Diabetes is a medical condition that is caused by the failure of the body to produce insulin. This leads to fluctuations in blood sugar, a condition that often leads to other medical complications. For example, diabetes is closely associated with hypertension, kidney failure, and many other conditions. The good news however is that there are foods that are great for people with diabetes. These foods help to manage sugar levels in the blood, thus reducing the impact that diabetes has on the health of your loved one.
Fresh Vegetables
Vegetables are great for people with diabetes as they contain dietary fiber. This helps to improve digestion and metabolism. As a result, sugar levels in the blood do not spike and thus your loved one is spared the harm that comes with fluctuating sugar levels. Vegetables also have the added advantage of not having sugar and that helps in not spiking blood sugar levels as well after the meal.
Lean Proteins
Lean proteins are a great way to keep sugar levels at normal levels. Unlike carbohydrates, the process of breaking down proteins is slower. This means that energy from such a meal is released over a long time, ensuring that your loved one will not snack in between meals. The problem with simple carbohydrates is that they are digested very quickly. This leads to two problems, the first being that these simple carbs often spike sugar levels in the body. Even worse, however, hunger pangs return soon after the meal as the energy released is quickly expended by the body. This then leads to a situation where the individual has to eat more carbs in order to stave off hunger pangs.
Whole Grains
Just like vegetables, whole grains contain a lot of fiber, which helps to improve metabolism in the digestive tract. Whole grains are also digested slowly by the body and this helps in the slow release of energy over most of the day. This keeps your loved one feeling fuller for longer and thus less need to indulge in snacks.
Water
Although this is obvious, most people do not realize how effective water is at managing diabetes. For starters, water is the most effective thirst quencher as thirst is a signal by the body indicating that the individual is dehydrated. Rather than drinking fizzy drinks, taking the recommended amount of water every day will reduce the urge to take sugary drinks as the body will be fully hydrated. Water also helps in improving metabolism, which in turn means that you get to have higher levels of energy to work out or simply just live an active lifestyle. Having an active lifestyle minimizes the chances of obesity and thus diabetes.
When you come to Discovery Village At Dominion, you can be certain that we will be there for you every step of the way. We take pride in our community and the fact that it is a safe place for your loved ones to be. Our 24/7 assisted living and memory care programs are geared towards getting the most desirable health outcomes for your loved one. Give us a call today to learn more about our living community.
