What to Eat for Diabetics

You might have already heard about the diabetes food pyramid. It is a grouping of foods which is designed by the American Diabetes relationship of the American Dietetic Association. Its purpose is to guide diabetic patients in determining which foods are safe for them to consume. Here, the foods are arranged based on their carbohydrate and protein content.

Using the diabetes food pyramid will help you in your meal planning. It may not be as beloved as counting the food carbs but it absolutely is someone else good option.

The Food Pyramid

The pyramid has 4 layers. The largest layer indicates the safest foods to eat for diabetics while the smallest layer indicates the foods that they should avoid. The largest layer is the bottom or the base and the foods that you will find there are the safest foods to eat for diabetics. This layer is made of grains, starches and beans. Pasta, cereal, rice, bread, rye, wheat, oats, corn, potato and peas are examples of food that fall in this category.

The 3rd layer belongs to fruits and vegetables. Some citizen believe that because fruits are sweet in nature and diabetics should not be allowed to eat them. On the contrary, they can. Fruits are wholesome foods and they are good sources of nutrients, minerals and fiber; but you should know the right amount to take. You cannot just eat as many as you want because that might negatively affect your blood sugar level. Blackberries, pears, bananas, apples, strawberries, oranges, peaches, grapes and apricots are among the fruits that diabetics can eat. Vegetables are usually low in fats and calorie. You can even make salads out of some of them. Vegetables that are good for salads are cabbage, cucumber, tomato, carrot, cauliflower, broccoli, spinach and kale.

The 3rd layer contains milk and dairy, along with meat, meat substitute and other proteins. The foods in this kind should be avoided as much as potential by citizen who have diabetes. Unflavored and unsweetened yogurt is more advisable, and instead of drinking quarterly milk, it will be best to go for non fat milk. Red meat raises the level of heart risks, and because diabetics are prone to heart diseases, they should try to avoid meat as much as possible.

The 4th and the smallest layer of the pyramid contains fats, sweets, and alcohol. These are the most risky foods to eat for diabetics. They can rapidly increase your blood sugar levels. It is highly recommended that a diabetic eat fiber rich fruits instead to satisfy his sweet tooth.

Chocolates and cakes can be very tempting stuffs. If you cannot avoid them, you can go for those that do not have added sugar. There are sweet products that are specially made for diabetics. You can still enjoy the "sweet" life without having to risk your health too much; however, they should be still taken in moderation. If you cannot avoid drinking wine, the least you can do is read its content. Dry wines usually do not comprise sugar and you can sip a small amount of it.

What to Eat for Diabetics