Diabetes and Nutrition
General Recommendations
The general recommendation for preventing Type 2 Diabetes is to live a healthy lifestyle including meeting dietary and physical activity recommendations. However, if you have pre-diabetes or are at risk for diabetes you can do the following to further your prevention efforts.
-
Regular physical activity and movement are crucial for managing and potentially reversing prediabetes, as they improve insulin sensitivity and help regulate blood sugar levels. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week, like brisk walking, or 75 minutes of vigorous activity.
-
Having several small meals throughout the day with a consistent amount of carbohydrates at each meal can help control blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
-
Combining carbohydrates with a protein or fiber-filled item can help control blood glucose levels and reduce the risk of developing diabetes.
-
Replacing sugar with sugar substitutes like sucralose can reduce your risk of blood glucose spikes and can help with the prevention of diabetes as well as treatment when used in moderation.
-
The Mediterranean diet has been a popular diet and lifestyle that can be used to prevent the onsite of diabetes and other chronic diseases due to its flexibility and realistic lifestyle changes.
Prediabetes
Prediabetes is a condition in which blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as Type 2 Diabetes. If you are diagnosed with prediabetes you should start looking into making changes to your lifestyle in order to prevent developing Type 2 Diabetes. You can take the prediabetes risk test below to see if you are at risk for prediabetes.
Additional Resources
This page was created by Hannah Eddy Nutrition for the use of Harvest for the Hungry.