your body has trouble using the carbs in food. Carb counting is a way to keep your body from being overwhelmed by the food you eat.

Carbs are naturally found in most foods. You can find the number of carbohydrates in a food by looking at a food label. Youll find this value under Total Carbohydrate. If a food doesnt have a nutrition label, there are plenty of online applications that can help you find this information.

Get started today by writing down what you eat and drink at each meal and snack throughout the day. Youll want to make sure you write down the serving size of the food youre eating as well. A serving size is how much of the food youre eating at one time. Add up all the carbohydrates you ate at each meal and snack on any given day. Bring your diary to your next appointment and your diabetes care team will help you adjust your meals to help you better manage your blood sugars.

Call 1-844-735-8864 for assistance with managing your diabetes with the help of a Southeastern Health primary care provider, who can refer to an endocrinologist or diabetes educator if needed.

Dr. Kelsey Simmons is a family medicine physician who completed a fellowship in diabetes at Duke/Southern Regional AHEC in Fayetteville. She provides care at Southeastern Healths Southeastern Medical Clinic Grays Creek.

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Diabetes and nutrition - The Robesonian

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Home » Diets that Work » Diabetes and nutrition – The Robesonian