Don't Sugar Coat it: Diabetes Friendly Recipes

cooking healthy

Diabetes Friendly Recipes

Did you know?

Most people living with Type 2 diabetes nearly always develop pre-diabetes first. With pre-diabetes, blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Pre-diabetes should be taken seriously, as it can begin causing damage to the body.

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, the risk for complications is high. The good news? Most complications (vision loss, poor circulation, heart disease, etc.) can be prevented by keeping your blood sugar under control, eating healthy, being physically active and working with your doctor to make sure you complete the necessary tests, such as the dilated retinal eye exam, lab tests to check your A1c, and foot exams.

Here are some steps you can take to manage your diabetes:

Maintain a healthy weight. Your body mass index (BMI), a measure of body fat calculated using your height and weight, should be in the healthy range. Visit the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute or check out WHA’s online resources to calculate your BMI.
Eat wisely. Choose pastas, breads, cereals and crackers that show "whole" or "whole grain" as the first ingredient. Eat more fruit and vegetables, aiming to eat dark yellow and green veggies like broccoli, spinach and squash every day. Cut back on foods containing saturated fats like butter, whole milk, high-fat ice cream and cottage cheese. Visit MyFoodAdvisor for recipes and tips from the American Diabetes Association.
Exercise regularly. Physical activity helps you lose weight and control your cholesterol and blood pressure. It also helps your body use insulin. Try to be physically active for 30 minutes a day, five days a week. If you haven’t been active in a while, start slowly with a gentle exercise like walking.