How to Manage Blood Sugar Without Giving up Carbs

For a new diabetic, learning to manage blood sugar is often intimidating. Internalizing all sorts of new information and implementing major dietary changes can be overwhelming. Attempting to make too many changes at once can lead to apathy and giving up. Fortunately, however, most patients can gradually implement small changes to eating habits to make a big difference in blood sugar management. By taking baby steps and allowing for a period of adjustment, anyone can work toward a significant improvement in blood glucose levels without feeling deprived or overwhelmed.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Blood glucose monitoring supplies
• Customized eating plan

1. Develop a customized eating plan in conjunction with a doctor, dietitian and/or diabetes educator. This plan should break down intake by calories, fats and carbohydrates (carbs). It should also be accompanied by a list of foods which may help manage blood sugar levels.
2. Plan meals ahead of time to fit within the eating plan’s guidelines. Measure servings and portions to ensure compliance with the plan. Don’t be discouraged if some meals don’t fit entirely in the plan early on.
3. Reduce simple carbs by reducing sugars. Cut soda intake by half and substitute water for the other half. Ready to use drink mixes, made without sugar, can be added to water for flavor. Try not to rely too heavily on artificial sweeteners, however.
4. Substitute whole grain pastas and breads. Whole wheat pasta may be closest in taste and texture to conventional pastas and noodles. Check labels on whole grain breads to verify fiber content. Try several different varieties and allow time for adjusting to the changes.
5. Increase fruit and vegetable consumption. Wash fruits with edible peels and eat whole. Fiber is sometimes concentrated in the peels and eating fruit without them can lead to imbalanced sugar/fiber intake.
6. Carefully manage water and caffeine consumption. Glucose metabolism requires extra fluids and caffeine can disrupt blood sugar levels. Gradually reduce caffeine consumption while increasing while consumption.

Tips & Warnings

• Combining regular exercise with diet modification will help manage blood sugar levels. Consult a physician before starting any exercise regimen.
• When increasing dietary fiber, do so gradually. Without time to acclimate to increased fiber intake, discomforts including cramps and bloating may occur.
• Never attempt to stop eating carbs. They are essential to balanced nutrition. Instead, aim to increase consumption of complex carbohydrates while remaining within the guidelines of the eating plan.
• Never skip meals in order to eat more later. Smaller, more frequent meals increase metabolism and contribute to proper blood sugar management.