A good diet is an essential part of managing diabetes. Meals and snacks play a big role in determining an individual’s glucose (blood sugar) levels. The meal choices patients make are crucial to keeping blood glucose from spiking too high or falling too low.

Patients can work with physicians and dietitians to create a meal plan that is well-balanced and that offers a variety of food choices. The right meal plan can help patients:

• Prevent hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia
• Lower blood pressure
• Control cholesterol
• Achieve a healthy weight and avoid obesity

People with diabetes who achieve these goals are likely to reduce the odds of suffering health problems related to high blood glucose and diabetes, including:

• High blood pressure, atherosclerosis and heart conditions
  
• Diabetic neuropathy
  
• Diabetic nephropathy
  
• Eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma
  
• Diabetic coma
  

A diet plan can also help patients to keep an optimal weight, which can increase the body’s ability to use insulin more effectively. Even a modest weight loss of 8 or 10 pounds can pay big dividends when attempting to manage glucose. The American College of Preventative Medicine states that efforts to prevent diabetes can be significantly enhanced by planning a diet adequate in complex carbohydrates (including fiber-rich whole grains, fruits and vegetables), moderate in protein and total fat, and restricted in saturated fat and trans fat.

Patients can greatly enhance the benefits of a well-balanced diet by adding an exercise regimen to their treatment routine, as approved by their physician. In some cases of type 2 diabetes, a combination of diet and exercise alone can allow patients to control their diabetes. In other cases, diet and exercise are an important adjunct to insulin therapy or antidiabetic agents.