15 Cooking & Eating Tips For Diabetic Individuals

There are amazing healthy eating hacks that you can make use of if you're a diabetic patient. Diabetic individuals are two to three times more likely to die from a heart disease or stroke when compared to those without diabetes.

For diabetic patients, adhering to the diet strategy like cutting back on sugar and carbs is a matter of life and death. For those who don't properly control their condition, the risk of contracting health issues like cardiovascular trouble to nerve damage and kidney disease can increase.

The consequence of not sticking to a diabetes-friendly diet can be devastating; but, at the same time, you don't have to eat bland food all your life.

In addition to how you prepare the food, factors like portion size and frequency also play a very big role in this. There are some simple cooking hacks that will help in keeping your blood sugar under control.

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In this article, we have listed some of the best healthy eating tips for diabetes. So, continue reading to find out the top eating tips for diabetic individuals.

1. Replace Your Starch:

If you like fried rice, meatballs and spaghetti, then you need to replace the grains with the veggies. You can go for options like cauliflower, rice, zucchini noodles and spaghetti squash. This is how you can reduce the amount of carbohydrates in your diet.

2. Add More Flavours:

You can try to add more flavours to the food that you're eating to make it less boring. Try adding fresh herbs, squeeze lemons, ginger, garlic or add cayenne pepper on top of your food.

3. Make Protein Your Priority:

Eating protein will help stabilize the blood sugar level and also keep you fuller for longer hours. Hence, it is important to add a lean protein to every meal. Some of the top sources that you can go for are beans, nuts, wild salmon, chicken, etc.

4. Go For Non-Starchy Veggies:

Eating loads of non-starchy vegetables will help kill hunger. You can go for options like leafy greens, bell peppers, cucumbers, radish and green beans. This is one of the top healthy eating tips for diabetes.

5. Always Measure Your Plate:

Have a standard 9-inch dinner plate that will make things easy for you. If our plates are large, then we might serve ourselves larger options.

6. Keep Your Snacks Handy:

Snacks are every essential if you're a diabetic. These aid with weight loss and also prevent low blood sugar levels. You need to always have something that you can hold onto, until your next meal. This is one of the top eating tips for diabetic individuals.

7. Eat Regularly:

Be careful not to skip any meal and eat a healthy balanced meal every 4-5 hours throughout the day. This will aid in keeping the blood pressure levels stable throughout the day and also give you more energy if you're on a diabetes medication.

8. Give A Thought To Your Drinks:

Soda and sugary drinks are something that you need to always keep off from. Go for unsweetened drinks that will help manage your blood sugar level.

9. Avoid Added Sugars As Well:

It is essential that you read the labels of whatever you choose to eat. There are several kinds of added sugars like high fructose corn syrup, maple syrup, fructose, etc. These end up adding additional carbohydrates to your meals.

10. Stay Hydrated:

Drinking enough water will help keep the blood sugar levels normal. Staying hydrated will also help in keeping you feel satiated for longer hours. This is one of the best healthy diet tips for diabetes.

11. Be Careful With The Portion Sizes:

Measure your portions before eating, which will help you be aware and also make you more conscious about the food you eat. This is one of the best food tips for diabetes patients.

12. Go For Strategic Cooking:

You can go for options like roasting, cooking, grilling and steaming. This will also not require added fats. These methods are also known to increase the natural flavour of the food.

13. Prep Up Your Meals By Planning:

Planning what you're going to eat in advance will help you stick to a healthier diet. It is important to know the sources of carbohydrates in your food, so that your insulin will work well. Also, make a list of carbs, protein and vegetable-based foods.

14. Use Short Cuts For Cooking:

To save on the cooking time, you can go for frozen or pre-washed groceries from the store. Further, a large electric pot that can stew almost everything will help in making things better.

15. Always Stock Your Freezer:

It is advised to stock your freezer with healthy meals all the time. In this case, if you're too tired to cook or have run out of things, a backup is always available.