10 Best Foods to Control Diabetes and Lower Blood Sugar

Currently, there is no effective treatment for type 1 or type 2 diabetes, or any other type of diabetes, as determined by the latest research. Sometimes the diabetic has elevated blood sugar because of lack of insulin, or the human body fails to generate enough insulin to enable the tissues to absorb the sugar for energy production.

Even many women suffer from gestational diabetes during pregnancy when there is not enough insulin to check the increase in sugar level.

The most vital factor that lies with diabetes management is selecting the appropriate foods that can keep sugar spikes under control.

List of 10 foods that will help in diabetes management and stabilizing blood sugar

Consuming unsweetened curd or yogurt can help strengthen the gut and manage the excess fats deposited in the body.  The bacteria existing in the curd will not let the unhealthy fats be deposited in the body and increase sugar levels. Its natural protein will enable muscle development and control any further craving for food.

Based on what you like, you can make and add methi leaves, yogurt salad raita, or any other green leaf combined with salt and spices and whisked curd. To improve the flavor and provide your body with vitamins and minerals, you can top it with pomegranate seeds and mint leaves.

2. Jamun and all types of berries

Any nutritionist would suggest eating a bowl of jamuns directly during this summer and rainy season or preparing powder from dried jamun seeds and consuming it with water in the fasting condition to deal with rising blood sugar.

It will help further in cleansing your blood and improving the quality of your skin. You can also have different types of berries available as per the season to regulate your sugar levels. It may be cherries, strawberries, and raspberries for effective sugar management. These berries have a glycemic index below 40 which can delay an increase in sugar levels.

3. Beans, legumes, seeds and pulses

Your appetite will be under control if you eat small amounts of beans, legumes, pulses, seeds, and nuts every day, following a 2-hour fast. Given the considerable fiber, protein, vitamin, and mineral content, these foods will delay the conversion of carbs to sugar.

The monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats found in these foods help regulate weight gain, support muscular growth, and increase energy levels. You can eat cashews, almonds, and peanuts to gain healthy monounsaturated fats and flaxseeds, walnuts, chia seeds, and sunflower seeds to enhance your Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids levels to control inflammatory heart conditions and weak immune system.

4. Karela and other bitter vegetables

You can have Bitter Melon or Karela, Neem and Bathua leaves in your regular lunch diet to keep a check on your increasing sugar levels in the post-meal conditions. Their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties will protect liver health, activate the beta cells of the Pancreas to increase insulin production, increase the hemoglobin level, regulate circulatory health, and promote weight management.

Ayush 82 Aadved tablets have ingredients like Karela beeja, which is blended with Jamun beeja and Amra Beeja.  It is an effective ayurvedic medicine for diabetes type 1 and type 2. It activates the beta cells to produce insulin and helps the cells to absorb sugar for energy production.

5. Dates

Combined with peanut butter and sprinkled cinnamon powder, you can snack on dates in the evening or the morning in the form of breakfast. Contrasting with other dry fruits, dates are low in glycemic index. Dates will help in recovery from your stress and lost energy levels and protect from sweet tooth or tooth decay and cravings for sweet dishes and sugar.

6. Sugar-Free beverages

Instances of sugar-free beverages are Aam Panna, Bael Sherbet, and Cucumber Lime water. These beverages can be easily prepared at home with black salt and roasted cumin powder and the number of glasses of water depends on the quantity of consumption. 

You can combine all the ingredients as per the recipe of your choice and add ice cubes to refresh your mind and body and nourish with nutrients like Vitamin C, B-complex, and essential minerals like magnesium, calcium, and potassium and have control over your sugar elevation.

7. Steel-cut oats

Doctors always recommend eating steel-cut oats which are high in fiber with a glycemic index of 53. This variety of unprocessed oats will not cause a rise in sugar but rather slow down the process of digestion and bring relief from constipation. It will not let the cholesterol levels rise and thereby boost healthy heart conditions.  Blending with broccoli, cabbages, green peas, and any other green leafy vegetable will improve the taste and add nutritional value to your body.

8. Mushrooms

Including mushrooms in the main meal will never make you feel bored. From a variety of mushrooms which are Portobello, Cremini, Shitake, and many more, you can expect a decrease in sugar levels.  Eating mushrooms will restore the dormant beta cells of the pancreas which will aid in insulin production. It’s Vitamin B and Polysaccharides will improve your eye vision and control the cholesterol level.

9. Onions

It is one of the best foods for diabetes, a non-starchy vegetable that you can simply trust to manage your rising sugar levels. Either you can eat it raw in the form of salad blended with cucumber, celery seeds, lettuce, raw cabbage, and coriander leaves to make it delicious, improve insulin sensitivity, and cleanse your blood. This specific low-carb diet will slow down the release of sugar or glucose into the bloodstream and enable effective weight management.

10. Millets

Compared to high glycemic wheat flour and rice, Millets are a reliable source of diet enriched with gluten-free fiber preferable for diabetic patients. To suit the taste of any diabetic individual and manage sugar levels, a variety of recipes are there.

You can prepare poha or upma using Millet grains by blending with curry leaves, mustard seeds, and green leafy veggies, or prepare Missi roti or Dosha using Millet flour.

Conclusion

Diabetes either type 1 or type 2 is indeed an incurable condition to date as per the studies done by the medical science.  However, it can be successfully managed with low glycemic index cereals, fruits, and vegetables.  One can still make such low glycemic index food items delicious by using different spices and black salt which help in increasing insulin sensitivity and managing weight naturally without suffering from any side effects.