When a person has diabetes, their body makes little or no insulin and is then forced to take insulin or a medication, such as glucophage. Type 2 diabetes usually can be found within adults after age 30, as well as in people who have family members that have diabetes or if the individual is inactive and overweight. Diabetes can occur at anytime when a person is overweight and not exercising enough.

When a person is successful in controlling their diabetes, it means they are trying to keep their blood sugar levels are a normal range. They should do this by consuming nutritious foods, as well as practice good eating habits. They should also maintain a regular exercise schedule because it plays an important role in keeping sugar levels under control.

If you are aware of the proper way to satisfy your nutritional needs, then you will learn great ways to follow a proper diet and still have a good meal. There is no official diet to follow when you are a diabetic, but there are simple suggestions that may or may not work for you, depending on your personal and nutritional needs. The relationship between dieting and diabetes is adhering to a diet that is good for you is essential when you wish to manage your diabetes. A good way to find your nutritional balance is to work closely with your physician, dietician or nutritionist.

Diet Tips for Diabetics

1) The number of calories from fat should be less than 30% of the total number of calories you eat per day.

2) Choose food items that are low in saturated fats and cholesterol. This can be found in skinless poultry, fish, fresh vegetables and fruit.

3) Avoid red meats, eggs and whole-milk dairy products.

4) 10-20% of your daily calories should come from proteins. This can be found in lean meat, fish and low-fat dairy products.

5) 55% of your diet should consist of carbohydrates, such as whole grains, beans, and fresh fruits and vegetables. You should know that complex carbohydrates provide more nutritional value than vitamins, minerals and fiber than simple carbohydrates.

6) Diabetes should diligently keep an eye on their weight. When a diabetic is overweight, it makes controlling blood sugar levels more difficult. If you are overweight, a lose of 10 to 20 pounds can result in improvements with your diabetes.

For more information about diabetes, maintaining a healthy diet, as well as recipe suggestions, you may want to consider checking out one of the following publications 

The First Year Type 2 Diabetes: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed by Gretchen Becker

American Diabetes Association Complete Guide to Diabetes : The Ultimate Home Reference from the Diabetes Experts by The American Diabetes Association

Conquering Diabetes : A Cutting-Edge, Comprehensive Program for Prevention and Treatment  by Anne Peters

Betty Crocker's Diabetes Cookbook: Everyday Meals, Easy as 1-2-3 by Betty Crocker Editors

Fix-It and Forget-It Diabetic Cookbook : Slow-Cooker Favorites to Include Everyone! by Phyllis Good