There are 21 million Americans with diabetes – and nearly one-third of them (or 5.2 million people) do not know it. Diabetes exists in three forms: Type 1 - insulin dependent, Type 2 - non insulin dependent and gestational diabetes. The rate of Type 2 diabetes has more than tripled in the last 30 years, due to the growing number of people with obesity.
Diabetes is a serious disease, but the good news is that diabetes can be prevented. Nutrition plays an important role in the prevention of this disease. Studies show that people who eat breakfast on a daily basis are less likely to develop diabetes. Be sure to eat every 4-5 hours and not skip meals to maintain steady blood glucose levels. Also choose foods high in fiber (foods containing 3 or more grams of fiber per serving – see sample high fiber food below) instead of the refined starches and foods high in sugar. Eating sugar will not directly cause diabetes, but eating a diet high in calories will put you at increased risk. Limit calories from sugar to less than 10% of your daily total calories.
By losing a modest amount of weight, and by getting 30 minutes of physical activity 5 days a week and eating healthier, people with pre-diabetes can delay or prevent the onset of the disease.
Next week I will cover the new treatment guidelines for healthy eating with diabetes.
Rebecca
