Foods for Diabetic Meal Plan to Control Blood Sugar Level

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Control blood sugar
Diabetic meal plan

Last Updated on June 20, 2021 by Sultana Parvin

Diabetes, whether Type-1 or Type-2 cannot be cured forever. As such, there is not any curable medicine. Only you need to control your blood sugar level, or you can reverse Type-2 by limiting your carbohydrate intake.

While you choose to limit your carb intake, your meal plan is to add those foods, which have low or no carbohydrate. At the same time, you should avoid foods, which spike sugar levels, like those with high-carbohydrate, starchy foods, and foods with Hyperglycemia of higher GI(Glycemic Index). Considering these factors, this article highlights those foods for the diabetic meal plan for a person with diabetic or pre-diabetic condition. An appropriate portion of these foods not only contributes to managing your blood sugar level but also keeps you healthy and active.

One basic condition of good foods for diabetes is that the food must be rich in chromium. As chromium encourages your body cells to absorb sugar from the blood, it plays a key role to control blood sugar levels. Chromium is provided in many fruits that are said to be diabetes-friendly fruits and also vegetables, which are called good vegetables for diabetes. In addition to chromium, your diabetic meal plan must also include a healthy diet that provides you the required heat and energy to your body with a controlled amount of carbohydrates.

The diabetes meal plan to control blood sugar

Control blood sugar level
Diabetic meal plan

Keeping this in view, under-mentioned grain products, potatoes, legumes and nuts, seafood, meats, and dairy products have been recommended for your diabetic meal plan in addition to those diabetic friendly fruits and vegetables. If you are aware of the daily intake of these foods, there is no reason for you to worry about the control of blood sugar level as well as other diseases associated with diabetes.

Barley

Researchers have found a dietary benefit of eating barley that it can help reduce blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes[ii].

The unique profile of nutrients in barley makes it a strong defender against diabetes. It fights against diabetes in three ways. First, barley has a low GI, which is 25, compared to 58 for oatmeal, 55 for brown rice, and 45 for pasta. It means its ability to raise blood glucose level is far below the other 3 meals. Secondly, barley is high in soluble fiber, which slows down emptying your stomach preventing carbohydrates to be absorbed too fast and raising blood sugar levels. The third is the presence of rich magnesium content in barley. Magnesium helps the production and secretion of insulin and let the body use glucose for its cells. Thus, barley as a grain product should be kept at the top of the list of your diabetic meal plan.

Diabetic meal plan
Barley

Oatmeal or breakfast cereal

Oats may have higher carbohydrate, but their fiber content slows down the release of sugar into the bloodstream. Studies have found oats may be helpful in lowering blood sugar levels and improving blood sugar control[iii]. Usually, people eat oats in the form of porridge as a popular breakfast. But you can make more effective healthy food for diabetes as well as for weight loss diet using oats. Here are some different oats recipes which you can include in your diabetic meal plan[iv].

Diabetic meal plan
Oatmeal

Sweet Potato

According to the American Diabetic Association (ADA), sweet potatoes are called the superfood for diabetes[v]. Sweet potatoes’ GI is ower than white potatoes. Although it contains carbohydrates, if you eat the right size, unlike other starchy vegetables it would not spike your blood sugar level due to its insulin sensitivity boosting.

Some research shows that sweet potatoes contain adiponectin, a type of hormone which is released from fat cells. Adiponectin regulates insulin and improves metabolism.

Sweet potatoes are a rich source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Iron, and Protein. It is a good choice for your diabetic meal plan not only to give you a healthy diet but also to control your blood sugar level.

Diabetic meal plan
Sweet potato

Beans, Chickpeas, Lentils and other Legumes

Almost all types of beans (including black, white, lima, pinto, soy, and kidney), lentils, chickpeas, Bengal gram, and other common legumes contain high-quality carbohydrate, lean protein, and soluble fiber. These beans type of foods reduce hunger with a small quantity and the soluble fiber forms into a gel in your gut that helps to control blood sugar level.

According to a research result published in the ADA journal, patients who took beans and legumes for 3 months showed significant control of their blood sugar level than those who consumed whole wheat products[vi].

Diabetic meal plan
Beans and Legumes

Nuts

A research of Louisiana State University found most of the tree nuts including almonds, pistachios, walnuts, cashew, hazelnut and pecans lower risk of Type-2 diabetes[vii]. Nuts are very filling and loaded with fiber, protein and high levels of unsaturated fats which contribute to good cholesterol (HDL). Whether raw or roasted, nuts are highly beneficial to your health. For example, a serving of one-ounce almonds contains 6.1 grams of carbohydrate, which includes 3.5 grams of fiber. As fiber does not produce sugar, balance 2.6 grams of carbohydrate only are available to raise your bold sugar level. A few nuts may be taken at any time to break your hunger, even though that is not in your diabetic meal plan.

Peanuts are though legume but not of the category of tree nut, they have also very low GI and 26-28% protein.  It contains essential vitamins, minerals are called as nature’s powerhouse that is more than eggs and dairy. Peanuts are also a good source of poly and monounsaturated fat that contributes to human heart health.

Diabetic meal plan
Nuts

Yogurt

Yogurt as fermented food contains good bacteria, which is known as probiotics. Its main function is to improve gut health that helps reducing obesity and diabetes. Low-fat yogurt contains high-quality carbohydrates and protein making it a healthy food for diabetes. Some research found consumption of yogurt controls your blood sugar level and checks insulin resistance[viii]. Another study has found the potential link of regular yogurt consumption reduces the risk of Type-2 diabetes[ix].

Diabetic meal plan
Yogurt

Eggs

Eggs are versatile foods with a rich source of protein and minerals. Though eggs are filled with cholesterol, one large egg contains only half a gram of carbohydrate. Thus the ADA has recommended eggs as an excellent choice of food for people with diabetes [x]. If you have diabetes, you can eat a hard-boiled egg as a high protein snack. The protein meets-up hunger without affecting your blood sugar level. Protein also helps to slow down glucose absorption. Being readily available and easy to cook eggs in the breakfast may be included in your everyday diabetic meal plan.

Diabetic meal plan
Egg

Sea Fish or Fatty Fish

Fish is a great source of protein and essential minerals. Especially those fatty fish or seawater fish contain Omega-3 fatty acids that may help in a decrease in the insulin resistance of diabetic personnel[xi]. Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish and fish oil protect people from coronary heart diseases. Studies have shown that people who eat fish at least once a week have a lower mortality rate from coronary disease than those who do not. As diabetic people tend to be caught by heart-related disease, sea fish or fatty fish should be a part of a diabetic meal plan at least once or twice in a week.

Diabetic meal plan
Sea fish

Chicken

Chicken is the most popular poultry meat in today’s context. Although chicken contains both carbohydrates and fat, yet a portion of chicken with the right kind of cooking may be allowed to a diabetic person regularly. A diabetic person may be allowed 45-75 grams of carbohydrate per meal depending on individual goals [xii]. A white chicken breast carries more carbohydrate than this limit. Fried chicken especially fast food variety is not good for people with diabetes. Here are different varieties of chicken recipes, cooked with Indian masala (cinnamon, cardamom, onion, ginger, chili, and turmeric powder, etc) and baked or grilled chicken that is recommended for your diabetic meal plan of control blood sugar.

Diabetic meal plan
Chicken

Cheese

Many people think cheese, as a high-calorie food should not be included in the diabetic meal plan. But, it should be remembered that if you are diabetic your body does not properly metabolize carbohydrate, instead, your body gets high blood sugar. So, your diabetic meal plan must include a healthy diet with the controlled amount of carbohydrate managing your blood sugar, which cheese can perform.  An ounce of mozzarella or cheddar cheese each contains less than 1 gram carbohydrate[xiii]. An appropriate quantity of cheese can be kept in your breakfast, lunch or dinner through careful planning.

Diabetic meal plan
Cheese

Final words

Diabetes matters differently to very individual due to a different state of insulin resistance. Some of the food may fit someone’s health, which may affect adversely to some other. You need to observe how your body metabolizes with foods having carbohydrate, starch, fat, and sugar. Therefore, your diabetic meal plan should include those foods with their appropriate portion depending upon readings of your blood sugar control.

About the Author: Mohammad A Alim is a passionate researcher, thinker, and writer on health, nutrition, and foods that are contributive to human health as well as those are good or bad under different conditions. He has been contributing his research articles to this blog for the common good of people.

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