Plan diet well to avoid worsening diabetes

Control animal protein intake and steer clear of sweetened drinks as they can spike your blood sugar levels, says an expert.

Medical nutrition consultant Kalpana Gupta Shekhawat suggests what to include in and exclude from your diet:

* Moderate carbohydrate reduction: Based on studies, it is observed in various clinical trials that people who eat low carbohydrate diet had better glycemic control and lipid profiles than those who followed a low fat approach.

* Avoid sugar sweetened drinks: Sugar sweetened beverages increase the risk of diabetes and likely worsen the disease. Whether the drinks are sweetened with sucrose, high fructose corn syrup, or fruit juice concentrates, they should be avoided.

* Consume less animal proteins: Increased protein intake has been associated with elevated risk of type 2 diabetes, but the risk appears to be attributed only to animal proteins. Vegetable protein does not appear to confer additional risk. Increase consumption of lentils, pulses, beans, soya, chia and other whole grains, onions and leafy green vegetables, walnuts and other nuts.

* Dietary supplements: Vitamin D, Chromium, Alfa Lipoic Acid, Omega 3 Fatty Acids, Magnesium, Benfotiamine, Vitamin K, L Carnitine, all have extensive role to play in managing diabetes.