Diabetes
Diabetes significantly increases your risk for heart disease. In fact, seventy percent of diabetes deaths are due to heart disease.
The increase in risk is greater in women than in men. Pre-menopausal women usually have a much lower risk of heart disease than men their age. In women with diabetes, that advantage is entirely lost.
If you have diabetes, it is important to live a heart healthy lifestyle.
Keeping Your Blood Sugar Levels Healthy
- Take your medications as prescribed
- Learn about managing diabetes by attending a Diabetes Education Program (see below)
- Monitor and keep track of your blood sugar
- Target: blood sugar before meals between 4 and 6 mmol/L
- Target: blood sugar two hours after meals below 10 mmol/L
- Follow the Heart Healthy Nutrition Plan
- Be active every day and follow your Physical Activity Plan
- Achieve and maintain a healthy body weight
- Visit your family doctor or diabetes specialist regularly
It's natural to have questions about what food to eat. A registered dietitian can help personalize your meal plan. If you have diabetes and are taking insulin, speak with your family doctor. You may need to see an endocrinologist (a doctor specializing in diabetes).
Additional Meal Planning Tips
- Eat three meals at regular intervals each day.
- Space your main meals no more than 6 hours apart. You may benefit from a healthy snack. A snack should be at least two hours after a meal.
- Eat breakfast.
- Limit sugars and sweets, such as soft drinks, fruit drinks, desserts, candy, jam, syrup, and honey.
- If you are thirsty, drink water or sugar-free drinks. Drinking soft drinks, sweetened drinks, or fruit juices will raise your blood sugar level. If you have a condition requiring fluid restriction, follow your personalized recommendations.
- Have portion sizes that will help you reach or maintain a healthy body weight. See information on Weight Management.
Community Diabetes Education Programs
A number of diabetes education programs (pdf) are available in communities throughout the Champlain District.
You can also contact Diabetes Ontario.
