Diabetes is a serious medical condition wherein the blood sugar or glucose levels are higher than usual. It can lead to disastrous results if not diagnosed in time. Food and lifestyle are two things that can help manage the effects of diabetes. Having control over your eating habits can go a long way with the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes. Let’s find out about different food items that prove helpful for diabetics.

Your diet plan should aim to include healthy carbohydrates and proteins as they will give the patient enough strength to manage the effects of diabetes. Certain food items can help ease the symptoms of diabetes, while come can worsen the condition. You can also consult a nutritionist for better understanding.

The following list of items should be included in a diet plan for diabetics:

1. Raw, cooked, or steamed vegetables

Vegetables are a major source of vitamins and minerals in our body. They also give the required amount of carbohydrates in the body. Having the right kind of veggies will help in the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes. However, some vegetables are high in carbs and should be avoided. Choose healthy, low-carb options like onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, brussels sprouts, eggplant, zucchini, and more. You could make your meal interesting by adding a tasty dip to the vegetables such as salsa, hummus with varied seasonings like rosemary, pepper, or garlic.

2. Greens

Try something more than the regular salad by adding spinach, kale, and chard. These are healthy, low-carb options. You can make crunchy, tasty chips with roasted kale leaves. Add some green veggies to it for texture and flavor. You could serve it with some protein with salmon. Green vegetables will not only help in the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes but also the general overall well-being of the body.

3. Low-calorie drinks

Apart from vegetables, you can also have a decent intake of low-calorie drinks. Make sure you consume low-fat milk, black coffee, and unsweetened tea. You can also make a detox drink by adding a piece of lemon or cucumber to regular water. Avoid alcoholic drinks completely as it can meddle with the treatment of diabetes.

4. Melons or berries

Pack in some nutrients and fiber into your meal with a cup of melons or berries. You could do your mix and add them to plain yogurt. This might be an unheard recipe, but it sure helps in the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes. Make sure you avoid high sugar fruits.

5. High-fiber, low-grain food

Fill your tummy with good calories from high-fiber foods like legumes, peas, beans, and lentils. Make it delicious with black bean and corn salsa in the vegetables. This will satisfy the flavor quotient in your diet.

6. Healthy fats

A lot of people have a misnomer that consuming fats are unhealthy for the overall wellbeing of the body. In fact, fats are an integral part of any diet and needs to be included in some form, but you can make a healthy choice even here and use it for the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes. Include olive oil, avocado and fatty fish in your diet. You can also add vegetables of your choice.

7. Proteins

Add in some good protein options like cottage cheese, greek yogurt, cheese, eggs, and lean meats to your diet. This will give you the energy needed to pull through the day.

After the diagnosis of diabetes, treating the condition is not a challenging task. Having a well-balanced diet with carbohydrates, fats, and proteins in your diet will help keep your blood glucose on point. Avoid saturated and trans fats as they might complicate your situation.