If you want to lose weight, you need to eat healthy food. If you have an underlying condition that already affects your health, such as diabetes, it is even more important to make healthy food choices. These choices not only affect your chances of success in weight loss, but play a large role in your overall health and wellbeing.
If you are diabetic, it is not recommended that you take diet pills like these or other weight reduction supplements to lose weight. However, there are many meal plans that you can adopt to help you shed those unwanted pounds and live healthier.
What Diet Should a Diabetic Follow for Weight Loss?
Regardless of whether you are a type 1 or type 2 diabetic, there are some general rules of thumb that you should follow that can lead to a healthier body and weight loss. It is recommended that your diet consists of lean proteins, high fiber, and plenty of fruits. In addition, try to eat fewer processed carbohydrates, and go with organic products as much as possible.
Try to include low-fat dairy as well as healthy fats like avocado, nuts, olive oil, and canola oil.
One thing that needs to be monitored is your carbohydrate intake. Carbohydrates are converted into glucose which is then spread throughout the body as an energy source. As we all know, regulation of blood sugar is the key indicator of diabetes and is handled differently in the body. General guidelines for carb intake is around 45 grams per meal for women and around 60 grams for men.
Diabetic Friendly Food Choices
The key thing, as mentioned above, is to keep track of your carb intake. Even more than that, it is important to know what kinds of carbohydrates you are eating, simple or complex. Get your carbs from carbohydrate sources like fruits, vegetables, whole grains and oats, milk, and yogurt, as opposed to processed sugary foods and drinks.
Another area to be cognizant of is salt intake. Excess salt can lead to hypertension (raised blood pressure), which in turn can lead to heart disease or stroke. This is especially a risk for diabetic patients. Try to keep your daily salt intake to 6 grams or less per day.
You will also want to be stingy when it comes to snacking. If you want to snack, make sure it is a healthy option and not junk food. Unless needed for purposeful regulation of your blood sugar level, stay away from unhealthy snacks and try one of these healthy snack options instead.
Lastly, alcohol should be limited. It is high in calories, which makes it an unhealthy choice for anyone. It can also have adverse effects on individuals who take insulin or other diabetic drugs. If you do drink, make sure it is not on an empty stomach.
Final Thoughts
Living with diabetes can be a hindrance. However, it does not have to be a burden when it comes to living a healthy life and losing weight. If you follow the tips listed above, you can still enjoy delicious, healthy meals and get the body you want without any adverse effects on your health due to your diabetes.
About Shaun Hudson
Shaun Hudson loves sports, being outdoors, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. After many unsuccessful attempts to lose weight, he finally was able to drop 25 pounds and keep it off. The secret? He kept a journal of his activity, diet, and daily life. That journal changed his life, and has since evolved into this website. Read his full bio.