Add These Foods and Supplements to Your Diabetes Diet

If you were recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, one of the first things your doctor is going to tell you is to adjust your diet. This, in combination with other treatments, will help you to manage your diabetes. Here are some foods and necessary supplements you will need.

Basic Guidelines For Type 2 Diabetes

First of all, you should know the general dietary guidelines for a type 2 diabetes diet. This includes eating lots of vegetables and fruits, whole grains, refined carbs only, beans, lean meat and poultry, fish, and low-fat or non-fat dairy products. This is a very basic diet that most people understand to be a healthier diet. You can make small changes that drastically reduce your risks for complications when you have diabetes.

Vegetables

Having more vegetables in your diet is super important, but try to stick more to the ones with no starch or low starch. Starchy veggies like white potatoes can lead to higher blood sugar levels, so try to avoid them. However, you can have plenty of other veggies like carrots, zucchini, squash, corn, green beans, leafy greens, and many others. Choose fresh or frozen veggies first, and only go with canned if there is nothing added, including no extra salt or sugar. 

Switching to Whole Grains

Another important aspect of your new diabetes diet is switching to whole grains. This means switching out all the white rice, pasta, breads, and crackers and having the whole grain version. This is great because you can still eat your sandwich at lunch, have pasta for dinner, and even eat cereal, you just want to make sure you go with the whole grain versions. Look for 100% whole grain bread, not just processed wheat bread. There is definitely a difference here. 

Get Your Nutrients

In addition to changing your diet, your doctor will recommend getting a certain amount of nutrients each day. You may need to take a multi-vitamin, in addition to taking other vitamins or supplements if you aren’t getting enough nutrients through food sources. Some of the popular ones include B complex vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, and vitamin K. Magnesium and chromium are some important minerals you also need to have each day. Ask your doctor if you need to take a supplement, or if you are getting enough through the foods you eat.
