Three Ways Healthy Eating Can Help You Manage Diabetes

If you have diabetes, one of the first things your primary care doctor may tell you is to make some changes to your diet. While this step is super important, you may be wondering, just how important is it that you make these changes? Is it really going to make a difference? The short answer is: yes! A healthy diet is one of the best ways to keep your diabetes under control so you can live your best life for as long as possible. Read on to learn the top three ways healthy eating can help you manage your diabetes.

1. Fruits + Veggies Improve Insulin Levels

Making the right dietary changes can reduce your overall insulin resistance. Nutrients like magnesium, calcium, fiber, and potassium are essential vitamins that can help you maintain your blood sugar levels, and things like fried and fast foods don’t have them. Some examples of foods that can help with this are dark leafy greens, tomatoes, and citrus fruits.

Our director of nutrition services Kathy Taylor, explains why incorporating these healthy foods is so important.

“What we eat is the number one determinant of how long we live,” said Kathy. “Increasing vegetables and fruits in the diet and moving away from processed and animal-based foods with higher saturated fats, sodium and calories can help decrease weight and improve insulin sensitivity as well as decrease blood pressure.”

2. You’ll Be Happier with Your Quality of Life

When we eat the wrong foods, we often end up feeling tired and groggy. You may notice that unhealthy foods will even impact your mood and how you think. This is because the quick spike in your blood sugar when you eat these foods also ends up causing a drop too. When your blood sugar drops too low, you’ll often end up feeling cranky and maybe even end up even hungrier than you were before.

Always remember that the right foods will leave you feeling light and energized! You’ll have more energy to get back to doing the things you love and be more alert throughout the day.

3. Helps You Avoid Serious Complications

Fried, fast, and junk foods are all high in fat (and not the good kind). When we eat them too much, serious problems can arise. Not only will this negatively impact your blood sugar levels, but you will also be at risk for vascular issues like heart attacks and strokes.

At Grady, our team focuses on providing our patients with the right tools and education to avoid these experiences and keep them healthy.

“We know that fat is really the cause of type 2 diabetes compromising muscle cells to the point where they can no longer use the insulin produced by the pancreas,” said Kathy. “Lowering fat intake improves blood sugar and blood pressure, and that’s exactly what we are seeing in our patients.”

At Grady, our Food As Medicine Program makes it easier for patients to eat healthily and get the guidance they need to successfully manage illnesses and decrease the risk of major organ diseases. Through partnerships with Open Hand Atlanta and the Atlanta Community Food Bank, you gain access to educational cooking classes, locally grown produce, and fresh meals on the go. So far, we’ve helped nearly 600 patients regain control over their health one meal at a time.

Get the Care You Need

Ready to take the next step for a healthier life? Grady can help.  If you need a primary care physician, give us a call at (404) 616-1000. We’ll arrange an appointment at a Primary Care Center near you. Doctors there can treat most conditions and provide access to Grady’s unparalleled medical specialty expertise.