How Often Should a Person With Diabetes Eat?
Eating at regular hours is essential when you have diabetes. Regular meal times can keep your blood sugar, appetite, and waistline in check.
Eating at regular hours is essential when you have diabetes. Regular meal times can keep your blood sugar, appetite, and waistline in check.
Skipping meals or eating at irregular times may cause unhealthy highs or lows in your blood sugar level, which you want to avoid.
Some people fear that having to plan meals around diabetes will be time-consuming and complicated. It may be in the beginning when you’re faced with all the changes you’ll have to make, but in working with your dietitian, you can develop an eating plan that fits your food preferences, schedule, and lifestyle. Although everyone’s plan will be different, here are a few eating tips for blood sugar and diabetes management:
This should include breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Eating a variety of healthy foods and controlling your portions are important too.
Prioritize low glycemic index foods, such as fruits and vegetables, which are nutrient-rich. Other good choices include whole-grain bread and cereals, brown rice, and beans. Not only will they give you energy, but they also contain fibre, which helps you feel full longer. Choose smaller amounts of leaner meats and alternatives, such as poultry, fish, and eggs. Choose low-fat dairy products more often.
Glucerna® nutritional drinks are specifically designed for people with diabetes and have a low glycemic index.† Work with your diabetes team to fit Glucerna® into your meal plan.
In today’s busy world, many of us eat without thinking about it, grabbing a bite to eat in the car or while checking our emails, or even watching TV. But being mindful of how and what you eat is really important when it comes to managing your diabetes and keeping your weight down.
Simply put, mindful eating is about paying attention to what you’re eating — the look, the taste, the smells, the textures of food. But it goes beyond that. It’s also being aware of your hunger cues and any issues or guilt you may have around food, and figuring out whether you’re eating out of hunger or for emotional reasons.
This gives your brain time to register satiety or fullness. It also gives your body a chance to digest the food you’re consuming.
Like any new habit, learning to eat mindfully can take a bit of work in the beginning. But once you get in the habit, it can help you steer towards healthier foods and heighten the pleasure of each and every bite.
Other healthy meal planning ideas include:
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The Glucerna® Club connects you to reliable, credible information to help you make good food and lifestyle choices. In joining the Glucerna® Club, you will receive coupons, tools, and recipes valued at up to $100.†
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Please note that the information provided on this website is intended for Canadian residents and is not meant to replace any advice from your health care professional.
Consult your health care professional if you have questions or concerns about the management of your diabetes.
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