Lifestyle Changes
A simple heart-healthy diet with weight control and exercise may be sufficient for some people with type 2 diabetes. Some patients may be able to control their blood sugar with lifestyle measures and not need medication. Even for patients who do need to take drugs, lifestyle plays an essential role in controlling diabetes. Lifestyle changes can be difficult to initiate and sustain, however. Patients should surround themselves with a solid network of doctors, dietitians, family, and friends who understand both their condition and their needs.
Heart-Healthy Diet
Although there are many major dietary approaches for protecting health, experts generally agree on the following recommendations for heart protection:
- Choose fiber-rich food (whole grains, legumes, nuts) as the main source of carbohydrates, along with a high intake of fresh fruits and vegetables. Walnuts in particular have cholesterol-lowering properties and are a good source of antioxidants and alpha-linolenic acid.
- Avoid saturated fats (found mostly in animal products) and trans fatty acids (found in hydrogenated fats and many commercial products and fast foods). Choose unsaturated fats (particularly omega-3 fatty acids found in vegetable and fish oils).
- In selecting proteins, choose soy protein, poultry, and fish over meat. A 2006 study found that soy does not help improve cholesterol. However, experts still recommend it as a heart healthy food choice.
- Weight control, quitting smoking, and exercise are essential companions of any diet program.
[For detailed information, see In-Depth Report #43: Heart-healthy diet.]
Diabetes Diet
There is no such thing as a single diabetes diet. Patients should meet with a professional dietitian to plan an individualized diet within the general guidelines that takes into consideration their own health needs.
Healthy eating habits along with good control of blood glucose are the basic goals, and several good dietary methods are available to meet them. General dietary guidelines for diabetes recommend:
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