A common misconception about diabetes is that once you develop the disease, you will suffer with it for the rest of your life. This is unfortunately true for those that have type 1 diabetes, which is an autoimmune disease where the body is unable to produce insulin. Until a cure is found, they will rely on insulin. However, roughly 95% of people with diabetes have type 2! During the creation of our diabetes guide, we learned that those with type 2 diabetes can reduce, or eliminate, their dependency on insulin. The key to this involves making lifestyle changes that promote weight loss.
One of the easiest things one can do to lose weight is incorporate power foods into your diet. Power foods are those that have the highest amount of nutrients with the fewest calories. While power foods provide immense health benefits, this doesn’t mean that a person with diabetes can eat as much of them as they want. The key is moderation and substituting them for foods that are not as healthy. Instead of opting for a bag of chips or cookies for a snack, grab a piece of fruit. The Cleveland Clinic considers the following fruits power foods:
- Apples
- Apricots
- Bananas
- Berries
- Cantaloupe
- Citrus fruit
- Kiwi
- Papaya
- Peaches
The best fruits to have are fresh, whole fruits instead of previously frozen or juice forms. It’s very easy to fit 3 servings of fruit a day into your diet. It’s also easy to fit vegetables into your diet as well. They make for a great snack or side dish. If you are going to make a conscious effort to incorporate more power veggies into your meals and snacks, try to include: asparagus, bell peppers, broccoli, carrots, onions, spinach, potatoes, and tomatoes. They provide the most nutrients in their raw, natural forms.
Incorporating power foods into your diet is just the start for type 2 diabetics in their mission to reduce, or eliminating insulin dependency. This info graphic provides shocking statistics that should motivate those with type 2 diabetes to start changing their unhealthy habits today.