Diabetes : what do you need to know about healthy eating

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Diabetes : what do you need to know about healthy eating

Healthy eating is an integral part of a diabetes treatment plan and should be adopted in the daily life of every person having diabetes.
The nutrients contained in the food we eat are necessary for the proper functioning of our body: fats, proteins and carbohydrates are the basis of our diet. Understanding how they are processed by our body can help us make better and healthier food choices every day.

How should eating look like?

Eating healthy, balanced and with pleasure is surely possible while having diabetes:

Eating must be varied, balanced and regular.
Menus must be composed of foods from each food group
No food is strictly prohibited but some sugary foods should be limited because of their Hyperglycemic effect.

Is there a special diet for Diabetes?

Today we no longer speak of a diet for people with diabetes but more of a balanced diet, in which each of the food groups has its own importance.
When having diabetes, it is fundamental to learn how eating certain foods while limiting others can help you to easily achieve your goals and manage your blood sugar level.

The main goal is to easily manage blood sugar levels and maintain a healthy overall health. This requires some consistent efforts that aim to acquiring essential knowledge about foods and their nutritional interests as well as respecting few simple dietary principles.

This is key to build healthy eating habits and learn to plan ahead when preparing for your diabetes friendly menus.

So having a regular and balanced diet is a priority for people with diabetes who should learn to choose their food neither too fatty nor too sweet.

While making the right food choices might seem like a constant concern for a person with diabetes, it is in reality such a simple thing! And we will show you how you can simply make easy, healthy, and sustainable food choices.

A balanced healthy eating as a key to manage diabetes

Having diabetes might seem like a health condition that will require a strict diet with many food deprivations and endless dietary restrictions. The truth is that people with diabetes can easily make healthy food choices while still including the food they enjoy.
You will understand now that it is not complicated to adopt a balanced diet when you have diabetes. And remember that eating well means combining Health and Pleasure!

If you have diabetes or one of your loved ones has it, then it is important for you to remember these simple yet important guidelines:

A balanced healthy eating is an essential way to control the blood sugar level along with medication and physical exercise.
There is no specific diet for diabetes, no forbidden food, no ideal food.
A balanced diet keeps your Glycemic Index stable and therefore your diabetes under control.
The eating habits recommended for people with diabetes are the same as those recommended for the general population. Yes, it is as simple as that!
Some dietary adjustments may be necessary in case of overweight or unbalanced diabetes, but once for all.

Essential nutritional guidelines for a healthier eating

The foods we eat vary a lot according to their nutritional values; while most of the foods are mixed sources of nutrients, some foods contain a large amount of one nutrient and a little of other nutrient(s).

There are 7 big groups of nutrients needed for the functioning and growth of our body: Carbohydrates, Fats, Proteins, Minerals, Dietary Fiber, Vitamins and Water.

7 Groups of Essential Nutrients

Based on their nutritional content, the foods that we commonly consume had been classified into 5 major food groups:

Dairy and/or their alternatives: great source of calcium.
Vegetables: provide minerals, vitamins and dietary fibre.
Fruits: provide variety of vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre.
Grains foods: preferably wholegrain which provide dietary fibre.
Lean meats and poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, nuts and seeds and legumes: great sources of protein.