Foods to Include in a Type 2 Diabetes Diet
If you have been told that you need to follow a type 2 diabetes diet you may be worried about whether you will have enough variety to choose from.
The good news is that there are many foods that have an important role to play in managing your disease and many of these are delicious and easy to prepare.
There is enough variety in a diet that can control type 2 diabetes that you will not need to worry about feeling unfulfilled by your meal choices.
If you are putting together a balanced type 2 diabetes diet you will want to include fresh fruits and vegetables.
Look for fruits and vegetables that have more fiber in them since this can help to offset the sugar content in these foods.
Any time you have a food that is high in fiber it is going to take longer to raise blood sugar levels and will not cause the same peaks and drops that other high sugar foods can cause.
Two to three servings of fresh fruits and vegetables a day is a good goal to aim for.
If you include fruits and vegetables that are rich in color, such as dark green leafy vegetables and brightly colored fruits such as berries and tomatoes you will be getting a higher nutrient load than you will with foods that have paler coloring.
Whole grain bread products and pastas are also good for exactly the same reason.
Carbohydrates can be a good source of energy but they may not all be suitable for a type 2 diabetes diet.
Avoid pasta and breads that have a lot of refined white flour in them and look for products that use less refined flour.
Again, this will help you control your blood sugar levels much more easily than you would be able to with products that contain refined flour.
Protein needs to be included in any diet.
Lean red meat, fish and poultry are all good choices to include in a type 2 diabetes diet.
Prepare them without using a lot of fat or salt and they will help to keep your weight at a healthy level and give you the nutrients that you need.
A diet that will help you manage type 2 diabetes should also include some heart healthy fats such as olive oil as well.
Using olive oil can be a good source of omega 3 fatty acids and they will help you maintain good health and manage your disease.
The good news is that there are many foods that have an important role to play in managing your disease and many of these are delicious and easy to prepare.
There is enough variety in a diet that can control type 2 diabetes that you will not need to worry about feeling unfulfilled by your meal choices.
If you are putting together a balanced type 2 diabetes diet you will want to include fresh fruits and vegetables.
Look for fruits and vegetables that have more fiber in them since this can help to offset the sugar content in these foods.
Any time you have a food that is high in fiber it is going to take longer to raise blood sugar levels and will not cause the same peaks and drops that other high sugar foods can cause.
Two to three servings of fresh fruits and vegetables a day is a good goal to aim for.
If you include fruits and vegetables that are rich in color, such as dark green leafy vegetables and brightly colored fruits such as berries and tomatoes you will be getting a higher nutrient load than you will with foods that have paler coloring.
Whole grain bread products and pastas are also good for exactly the same reason.
Carbohydrates can be a good source of energy but they may not all be suitable for a type 2 diabetes diet.
Avoid pasta and breads that have a lot of refined white flour in them and look for products that use less refined flour.
Again, this will help you control your blood sugar levels much more easily than you would be able to with products that contain refined flour.
Protein needs to be included in any diet.
Lean red meat, fish and poultry are all good choices to include in a type 2 diabetes diet.
Prepare them without using a lot of fat or salt and they will help to keep your weight at a healthy level and give you the nutrients that you need.
A diet that will help you manage type 2 diabetes should also include some heart healthy fats such as olive oil as well.
Using olive oil can be a good source of omega 3 fatty acids and they will help you maintain good health and manage your disease.