One of the most effective ways to control blood sugar is with a diabetic diet, also called medial nutrition therapy (MNT) for diabetes. The basis of the diabetic diet is to eat moderate amounts of healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains. The goal is to maximize nutrition while reducing unhealthy additives like sugar and salt.

To help you develop a diabetic diet plan you can follow, your health care provider might refer you to a registered dietitian. Together, you?ll create a menu made up of foods high in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. The foods you choose should be low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, and added sugar and sodium.

Because certain foods, particularly carbohydrates, can raise your blood sugar more than others, your plan might include carbohydrate counting. Your dietitian will help you determine how many grams of carbohydrates you should eat with each meal. How many carbohydrates you eat depends on the severity of your diabetes, what medicine you take to control your blood sugar, and how active you are. You?ll read food labels and follow nutrition guides to ensure that you get the right amount of carbs with each meal.

As part of your diabetic diet, you may also follow the glycemic index. Foods that are higher on the glycemic index will raise your blood sugar level more than foods lower on the index. Starchy foods like pasta and crackers have a high glycemic index (70 or above), compared to non-starchy vegetables, which have a low glycemic index (55 or less).

Sticking with a diabetic diet long-term will help you lose weight and manage your disease more effectively. A diabetic diet also lowers cholesterol, and reduces your risk for other health conditions, including heart disease.