If you have type 2 diabetes, your doctor probably told you that it’s imperative to control your diet strictly. However, plenty of resources on the internet provide the wrong idea about how to accomplish just that.
In 2020, the American Heart Association News analyzed the pros and cons of the information you find online. Surely enough, the internet is a great resource, but it also has plenty of misinformation if you don’t know where to look.
One of the claims mentioned in the article was that frozen lemons were said to cure diabetes. That is not only wrong but also completely unfounded and misleading.
Of course, lemons are one of the few fruits diabetics can consume, even if they have a very advanced stage of the disease. They have plenty of nutrients and antioxidants. But they don’t cure diabetes, and by stopping their medications to use this remedy, many people can get their blood sugar out of control and have serious consequences.
So, are you struggling with difficult diabetes management? Were you recently diagnosed and don’t know what to eat? Be careful of the sources of information you use, and if you’re trying something new, do not leave your medication unless recommended by your doctor.
Instead of exchanging your medications for home remedies, change your lifestyle and adopt a healthy diet and medical treatment. Together they will do a lot for you and prevent the complications of diabetes.
How a Healthy Diet Can Help You Manage Type 2 Diabetes
A healthy diet can help you manage type 2 diabetes. According to the American Diabetes Association, a balanced diet is a key to preventing type 2 diabetes and achieving proper glucose control if you were already diagnosed.
However, instead of a single standardized diet for diabetics, there are many options out there. They all have in common a few things:
- Choosing healthy carbohydrates: Instead of restricting all carbs, most type 2 diabetes diets recommend learning how to choose them. There are healthy carbohydrates in non-starchy vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Not all fruits are suitable for all diabetic patients, however. But the main idea is to look for complex carbs and eat them with fiber-rich foods. When you do that, sugar is not absorbed rapidly, and your body has enough time to manage glucose levels.
- Healthy fats: People with diabetes usually suffer from dyslipidemia, too. That is a dysregulation of fat levels in the blood. But fats are not the enemy as long as you know which ones are better for you. Healthy fats such as omega-3 and unsaturated fatty acids have anti-inflammatory effects. They keep you satiated for longer and provide the energy you need to fight diabetes.
- Protein: This is an essential nutrient in every aspect because it is what your body needs to create new tissue, heal injuries, and activate your metabolism. Protein also has a filling effect and helps you stay satiated for longer. Thus, it is excellent for weight loss and combined with exercise, it will also increase muscle mass and fight insulin resistance.
- Low sodium: Besides reducing your sugar intake, you should also limit sodium to a certain degree. Too much sodium can lead to high blood pressure, which is already a concern in patients with type 2 diabetes. Make sure to limit your intake of salt and processed foods, which also contain plenty of sodium.
But how does the above translate to actual food choices? In the following lines, we will give you three helpful lists:
- Foods you can eat without a problem
- Foods you can eat sparingly and some alternatives you can try
- Foods you’re better off avoiding completely
» Now, Let’s Discover Foods you can eat freely & Foods you can’t eat