Healthy Diabetic Meals

Diabetes is a chronic health condition affecting millions of people each year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “More than 37 million US adults have diabetes . . . In the last 20 years, the number of adults diagnosed with diabetes has more than doubled.” Diet plays a critical role in managing the symptoms and side effects of diabetes. LifeSpring Home Nutrition provides diabetes-friendly foods to vulnerable populations, ensuring individuals diagnosed with diabetes have access to nutritious diabetic meals.

How Does Diabetes Affect Health?

Untreated or unmanaged diabetes may lead to significant health issues. According to the Office of Health Disease and Prevention, “Poorly controlled or untreated diabetes can lead to leg or foot amputations, vision loss, and kidney damage. But interventions to help people manage diabetes can help reduce the risk of complications.”

People with diabetes have a higher risk of developing the following health issues:

• Heart disease, heart attack, or stroke
• Kidney disease
• Nerve damage
• Substance use and mental health disorders

People with unmanaged diabetes often experience a decreased quality of life. Eating nutritious meals, regularly exercising, and staying hydrated are the best ways to avoid serious health side effects. Hydration is especially important for individuals with diabetes. Even mild dehydration can cause a severe spike in blood sugar levels. Many healthy foods, including fruits and vegetables, have a lot of moisture, adding to a person’s daily water intake.

The Importance of Proper Nutrition and Balanced Meals

Multiple types of diabetes affect people’s lives. The most common forms are diabetes I, diabetes II, and gestational diabetes. All three conditions affect how the body produces or processes the hormone insulin. Insulin influences how much glucose (a type of sugar) is in the blood. Unmanaged diabetes makes it difficult for the body to effectively balance blood sugar levels. Each disorder has slightly different symptoms and side effects, requiring unique approaches to diet and health.

Individuals with these common forms of diabetes may experience various issues related to insulin. Below are brief descriptions of each form of diabetes:

• Diabetes I: The body does not produce its own insulin
• Diabetes II: The body does not make insulin and has difficulty using any insulin it absorbs
• Gestational Diabetes: The body cannot make enough insulin during pregnancy

Most people manage diabetes through diet, exercise, and medications. Eating diabetic meals provided by LifeSpring Home Nutrition ensures people have consistent access to meals with diabetic-friendly ingredients. The healthy eating plans emphasize a wide variety of non-starchy vegetables, whole grains, and healthy sources of protein such as legumes, fish, seafood, low-fat or non-fat dairy, lean meat, and poultry. During the cooking process, less sugar is added to meals for diabetic individuals.

What Foods Should People With Diabetes Avoid?

The exact ingredients and meals people should avoid depend on multiple factors, including any co-occurring health issues. However, typically, people with diabetes benefit from avoiding the following:

• Carbohydrates
• Processed and ultra-processed foods
• Added sugars
• Refined grains

Whole foods are essential in a healthy diabetic diet. LifeSpring Home Nutrition uses whole foods to create delicious dishes that avoid excessive starches, carbohydrates, and processed sugars.

The Benefits of Diabetic Meals

Diabetic meals help people manage their condition while allowing them to enjoy a meal that leaves them feeling satisfied. Food for individuals with diabetes can improve many other co-occurring health issues.

Some of the primary benefits of eating a diabetic diet include:

• Achieving the correct blood fat levels
• Easier time managing blood glucose levels
• Reduced the risk of health complications related to diabetes and related issues
• Decreased the risk of obesity
• Reduced blood pressure

People who eat a diabetic diet have overall better health compared to the general public.

Examples of Healthy Diabetic Meals

Healthy diabetic meals focus on whole foods and reduce added sugars. According to MedlinePlus, “Eating the right foods for diabetes means eating a variety of healthy foods from all the food groups:

• Fruits and vegetables
• Whole grains, such as whole wheat, brown rice, barley, quinoa, and oats
• Proteins, such as lean meats, chicken, turkey, fish, eggs, nuts, beans, lentils, and tofu
• Nonfat or low-fat dairy, such as milk, yogurt, and cheese.”

People following a diabetes-friendly diet benefit from having a registered dietician assess their health needs and provide them with a comprehensive meal plan. LifeSpring Home Nutrition works with a registered dietician (RD) to ensure people receiving weekly deliveries get the food they need to manage their diabetes successfully.

Diabetic Meals at LifeSpring Home Nutrition

The diabetic-friendly meals at LifeSpring Home Nutrition include:

• Breakfast foods like croissant, bacon, and egg sandwiches
• Pot roast with red potatoes, gravy, and sliced carrots
• Prime rib, mashed potatoes, and green beans
• Southwest-seasoned chicken strips served with roasted potatoes, cheddar cheese, corn, and black beans

LifeSpring Home Nutrition goes above and beyond to ensure people have access to meal plans accommodating special dietary needs, including diabetic meals, without sacrificing taste and variety. According to Cathleen Anthony, M.B.A., owner of LifeSpring Home Nutrition, “With one-on-one dietitian care, nutritional education, and home-delivered Medically Tailored Meals, we can achieve and improve many of our population’s health significantly. As a company, we believe in offering the dignity of choice.” People living in Southern California have access to these dietician-monitored meal plans.

People diagnosed with diabetes benefit from a balanced diet low in processed foods and added sugars. LifeSpring Home Nutrition tailors meals to the needs of each person by creating delicious meals of whole foods and nutrient-rich ingredients. To learn more about our services and how you can benefit, call us today at (800) 798-5767.