Diabetes is a life-long disease in which your body cannot properly use food for energy.
Individuals with diabetes experience high levels of sugar in the blood. The disease can be caused by too little insulin (a hormone produced by the pancreas to regulate blood sugar), resistance to insulin or both. Diabetes—particularly Type 2 and childhood diabetes—is on the rise. This complicated, yet manageable disease often is associated with higher rates of infections and hospitalizations for unrelated illnesses and surgeries. It also can affect pregnancies, cardiovascular health and everyday lifestyles for you or your family.
For people with diabetes, keeping blood glucose as close to normal as possible is the best way to avoid or delay complications of the disease. Preventing these health complications requires not only medications and an ongoing relationship with a healthcare provider, but also day-to-day self management.
Diet is a big part of controlling diabetes. But can you really enjoy what you eat and manage your diabetes successfully? Absolutely—better health doesn’t have to be bland!
Fill Up on Fiber
Dietary fiber is the indigestible portion of plant foods. Fiber-containing foods include all fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds. The benefits of a high fiber diet are many. These benefits include:
- Stabilizes blood sugar
- Improves cholesterol
- Helps with feeling of fullness
- Improves blood pressure
- Improves digestive health
- Reduces risk of certain cancers
Good sources of fiber include:
- Fruits and vegetables
- Breads, crackers, cereals and pastas made with whole grains, such as, whole wheat, whole rye, corn, barley, oatmeal, brown rice, bulgur, amaranth, buckwheat and quinoa
- Beans such as kidney, black, navy and lima, chickpeas, split peas, lentils; hummus
- Snacks such as nuts, seeds, popcorn, edamame and toasted soybeans
It is recommended that most adults consume 25 grams of dietary fiber each day. Check the Nutrition Facts on the label for fiber content. Look for foods with at least three or more grams of fiber per serving. Make sure you drink plenty of fluids, 6-8 cups per day.
Sample High Fiber Menus
Breakfast Fiber Grams Breakfast Fiber Grams
1/3 cup Fiber One® cereal 12 1 cup cooked oatmeal 6
1 medium banana 3 ¼ cup raisins 3
1 cup milk 0 1 cup milk 0
Lunch Lunch
2 slices whole wheat bread 4 2 cups lentil soup 3
2 ounces turkey 0 1 whole wheat roll 3
1 teaspoon mayonnaise 0 1 teaspoon margarine 0
3 slices tomato 1 1 medium apple 4
1 small pear 3 water 0
1 cup milk 0
Dinner Dinner
4 ounces fish 0 4 ounces chicken breast 0
1 medium baked potato 4 1 cup corn 6
1 tablespoon sour cream 0 ½ cup green beans 2
½ cup steamed broccoli 3 1 cup strawberries 3
¼ cantaloupe 2 1 cup milk 0
water 0
PinnacleHealth System was the first diabetes program in Pennsylvania and one of only 20 nationwide to attain The Joint Commission award for its disease-specific care certification for Advanced Inpatient Diabetes management.
Through education classes, support groups and programs dedicated to all forms of diabetes, as well as established guidelines for administering insulin, PinnacleHealth is helping patients with diabetes improve their health.
PinnacleHealth’s team of physicians, nurses and educators work together to offer specialized education programs addressing areas such as diet, exercise, monitoring bloods sugars and the importance of taking medications.
PinnacleHealth also offers programs specially designed for unique ethnic groups, such as African-Americans, Hispanics and Vietnamese. Diabetes educators develop culture-specific educational materials to help improve diabetic care and decrease emergency visits and hospital admissions rates.
For more information and resources about controlling diabetes, visit pinnaclehealth.org or call the PHoneLine at (717) 231-8900.
SIDEBAR
Could you have diabetes?
Below are some common warning signs:
- Thirst
- Excessive urination
- Extreme fatigue
- Blurred vision
- Delayed healing of wounds
- Skin infections
- Impotence
- A change in weight
If you notice any of these symptoms, discuss them with your family doctor.
