A Diabetic Diet focuses on controlling blood sugar levels

Type 2 diabetes is the more common form of diabetes. Left untreated, diabetes can lead to heart and kidney disease, foot infections, nerve damage and blindness, even death. That's why knowing whether or not you're at risk and getting screened for diabetes are so important. Early diagnosis and treatment can help slow the progress of the disease and prevent serious health problems later on.

What happens if you have type 2 diabetes?

Diabetes can't be cured. If you're diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, your doctor will work with you to develop a treatment plan, which includes a diabetic diet. The goal of the plan is to control your blood sugar levels. Some people will be able to control their diabetes with a healthy diet, weight loss and exercise. Other people will need to use medications.

How do you do a diabetic diet?

If you have diabetes, your doctor may recommend a healthy eating plan. The following may be part of this diabetic diet:

Eating foods that are low in saturated fat. Saturated fats are animal fats. These fats are found in meat and dairy products, such as milk, cheese, and ice cream. Saturated fat also is found in some cooking oils.
Eating foods that are low in carbohydrates.
Eating foods that are low in calories if you are overweight.

If you have diabetes, it's important to balance your insulin levels. You can use the glycemic index, which ranks foods by their ability to raise the insulin level. Depending on a food's glycemic index, you can determine how much or when you can eat a certain type of food.

How do you know if you have type 2 diabetes and a diabetic diet is right for you?

If you're at risk for type 2 diabetes-based on the risk factors above-it's a good idea to talk to your doctor. The symptoms of the disease develop gradually and they often go unnoticed in their earliest stages. Symptoms include:

excessive thirst.
frequent urination, especially at nighttime.
fatigue.
weight loss, even with increased appetite.
blurred vision, sudden loss of vision in either eye or seeing black spots.
frequent infections, especially vaginal yeast infections.
slow healing of sores.
tingling or numbness in your hands or feet.

How can you find out if you have type 2 diabetes?

Your doctor can diagnose type 2 diabetes with a fasting blood glucose test or an oral glucose tolerance test. These tests also can indicate pre-diabetes. Pre-diabetes is a condition that occurs when your blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diabetes diagnosis.

Can type 2 diabetes be prevented?

The key to preventing diabetes is living a healthy lifestyle. You can do this by following a diabetic food plan-eating a low-fat diet rich in fruits and vegetables, exercising for at least 30 minutes four times a week, and keeping your weight in a healthy range.

Should I start a diabetes diet?

Talk to your doctor about whether a diabetic diet is right for you and the treatment of your diabetes. Only your doctor can recommend the best diet plan for you.

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