Do you have diabetes? Are you confused about what to eat and what to avoid? You are not alone. We are here with you.
With diabetes, you should take extra care of yourself. If left untreated, it can lead to various complications. Therefore you should attend the follow-up visits on time with your healthcare provider. To get an expert opinion, you can visit an Internal Medicine Specialist in Karachi.
Here in this article, we will tell you some tips that can help you cope with diabetes.
Choose Healthy Carbohydrates
With carbohydrate consumption, you have to be smart. You must know which ones you should consume. Avoid highly processed foods such as white bread and fat-containing burgers. Instead, to consume healthy carbohydrates, you can consume pulses such as chickpeas, beans, and lentils, whole grains like brown rice, and buckwheat, whole oats, fruits, vegetables, and dairies like unsweetened yogurt and milk.
Also, avoid foods with low fiber. If you are confused about nutritional values, you can look at the label of the food you consume.
Eat Less Salt
With diabetes, the chances of getting hypertension increase, especially when you are above 45. Therefore you should cut down your salt intake beforehand. Try to limit your daily salt intake. You can consume a teaspoon full of salt daily in food. Avoid consuming more than that.
Keep an eye on prepackaged foods. They contain a lot of salt already. Therefore pick those items which are low in sodium and sugar.
To add flavor, be creative by adding different salts and spices to your food. It is better to cook your food by yourself. That way, you can keep an eye on what you consume.
Consume Healthy Products
When you cut down on carbohydrates, you might end up eating fatty meat. But that is also not good for your health as it can lead to hypercholesterolemia. Instead of consuming high-fat meat, you can consume pulses such as beans and lentils, poultry like chicken and turkey, eggs, fish, and unsalted nuts. Also, make sure that you drink one to two glasses of milk daily.
These foods can help you feel full for longer and have low carbohydrates. Therefore you can swap them instead of consuming a high-fat and high carbohydrates diet. With diabetes, you have to be smart in what you consume.
Eat Fruits and Vegetables
Often diabetic people are confused about whether they should consume fruits or not, as they are sugary. The good news is that you can consume whole foods even if you have diabetes. The sugar present in fruits does not hurt your blood glucose levels. Therefore you must consume an ample amount of fruits and vegetables in your diet.
The Bottom Line
If you have diabetes, be vigilant about what you consume and what to avoid. Be mindful when eating something. Diabetes needs care and attention. Please do not leave yourself unattended and unscreened. Make sure to attend all the follow-up visits with your healthcare provider. To get an expert opinion, you can visit an Internal medicine Doctor in Lahore.