| There are a number of foods that lower blood | | | | This is because insulin is directly responsible for |
| sugar, all of which are considered to be foods | | | | changing these foods into the kind of energy that |
| that should be included in your diet for good | | | | your body's cells can use. So, to remain healthy |
| nutrition. Anybody with high blood sugar really | | | | when you have high blood glucose you need to |
| needs to carefully manage their body's sugar | | | | stay away from sweets and fats. You also need |
| levels and their body's sensitivity to these | | | | to stay away from alcohol because a high |
| starches and sugars. | | | | percentage of alcohol is actually sugar. |
| Usually, this high blood sugar is a result of your | | | | Diabetics are advised to have between 2 and 4 |
| body not producing sufficient insulin to be able to | | | | servings of fruit every day. Some of these fruits |
| cope with the amount of sugar in your blood. | | | | are good for diabetics and some not so good. |
| Sometimes this occurs because your pancreas | | | | This depends on the amount of sugars contained |
| doesn't produce enough insulin and is working too | | | | in the fruit. This kind of sugar is called fructose. |
| slow. | | | | Good fruits tend to be apples, mangoes, bananas, |
| There are other times when your pancreas is | | | | oranges, grapes and raisins. |
| working overtime but can never quite produce | | | | These are the healthiest ways to cook. Try to |
| sufficient insulin to keep up with demand. Either | | | | avoid roasting if possible as this does involve the |
| way, you will end up with too much sugar in your | | | | use of fat. However, if you must use fat, choose |
| blood. This is referred to as high blood glucose. | | | | olive oil or peanut oil as these are both a better |
| Too much sugar in the blood is dangerous and, if | | | | kind of fat. The worst kind of fat is saturated fat. |
| this occurs over any length of time it can cause | | | | Between 10-20% of all your daily calories, as a |
| damage to some of the organs in the body. This | | | | diabetic, should be made up of protein. The rest |
| is why it is important to find foods that lower | | | | of your diet needs to consist of vegetables, |
| blood sugar and incorporate them into a diet that | | | | pulses, legumes and whole grains. Some |
| you strictly adhere to. | | | | vegetables need to be treated with caution as |
| Usually people with high blood sugar are advised | | | | they are very high in starch. These vegetables |
| to eat a diet high in fibre but low in fats. People | | | | tend to be potatoes [use sweet potato instead], |
| with high blood sugar, or diabetics, are also | | | | carrots and sweet corn. |
| advised to eat smaller meals throughout the day, | | | | Try to avoid eggs, whole milk products and red |
| rather than the traditional three larger meals. | | | | meat as they are likely to cause your blood |
| Increasing the amount of fibre in the diet will help | | | | glucose to peak. The whole exercise involves |
| to lower the glucose circulating in the blood. | | | | keeping your blood sugar as steady as it is |
| Our food is made up of different groups of | | | | possible to be. |
| nutrients, some of which are good for the diabetic | | | | Other foods that lower blood sugar include a wide |
| and others which are best avoided. If insufficient | | | | variety of nuts. Apart from these being a valuable |
| insulin is being produced, leaving too much glucose | | | | source of protein and fat, they make excellent |
| in your blood, you need to reduce the amount of | | | | snacks to nibble on, as long as you are not allergic |
| sugars, starches and fats in your diet. | | | | to them! |