If you are living with diabetes, you know that what you eat is paramount to controlling the disease. You can control portion size, eat the right foods, and stick to regular mealtimes to keep your blood sugar levels in tune. Another way to manage your diabetes is by avoiding certain foods that can make your sugar spike. Taking care of yourself is not hard but how do you keep your grocery shopping in line with your body’s requirements? If you live in a continuing care retirement community (CCRC), you have access to adequately crafted meals to meet your body’s needs. If you are on your own, a little forethought and planning can keep you on the right track. Do’s and Don’ts of Eating Right to Manage Diabetes Life with diabetes can be hard, but some useful tips can make it easier. You can enjoy a variety of foods in moderation when you keep these do’s and don’ts in mind.
  • Do Limit or Avoid Alcohol: Moderate amounts of alcohol can increase your blood sugar. On the other hand, excessive alcohol consumption can decrease your blood sugar to dangerous levels.
  • Do Limit Cholesterol Intake: The Mayo Clinic cautions those with diabetes to limit their cholesterol intake to 200 mg per day.
  • Do Get More Fiber: Go ahead and grab some fruits, nuts, legumes, oatmeal, wheat bran and whole grains.
  • Do Eat Your Veggies: Dig into a variety of dark green vegetables like broccoli and spinach. Check out other parts of the food color wheel with carrots and sweet potatoes.
  • Do Eat “Good” Fats: It is advisable to consume good fats that are found in avocados, nuts, and olives.
  • Do Eat Lean Protein: Enjoy lean protein as found in low-fat or non-fat dairy, skinless fish and poultry, lean beef, and pork.
  • Don’t Indulge in Fats: Avoid foods that contain saturated fat or trans-fat.
  • Don’t Overdo Seasoning with Salt: Salt hides in a lot of places you may not realize. Pay attention to labels in canned, packaged, and processed foods.
  • Don’t Consume Extra Sugar: Remember that sugar content can be high in your drinks and packaged snack foods.
  • Don’t Avoid All Carbs: It is alright to eat healthy carbohydrates like whole-grain bread, cereals and rice, legumes, fruits and vegetables, and low-fat dairy products. Cutting carbs completely out of your diet is not recommended as it may cause your blood sugar to fall drastically.
Make wise decisions about your diet and enjoy life as you take better care of your health. At Wesley Enhanced Living, we help you eat right and stay healthy with menus catered toward the needs of our residents. Stay engaged with the numerous opportunities to be socially connected to new friends. Call one of our Philadelphia area locations to arrange a visit and see why our residents love living here. Wesley Enhanced Living provides excellent retirement communities for you or your elderly loved ones. Please visit our care communities to learn more or click here to request more information today.