### Good Foods for Diabetes - **Vegetables**: Fill half your plate with veggies to increase dietary fiber, which helps regulate blood sugar. - **Healthy Fats**: Include sources like avocados, nuts, fish, and olive oil. These fats have a low glycemic load and can help you feel fuller longer. - **High-Quality Carbohydrates**: Opt for whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. These complex carbs are digested slowly, helping to maintain stable blood sugar levels. - **Protein Snacks**: Keep high-protein snacks like nuts handy to avoid unhealthy fast food or junk food. ### Foods to Avoid or Limit - **Simple Sugars**: Limit foods high in simple sugars as they can cause rapid spikes in blood sugar levels. - **Unhealthy Fats**: Avoid foods high in saturated fats and trans fats, which can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. - **Sugar-Free Labels**: Be cautious with sugar-free products as they may still contain high calories, carbohydrates, and fats. ### Additional Tips - **Regular Blood Sugar Monitoring**: Check your blood sugar several times a day to understand how different foods and activities affect your levels. - **Balanced Meals**: Eat balanced meals every three to five hours and avoid skipping meals, especially breakfast. - **Food Journaling**: Keep a food diary to track what you eat and identify patterns that may affect your blood sugar. - **Avoid Extreme Diets**: Diets like Paleo may exclude important food groups that are beneficial for diabetes management. By following these guidelines, you can create a balanced diet that helps manage your diabetes effectively.