Diabetes and Meal Planning

A healthy diet that provides the nutrients your body needs in sufficient amounts helps to control and may even prevent diabetes. Blood sugar can be controlled successfully if you maintain an optimal weight, pay attention to what you eat, and consider how much you eat. This may eliminate the need for medication to control diabetes. A healthy diet includes a variety of food groups, especially grain products, vegetables and fruits. Less than 30% of calories should come from fat. Candy, desserts, sweetened drinks, salt and alcohol should be consumed only in moderation. Do not skip meals, but eat regularly and pay attention to portion sizes. Refrain from smoking. The Food Guide Pyramid created by the US Department of Agriculture contains valuable information to help you plan a healthy diet.