7 diet tips for managing type 2 diabetes

Adjusting your diet for any reason, including type 2 diabetes, is never easy. Use these tips to increase your chance of success.

If you've been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes or have been told your blood sugar levels are putting you at risk, you've probably been advised that you should change the way you eat. Of course, if your blood sugar level is too high, the foods you like to eat might not be the ones you should be eating.

You'll need a strategy: a way of changing not just what you put into your mouth, but how you feel about it. For most of us, food provides pleasure. It's something that we eat because it makes us feel good, and we like it. Here are some things to think about when you're forced to make the change to a healthier diet to manage Type 2 diabetes.

Drastic overnight changes aren't likely to last, so prepare to make changes over time. Switch to one or two healthier foods each week, and see if you can build on those choices.

When taking a portion of food, try to take a little less than usual. Instead of half a pound of potato salad, try a quarter-pound. Instead of two spoonfuls of mashed potatoes, take one.

Eat about the same amount at the same time each day, and try to make allowances for special occasions. When you're going out for dinner, have only a minimal lunch that day, like a piece of fruit and a small amount of nuts.

At a restaurant, always start with a salad. And wait, if you can, until you've nearly finished your salad before ordering your main course. Eating a salad first should cut your hunger for a high-calorie choice.

Enjoy a juicy steak by cutting it into small pieces and chewing it thoroughly. Take your time, and you won't miss those side dishes, like fried potatoes, that cause the real harm.

Nuts or whole-wheat crackers are a good healthy snack choice. They're just enough to take the edge off hunger.

Instead of purchasing a half-gallon carton of ice cream, buy a single small cup. Buy a package of individual cones or bars if you're sure you'll be able to resist eating more than one. Buying ice cream is more expensive that way, and that's the point. Binge eating should be expensive and inconvenient.

All of these diet tips for managing type 2 diabetes require a certain amount of awareness, but that's what will help you stick to your plan. If you fail, don't worry about it. Just pick up where you left off, and keep at it!