Fight Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus with Food

Persons who have type 2 diabetes mellitus experience difficulty regulating their blood sugar levels in their urine and blood because the cells of their body do not absorb the insulin the way they are designed to.

When blood sugar levels are not regulated properly, this can lead to poor circulation, having sensations of numbness in your feet, infections and heart disease. Approximately 80% of type 2 diabetic patients lose their lives due to complications of their disease.

One way to help control blood sugar levels is to monitor the types and quantities of food consumed.

Foods that can aid in controlling blood sugar levels are:

1. Organically grown leafy green vegetables - kale, mustard greens and swiss chard.

2. Citrus fruits

3. Red bell peppers and tomatoes

4. Nuts like almonds and walnuts

5. Cold water fish - cod, halibut, herring, mackerel and salmon.

6. Using extra virgin olive oil

7. Cinnamon, garlic and chili peppers

8. Legumes and whole grain like buckwheat and barley.

Foods to avoid are those containing concentrated sugars, dried fruits, fruit juices, saturated fats, trans fats, and red meats.

Be careful not to consume foods or supplements that contain too much iron.

There is a specific diabetic food pyramid that you can study on the American Diabetes Association Website but the basics for the fruit and vegetable categories are listed below:

Vegetables to include in your daily diet are: bok choy, brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, corn, cucumbers, lima beans, potatoes, sorrel and swiss chard.

Fruits that are good to include in your daily diet are: apples, apricots, bananas, cantaloupes, grapes, pears and strawberries.  

The key to knowing when to eat and how much to eat is in understanding how your blood sugar levels work and to monitor what your levels are on a regular basis as instructed by your health care provider. It is important to be able to detect when your symptoms are starting and to know what to do to correct any situation that may arise. Blood sugar levels can change rapidly with your activity level, and amount of food consumed or not consumed. Skipping meals is never an option with someone who has type 2 diabetes mellitus. Keeping regular medical appointments is a vital part of staying in control of your disease so is understanding the role that food plays in how your body handles both sugar and insulin.

The following foods may be consumed in very small quantities and should be reserved for special occasions or to reward yourself with a special treat:

Cake, candy, naturally made crackers, fried foods, and potato chips.

It is never good to deprive yourself of foods that you really like or crave; but when you are a diabetic it is wise to understand the consequences of your food choices. Knowing that you can partake of a sweet or food containing fat under specially monitored situations can help you to stay in control of your disease. When you deprive yourself of something you really like it makes it more difficult to eat properly; so even sweets and fats have a healthy place in our efforts to control our disease.