Those who have type 2 diabetes are at a higher risk of having different chronic health problems like high blood pressure, kidney disease, and heart disease. That is why doctors recommend patients with this condition to go on a strict diet. By doing so, the patients can be safe from developing any other health conditions in addition to their type 2 diabetes.
What is Type 2 Diabetes?
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Having type 2 diabetes means you have trouble with regards to having enough sugar in your body’s cells. Sugar (glucose) is essential for your body to function properly. This is because it gives your body fuel or energy to perform your daily tasks.
With this health problem, your body either resists insulin or doesn’t produce enough insulin for you to have normal glucose levels. This condition used to be called adult-onset diabetes. However, more children are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes over time.
Type 2 diabetes has no cure. But eating well, losing weight, and exercising can help you manage this condition. If these are not enough, you may need some insulin therapy or diabetes medications to add to your diabetes routine.
Recommended Foods for People with Type 2 Diabetes
The following are the recommended foods you should consume if you have type 2 diabetes:
Healthy Carbohydrates
It is best to include healthy carbohydrates in your diet. This is because starches and sugar break down into blood glucose, helping you manage your health problem. Below are the healthy carbohydrates your body might need:
- Vegetables
- Fruits
- Legumes (like peas and beans)
- Whole grains
- Low-fat dairy products (like cheese and milk)
Fiber-Rich Foods
Fiber can help you control your blood sugar levels. Foods that are high in fiber are the following:
- Vegetables
- Fruits
- Nuts
- Whole grains
- Legumes (like peas and beans)
Heart-Healthy Fish
Eating fish at least twice a week can be good for your body. Fish like salmon, tuna, sardines, and mackerel may help prevent you from developing heart disease. However, you’ll need to avoid consuming fried fish and fish with high mercury levels like king mackerel.
Good Fats
Fats with polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats may help you lower your cholesterol levels. The good fats include:
- Nuts
- Avocados
- Canola, peanut oils, and olive
Foods People with Type 2 Diabetes Should Avoid
Below are the foods you should avoid if you have type 2 diabetes:
Saturated fats
- Butter
- Beef
- Bacon
- Sausage
- Hot dogs
Trans fats
- Processed snacks
- Shortening and stick margarine
- Baked goods
Cholesterol
It is best to consume cholesterol no more than 200 milligrams per day.
- High-fat dairy products
- High-fat animal proteins
- Liver and other organ meats
- Egg yolks
Sodium
It is best to consume less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day. Also, your doctor might recommend less than that if you have high blood pressure.
Save Money on Your Diabetes Medications
Dealing with diabetes requires a lot of effort and is costly. The following are some tips you can do to save money on your diabetes medications:
Consider Generic Drugs
Not all medications have a generic equivalent. However, it is essential to know that brand name drugs and generics have the same active ingredients. This means they also have the same therapeutic effects on your body.
Generic drugs are known to be cheaper. That is why you can save a lot of money on them compared to the brand name ones. Furthermore, you can ask your doctor to write a generic equivalent on the prescription if there is one.
Use Discount Coupons
It is wise to seek out reliable discount coupons on the internet. You can see a lot of them for different diabetes medications, such as a Jardiance discount card or other diabetes prescription discount cards. This can really help you lower the cost of your meds.
Talk to Your Healthcare Providers
You can communicate with your healthcare provider so that they can help you with ways to save money on your meds. It would also help if you let your pharmacist and physician know that you opt to get generics and lower copay when possible.
Consider Patient Assistance Programs
Patient assistance programs can help you get lower prices on your medications. Most of the time, they can even provide you free ones. Moreover, you can search for patient assistance programs on the internet for you to avail.
Ask for free Medication Samples
Doctors tend to receive samples from manufacturers. You can ask your doctor if there are any samples you can get for free. That way, you can use your money for other essentials.
Shop Around
Pharmacies tend to have different prescription drug rates. You can choose to shop around and compare prices to know which ones offer the cheapest. Furthermore, it is vital to know that pharmacies vary their rates based on the volume of prescriptions and locations.
Takeaway
It is important to watch what you eat when you have type 2 diabetes. Hence, it is best to know what is good to eat and what needs to be avoided to manage your condition. Furthermore, since insulin and other diabetes medication rates are rising, it is wise to find ways to save money on them.