Healthy Eating is Important for Diabetes Management and Blood Glucose Control
While healthy eating is key to keeping blood sugars within target range, it's also one of the most difficult parts of diabetes management. Our diabetes educators and behavioral health specialists are available to help!
- A dietitian or nutritionist will help you create a meal plan to support personal goals & health needs
- In addition to achieving your target weight, healthy eating also helps to manage blood sugars
- Develop positive habits by eating less foods that are not good for your body & more foods that are
- Balance nutrition & taste with portion control
Diabetes and Nutrition Information
Learn how carbohydrates, proteins and fats affect blood sugar
UMass Diabetes Healthy Food Guide
This booklet will help you to make healthy eating choices
Introduction to Carbohydrate Counting
Carb counting helps people with type 1 & type 2 diabetes keep blood sugars within target range
View Healthy Low-Carb Options
Sample Menu: 30-45 g of Carbs
Sample Menu: 45-60 g of Carbs
Healthy Snack Ideas
Diabetes Nutrition Videos
Portion Control is Key
Reading Food Labels
Meal Planning & Food Diary
Making Healthy Choices at Restaurants
The Ideal Way to Fill Your 9 Inch Plate
Non-starchy vegetables and salad should fill ½ of your plate
Vegetables are a wonderful source of vitamins and nutrients. Choose fresh or steamed veggies, because fried vegetables don't contain high nutritional value.
Protein should fill ¼ of your plate
Good sources of protein include lean meats (such as skinless chicken), fish & seafood, low-fat or fat-free cheeses, eggs, tofu and no-sugar-added peanut butter.
OK sources of protein include beef, lamb and pork.
Avoid fried chicken, sausages, cheeseburgers, pizza, regular bacon and regular cheeses.
* Protein portions should be no larger than the size of a deck of cards.
* Sauces such as barbeque, teriyaki and others contain carbohydrates and are also high in sugar.
Grains and starchy vegetables should fill ¼ of your plate
Whenever possible, choose higher fiber, whole-grain or whole-wheat breads and pastas instead of white breads and pastas. Brown rice is a healthier choice than white rice. Other good starches include old fashioned & steel cut oats, quinoa, artichoke, sweet potatoes & yams, potatoes, corn, squash and pumpkin.
OK carbs include granola bars, corn chips, pumpernickel or oat bread.
Avoid bagels, french fries, tortillas or wraps, corn bread, muffins, pancakes and couscous. Sweetened breads and pastries are not healthy choices, and you should only eat them occasionally.
Beverages
Choose drinks that are low in sugar or sugar-free as a way to help control your blood glucose (blood sugar). Avoid orange juice, apple juice, cranberry juice or boxed juices.
* Be aware that milk and all fruit juices (even 100% juice) contain carbohydrates.
MONTHLY DIABETES EDUCATION GROUP WORKSHOPS
Heart Healthy Meal Planning
Changing what and how much you eat can make a big difference in your blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol levels. This workshop will help you to identify good vs bad fats, read nutrition labels and more.
Basic Carbohydrate Counting
This workshop provides tools for counting carbs and examples to help you plan consistent carbohydrate meals. It will also help you make educated healthy eating choices in a variety of settings.
Advanced Carbohydrate Counting
Learn to match insulin doses to carbohydrate intake and blood glucose levels. This workshop will help you get the most out of your carb ratios and sensitivity factors.
Join Our Diabetes Education Workshops
These monthly workshops are offered at the Ambulatory Care Center on the University Campus of UMass Memorial Hospital. Ask your care team or diabetes educator for a referral.
For more information email cheryl.barry@umassmemorial.org or call (508) 334-3206.