Being diabetic does not mean you must give up everything you used to love before you were diagnosed. This is not the case at all. You can take control of your diabetes; it does not need to control you. There are many ways in which small changes to our diet can be made so we can still enjoy our food and manage our diabetes at the same time. Here are some of the tasty, delcisious diabetes recipes to be relished by diabetes patients.
Below are some top tips for taking control of your diet when suffering from diabetes.
Sweet Stuff
Being diabetic does not mean that sugar must be completely taken out of your life. Of course, as a diabetic, too much sugar in your diet can cause many problems, but so long as it is controlled, diabetics can have sugar in moderation. If you have a really sweet tooth, you may want to reduce your cravings over time, by eating less slowly. By going cold turkey, you will end up going back to old habits. If you wish to have a dessert, try not to have a carbohydrate-rich meal like pasta or bread and save the carbohydrates for your dessert. There are many candy recipes for diabetics if you wish to make your own sweet treats at home.
Choose Your Fats Wisely
Trans-fats are the worst type of fat for a diabetic. Usually, they come with pre-packaged and heavily fried foods, so try to avoid these whenever possible. Using olive oil is a great alternative to frying foods and can it taste just as good. The best fats are unsaturated fats, which can be found in things like fish and nuts. Omega-3 fatty acids help regulate blood clotting, relaxation, and contraction of the artery walls. It can also reduce inflammation. Saturated fats can make up around 10% of your consumed calories for the day, and foods that contain this include red meat and dairy. You do not need to eliminate this fat from your diet; moderation is key to any healthy lifestyle.
Other Tips To Control Your Lifestyle
A food diary can help many diabetics in controlling their diet and can help you lose weight. This is because you can see written down in black and white any problem areas or meals where you are consuming too much of what you shouldn’t be. Being able to see this visually will help in making little changes that could make a big difference. Having 30 minutes of exercise a day can also help keep you at a healthy weight and may improve your insulin sensitivity. You do not have to go running a marathon; even just walking for three 10-minute intervals is enough to increase heart rate.
Following these simple steps can mean still enjoying your food whilst making small, better choices. There are many diabetic-friendly recipes that can be followed if you prefer to start making your own meals for you and your family. Eating the food you love in moderation is key to any healthy lifestyle, especially for a person with diabetes.
