What Can You Eat If You Have Diabetes?

1. You can't have dessert if you have diabetes? a. true b. false If you have diabetes, don't worry that you'll never taste your favorite ice cream or pie again. You can still have desserts, but save them for special occasions and only have a small scoop or a thin slice. Sugar is a type of carbohydrate, and carbohydrates make your blood sugar go up more and faster than protein of fat. If you have diabetes, you'll need to track your carbs. If you crave something sweet, have a piece of fruit. 2. When you have diabetes, snacking is a good idea. a. true b. false Knowing when to eat and what to snack on can help keep your blood sugar at healthy levels. The best snacks combine carbohydrates, protein and fat to satisfy your hunger. Other good choices include a piece of fruit, half a turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread or a few cups of low-fat microwave popcorn. 3. You should eat a lot of this if you have diabetes? a. Natural sugars. b. Added sugars. c. Fiber. Fiber is a carbohydrate like sugars and starches. But because your body doesn't digest fiber, ti doesn't affect your blood sugar. Foods high in fiber also help make you feel full. Get your fiber by eating plenty of fruits. And be sure to keep the skin on fruits and veggies; that's where most of the fiber is. One cup of raw spinach has about 5 grams of fiber. One slice of whole wheat bread has 3. All women need at least 25 grams of fiber a day; men should get at least 38 grams a day. 4. It's OK to skip a meal so you can eat a really big meal later. a. true b. false If you have diabetes, it's important that you eat regularly to keep your blood sugar levels steady. If you miss a meal, your blood sugar level drops too low, you may feel shaky, nauseous, or dizzy. Your blood sugar can also spike after a big meal. Spacing out your meals -- and how many carbohydrates you eat -- will make your diabetes easier to control. During the day, try to eat meals every four to five hours and have snacks in between. 5. Besides carbs, you should watch your: a. Calcium. b. Salt. c. Vitamin D. People with diabetes have a bigger ris of having high blood pressure, which can cause heart disease. Too much salt can make your blood pressure high, and most people get way more salt than they need. To cut down on salt, eat fewer canned and processed foods . Use herbs and spices to flavor your food. If you want a snack, choose a piece of fruit or some vegetables instead of salty chips or pretzels. Limit your salt intake to 2,300 milligrams at most. That's less than 2 teaspoon, but salt adds up quickly, even if you don't sprinkle it on your meal. 6. If you want to eat a potato, choose a: a. White potato. b. Sweet potato. c. Either. People with diabetes don't need to give up carbs, but they do need to pick healthy carbs over unhealthy ones like white bread and pastries. Both white and sweet potatoes are good sources of vitamins, potassium, and fiber. But sweet potatoes have an advantage: they don't raise blood sugar as much as white potatoes. 7. You can eat as much sugar-free as you want. a. true b. false Sugar-free isn't the same as carbohydrate-free or calorie-free. While some sugar substitutes don't have carbohydrates, many do. And some sugar-free food can affect your blood sugar as much as foods with sugar. How can you tell? Check the food label to see how many grams of carbohydrates are in each serving. Foods made with "sugar alcohols" like sorbitol are high on carbohydrates and can give you stomachaches or diarrhea if you eat a lot of them. 8. What should you eat if your blood sugar is high? a. Your regular meal. b. Nothing. c. Only salad. If you feel OK but your blood sugar is higher than normal, eat your regular meals and take your medicines at the usual times. Try drinking several glasses of water and moving around more. Check and record your blood sugar every four hours until it is back to normal. Call your doctor if you are concerned about it or have unusual symptoms. Also call if your blood sugar keeps going up. Source: www.webmd.com/diabetes/rm-quiz-diabetes-and-food.