What Can Diabetics Eat?

Living with diabetes can be quite a transition for many but a transition is crucial if you’ve been diagnosed with this disease. Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects the body’s ability to produce enough insulin or use the insulin sufficiently.

Diabetes is an epidemic in the United States (US). It is currently the seventh leading cause of death in the US. Furthermore, diabetes is even more prevalent in the Black community. There is not a cure for diabetes, so people manage it using insulin or medication.

Quiz: Am I Managing My Diabetes Well?

Three Types of Diabetes

The three main types of diabetes are type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes, which occurs during pregnancy.

With type 1 diabetes, young adults, teens, and children are usually diagnosed and insulin is needed daily for survival because the body stops making insulin.

With type 2 diabetes, adults are usually diagnosed as it tends to develop over time. The body, in this case, does not use insulin as well as it should, and blood sugar levels are not normal. There are medications available to assist in managing it.

With gestational diabetes, women who have never had diabetes develop it during pregnancy, which puts the baby at a higher risk for health issues. Usually, this type of diabetes goes away once the baby is born but the risk of type 2 diabetes developing later in life for both the mother and the child is higher as well.

People with diabetes tend to worry about their diets and the foods that can or cannot be consumed. With type 2 diabetes, in particular, a change in lifestyle and what you eat can make a difference in managing it.