About Flax, Salba, Hemp, Fenugreek, other seeds and more
People like me who have diabetes, and there are more being diagnosed daily at an increasing rate, quickly learn the major actions we must take to get our blood glucose levels under control, usually involving dietary changes and exercise, possibly including medications or insulin. It’s a full time process needing frequent monitoring, especially if glucose levels in the bloodstream are difficult to control.
Long time eating habits often require adjustment to a more appropriate diet by eliminating foods from our diabetic food list that are harmful and adding those that are beneficial.
Beyond the regular everyday dietary food list that provides our daily nutrition, there are a number of foods and vitamin supplements that might be considered as worth adding to the foods list because they are thought to have properties that can help in the efforts to control elevated glucose levels.
Most of those foods are almost without fat or salt, they are often plant based, unprocessed, fresh, and preferably grown without pesticides, although that is a different topic. Many plant foods are a good source of fiber. The American Diabetes Association recommends 20 to 35 grams of fiber daily for all adults and it’s unlikely that most of us are getting the maximum. Although fiber is a carbohydrate, it does not raise our blood glucose level and it is reported that up to 50 grams of fiber daily can improve glucose control for those people with type-2 diabetes.
So the comments on the individual foods listed on this site are to bring them to your attention, it cannot harm to learn of them and the properties claimed for them. Perhaps there are some, not currently part of your diet, you may wish to add to your diabetic food list. For myself, I do regularly include some of them, certainly flaxseed at two tablespoonfuls most days and cinnamon in the amount of half a teaspoon, both merged into my breakfast cereal. I have no way of being certain that it helps, but I usually adopt the attitude that they may be worth a try if they don’t taste unpleasant.
Chosen at random, the list of food items following, contributed as stand alone items by my correspondent HR., will introduce you to many that are cited in the diabetes literature as being beneficial in the control of blood glucose levels. You may wish to discuss them with your doctor or dietitian.
Whatever your methods to keep track of appropriate foods to meet your own tastes, an occasionally updated list of suitable diabetes food items can serve as a reminder once in a while.
You can find more general information on this link regarding Food Lists and related topics.
Some of the most frequently cited items that might help are:
Flax Seeds, Salba, Hemp Seeds, Fenugreek, Chia, Mulberry leaf etc., and there are several others.
Return to Introduction Page and Articles List