Your diet is very important when it comes to controlling your diabetes. You cannot talk about diabetes without talking about diet and eating habits. Eating is an important factor in any illness. This is especially true in the case of diabetes. Any treatment for diabetes should start with the right combination of foods.

Some diabetic patients have always argued that diabetic medications can cure their disease. This can cause them to pay less attention to the types of foods they eat. Many diabetics follow a diet plan that requires them to eat a lot of protein, while avoiding sugar. These diet plans often call for 3 square meals a day.

As a diabetic, eating twice or three times a day is not necessarily a good thing because such meals are often heavy. If you take a heavy meal once a day, your blood sugar will spike because there is not enough insulin in the body to metabolize the food. The secret is to eat often in lower quantities. In other words, you eat five or six times a day, but only a little at a time. This reduces blood sugar spikes. It is for reasons like this, that diet is so important for diabetic patients.

Our food consists of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. To be healthy, we need to maintain a balance of these nutrients in our diet. Carbohydrates include sugar, starch, manioc, yam, rice, etc. Protein is found in meat, fish, eggs, milk, beans, etc. Saturated fat is found in butter, coconut oil, palm oil, fish, meat, and eggs. This type of fat is dangerous to the system and can lead to heart disease. Unsaturated fats derived from peanut oil, soybean oil, cottonseed oil and castor oil are healthier.

Fruits are a food high in sugar, but also high in vitamins and minerals. Vitamins and minerals are mainly derived from fruits and vegetables. Keep in mind that these fruits and vegetables are best when taken in their natural state. Raw vegetables are more nutritious than cooked vegetables. Sugar can spike your blood glucose levels, so always be careful when consuming fruits. Fruit juice is especially bad for patients who already have high blood glucose.

Often, diabetic patients should eat lots of onions, carrots, garlic, and ginger. Eat green vegetables in their natural state as often as possible. Processed foods are generally not as good for diabetics as natural foods. Green leaves like bitter leaves and paw-leaves can be very good for the body. Okra is a very good option as well.

There is no universal diabetic diet plan. Each of us are individuals and we each require our own diet plan for our ever-changing bodies. Always consult your clinician before any major shifts in your diet. Perhaps a dietary change is in order if you are diagnosed with diabetes. Discuss all of your options with your doctor when you visit them.

*The author of this blog is not a medical professional and this article does not contain professional medical advice. This blog is not intended to substitute for medical advice, treatment, or diagnosis. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of the contents of this article. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.