Having the Type 2 Diabetes doesn’t mean that you have to start eating special foods rigidly or follow a complicated diabetes diet plan. You can still enjoy the same foods as other family members so long as you know the food categories and proportions needed in your Type 2 Diabetes diet.

Simply put, a balanced healthy Type 2 Diabetes diet means eating the suggested amount of carbohydrate at each meal, along with some protein and fat.

Carbohydrate. Carbohydrates are one of the main food categories in a Type 2 Diabetes diet and have the most immediate effect on your blood glucose since carbohydrates are broken down directly into sugar early during digestion.

There are simple carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates are sugars like glucose, sucrose, lactose, and fructose that are found in refined sugar and in fruits while complex carbohydrates are the starches found in beans, nuts, vegetables, and whole grains.

Complex carbohydrates are considered healthier mostly because they are digested by the body slowly, providing a steady source of energy.

Eating more carbohydrates than your insulin supply can handle can cause your blood glucose level go up while eating too little can lead to the drop in your blood glucose level. So, to avoid these fluctuations, count your carbohydrate intake.

One carbohydrate serving is equal to 15 grams of carbohydrates. For adults, a typical plan generally includes three to four carbohydrates at each meal, and one to two carbohydrate servings as snacks.

By counting how much simple and complex carbohydrates, ie sugar and starch you eat daily, you can still eat what you want.

With carbohydrate counting, you can pick almost any food product off the shelf, read the label, and use the information about grams of carbohydrates to fit the food into your Type 2 Diabetes meal plan.

Fiber. Studies show that foods with fiber, such as fruits, vegetables, peas, beans, and whole-grain breads and cereals may help lower blood glucose.

The best way to increase fiber intake as part of your Type 2 Diabetes diet is to eat more fiber-rich foods such as fresh fruits, vegetables, cooked dried beans and peas, brown rice, and whole grain breads, cereals and crackers.

Fat. Eat lean meats including poultry, fish, and lean red meats. Bake, broil, grill, roast, or boil lean meats rather than fry them.

Select low-fat dairy products such as low-fat cheese, skim milk, and products made from skim milk such as nonfat yogurt, nonfat frozen yogurt, evaporated skim milk, and buttermilk.

Avoid eating excessive amounts of high fat foods like canned soups and vegetables, ham, hot dogs, cured meats, pickles, olives, fast food items, pre-packaged meal items and other processed foods.

For correct information on how to fit favorite foods into your Type 2 Diabetes diet plan, treat high and low blood sugars, plan your snacks, and read nutrition labels, make sure you pay a visit to a registered dietitian.