November is American Diabetes Month®, a time to raise awareness of the disease and how to prevent or manage it so as to live a healthy and longer life.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the next four decades, the number of U.S. adults with diabetes is estimated to double or triple, which means that anywhere from 20 to 33 percent of adults could have the disease. Currently, 1 in 9 adults have diabetes.
With so many people living with diabetes, it’s important to understand ways to lower the risk of health complications and, ideally, prevent the disease. A key measure in diabetes management and prevention is through healthy meal planning. PriMed Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator Lisa Bishop encourages people living with diabetes to improve health with healthy food choices in addition to taking other measures such as engaging in physical activity and not smoking.
“People living with diabetes know that it can be a challenge to choose a wide variety of healthy foods that they enjoy but, with a little help, it is possible,” said Lisa. “Nutritional counseling addresses a person’s nutritional needs and medical concerns such as diabetes, while taking into consideration a person’s lifestyle and cultural preferences.”
Lisa says that eating a variety of foods provides a balanced and nutritious diet, which helps to maintain health as well as manage diabetes and help prevent other medical conditions such as cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Lisa recommends the following healthy food choices:
- Breads: Joseph’s or other low carbohydrate wraps and pitas, Deli Flats and 100 calorie bagel thins
- Deli: Hummus and low fat cheese such as Cabot 75% or other reduced fat cheese
- Fresh Produce: Choose from all color groups to get a wide variety of nutrients; focus on non-starchy vegetables such as cauliflower and spinach
- Meat/Fish: Ground beef 90% lean, turkey and chicken breast-skinless, pork tenderloin and fish high in omega 3 fatty acids such as lake trout, sardines, tuna and mackerel
- Dairy: Unsweetened plain Greek yogurt or “light” yogurt, low fat milk, sugar-free pudding
- Condiments: Salsa, reduced-sodium soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, light mayonnaise, and unsweetened applesauce.
To make an appointment with Lisa, please call PriMed’s Nutritional Counseling office at 203-427-8192. Please note that this number will change after December 1 to 203-371-7048.
For more information on American Diabetes Awareness month, visit www.diabetes.org.
