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One of the biggest problems that I had when I was first diagnosed with diabetes was "What should I eat?". It's a question that I struggled with, as I am sure that most of you do as well. It's tough to make sure that your diet is "diabetes friendly", let alone economical and delicious. I believe that I answered that void here in our new cookbook: A 7 Day Meal Plan with Diabetes.

Here, you'll find a weeks worth of recipes, tips, and lists of healthy, delicious, and easy to make recipes that your whole family will love. These are my core recipes; the ones I make day in and day out, so I know that they're good. It is my sincere hope that you love them as much as we do.

Another great thing about our meal plan is that you'll find full nutritional data for each recipe included. We make it an easy, fun and yummy week! I can't wait for you to try it.

For some, changing your diet can be one of the most difficult processes you will face while controlling our diabetes. The good new is there is not one specific type of diabetes diet. You have a variety of ways to practice healthy diabetic eating and still enjoy the food you eat.

Being committed to healthier eating and controlling your blood sugar begins in your mind. Just like the old saying goes, "If you think you can, you can. If you think you can't, you can't. There is much truth to that statement. You must make up your mind to take control. If you don't take control of your diabetes the consequences could be brutal and even life threatening.

For me, just thinking about the complications caused by poor diabetes control is enough to motivate me to choose healthy nutrition for diabetes. Blindness, heart disease, kidney failure, and amputations are all primary complications of diabetes. The sad part is that if a person just makes the conscious decision to eat a healthy diet and get regular exercise, the number of these complications could be drastically reduced. Avoiding these horrible complications takes daily management...not just an occasional thought of diabetes control. Eating to control your diabetes rewards you with a much healthier body, and thus allows you to live your life as you choose rather than as your diabetes and health allows.

Understanding Healthy Food Choices

Eating a health diet for diabetes doesn't require a specific type diabetes diet. Today there is not one set diabetic diet. You'll find more than one way to control your food intake to help you control your diabetes. Eating healthy for diabetes involves portion control, and balancing your intake of each of the three main food categories, carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Of the three main food categories, carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, carbohydrates have the most impact on your blood sugar levels.

Good nutrition for diabetes begins with a basic understanding of how what you are eating affects your diabetes and your blood sugar ranges. Balancing food with your activity levels and your diabetes medications or insulin will help you get your blood sugars closer to a normal range blood sugar. Of the three main food categories, carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, carbohydrates have the most impact on your blood sugar levels.

In general eating no more than 45 to 60 carbohydrates per meal is recommended. Try to stay away from processed foods and refined carbohydrates. These foods don't contain the same vital phytonutrients as fresh fruits and vegetables. Processed foods and refined carbohydrates can also cause a spike in blood sugars, making them more difficult to control. Portion control is vital to healthy eating for diabetes. Watching serving size and not overeating will help to control blood sugar as well as help to manage weight.

Learn more about diabetes and nutrition.

Avoid Diabetes Complications

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