American Diabetes Association Diet Tips for Diabetes Management

Healthy eating habits and attention to nutrition is important for everyone, however it is even more important that those with diabetes. Diet is the most important way for Diabetics to manage their symptoms. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) diet provides a nutrition guideline to help a diabetic person eat vitamin and mineral rich foods that a healthy body needs.

The ADA diet uses four food groups for people living with diabetes:

Food Group One:
Proteins, which include meats, eggs, fish, poultry, nuts and dried beans

Food Group Two:
Dairy products such as low fat milk, skim milk, cottage cheese & yogurt

Food Group Three:
Whole grains, breads and cereals

Food Group Four:
Vegetables and fruits

The ADA diet includes the necessary building blocks a healthy body needs: proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals. By following the ADA diet guidelines, your body should receive all of the nutrients it needs in order to function well.

When planning meals, try to:

Eat good carbohydrates like whole grains, beans and lentils, paired with a protein to raise and stabilize blood sugar levels

Eat high fiber, low glycemic index foods to help reduce high blood glucose and hyperlypidemia

Choosing foods that are low in fat, choosing lean cuts of meat

Use flax seed oil or olive oil when cooking.

Remove the skin of chicken

Use skim or low-fat milk

Choose low sodium content foods

Read nutrition labels and check sodium, fat and carbohydrate amounts

Eliminate table sugar, sugar coated cereals, canned soda & alcoholic beverages

If you have questions about the ADA diet for diabetics, please feel free to contact a Millcreek Home Health and Hospice.