Measuring The Benefits Of A Healthy Diabetes Diet

Diet plays the most significant role in managing diabetes. With a healthy and nutritious diet, you can control your blood sugar levels more effectively. However, a healthy diabetes diet also offers you many other health benefits. It helps to reduce the risk of heart diseases, cancer, kidney diseases, etc. Even if you are not diabetic, eating a diabetes diet can help you stay healthy and prevent many diseases including diabetes.  

What Is A Healthy Diet For Diabetics?

• A healthy diabetes diet includes all the essential nutrients in a balanced proportion, such as proteins, fibres, carbohydrates, vitamins, etc. 
• It generally constitutes whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds.
• It does not include foods that have been processed or constitute added sugar.
• It reduces the intake of carbohydrates and advocates the consumption of only healthy carbs.
• A healthy diabetes diet also includes fewer amounts of saturated and trans fats.

Benefits Of A Healthy Diet In Diabetes

• Regulates Blood Sugar Levels

A healthy diabetes diet helps to control blood sugar levels in the body. It makes sure that you take all the essential nutrients in the optimal quantity, including carbohydrates. It also ensures that you do not consume foods that may spike your blood sugar levels such as packaged foods, sugary drinks, etc.  

• Reduces The Risk of Cancer

Diabetes increases the risk of many types of cancers. Eating a healthy plant-based diet full of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, helps to not only manage diabetes but also prevent cancer. A diabetes diet also helps to maintain body weight, which is a major risk factor for cancer.

• Prevents Heart Diseases and Strokes

Diabetes often leads to many cardiovascular diseases. A healthy diabetes diet includes foods such as leafy greens, nuts, whole grains, non-starchy vegetables, etc. These foods are highly beneficial in reducing cholesterol and boosting heart health, thereby helping in preventing heart diseases and strokes. 

• Reducing The Amount Of Insulin And Medications

A diabetes diet helps in regulating blood sugar levels and increasing insulin sensitivity in your body. It helps to reduce the amount of insulin and diabetes medications you may require to manage diabetes.     

• Maintains Healthy Body Weight

By cutting down on unhealthy carbohydrates and including high-fibre foods, a healthy and nutritious diabetes diet helps to maintain ideal body weight. If you are obese or overweight, this diet will help you lose weight. It helps to not only manage diabetes but also prevent many other metabolic disorders such as heart diseases, strokes, etc.  

• Prevent Diabetic Complications

Diabetes is a chronic disease that can result in many complications such as heart disease, obesity, hypertension, kidney diseases, skin disorders, nerve damage, etc. By eating a healthy diet, you may slow down the progression of the disease and prevent these complications. In addition, a healthy diabetes diet already includes foods that help reduce the risks of these diseases. For example, a diabetes diet generally has a low sodium content, which is important to prevent heart diseases, kidney diseases, etc. 

• Regulate Blood Pressure Levels

Diabetes and hypertension are closely linked to each other. Therefore, diabetes management also helps in regulating blood pressure levels in the body. A diabetes diet includes fewer amounts of saturated and trans fats as well as low sodium content, which is highly beneficial for people with high blood pressure levels.  

• Boosts Digestion

Poor management of diabetes can lead to various digestive disorders such as gastroparesis. A diabetes diet is rich in soluble dietary fibres, which not only helps to manage diabetes but also boost digestion. It is healthy and nutritious, which further strengthens your gut.   

• Improves The Quality Of Life

By preventing various diseases and maintaining the overall health of the body, a healthy diabetes diet helps to improve the quality of your life. 

References:

1. https://medlineplus.gov/diabeticdiet.html
2. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/diabetes-and-healthy-eating
3. https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/enjoy-food/eating-with-diabetes/what-is-a-healthy-balanced-diet
4. https://www.narayanahealth.org/blog/healthy-diet-for-diabetes/
5. https://www.mdanderson.org/publications/focused-on-health/Diabetes-and-cancer.h26Z1591413.html
6. https://www.healthline.com/health/type-2-diabetes/heart-healthy-foods-diet