Stories on Health

While most dietitians and physicians encourage diabetics not to change their diets (except to reinforce the importance of moderation), a properly balanced diet will help diabetics control their blood sugar level so that they feel better. In this busy world, prepackaged or fast foods may be more convenient, but their often high sodium and high fat content makes them dangerous to your health when you need to control your blood sugar. A lot of people get overwhelmed with the thought of cooking for themselves, but it doesn’t have to be a complex ordeal.

With just a little searching, you can quickly find simple, low sugar, healthy recipes from any number of resources, including fellow diabetics, your local library, or online. The American Diabetes Association has a huge collection of nutrition tips and techniques for you to use at no charge. Most importantly, when you are cooking, remember to make sure your meals are balanced. That means that you should eat lots of vegetables, fruits, grains, proteins, and fish, yet limit your intake of fats, sodas, and dairy. Cooking all of these can be fast and painless, and with the right recipes, you’ll save money and feel better as well.

As a diabetic, you see more than your fair share of health fads and trends come and go. One of the most common is the argument supporting the use of antioxidants. It seems like everywhere you turn, you will find studies and statistics on antioxidants and how good they are for you. On TV, on the Internet, and in magazines, we learn that “oxidation” to your cells may be partly responsible for the effects of aging on your health and certain diseases. And though various researchers support various theories about the best way to incorporate antioxidants through diet and supplements, there is still no definitive proof that antioxidants even contribute to your health, diabetic or not.

Some of the major antioxidants are those you’re very familiar with: vitamin c, vitamin e, beta-carotene, and etc. While there are studies that suggest these supplements help your immune system, blood sugar levels—and even your ability to avoid or treat diseases like diabetes—perhaps the safest course of action before changing your diet or supplement intake is to consult your doctor. As you know, diabetics have particular nutritional needs and it’s safer to have as much information as possible as well as inform your doctor about any major health changes you are making.