All diets should use fat in moderation as
it can lead to an unhealthy body weight and heart disease. For a diabetic, controlling fat intake is vital
for the previous reason in addition to the negative effect it can have on blood
sugars. Fats can be put into many different
categories – healthy, non-healthy, saturated, non-saturated, trans-fat, and
more. But the bottom line with any of
kind of fat is to enjoy in moderation.
As you eat food that is high in fat (for instance
cheeseburger), your short-term blood glucose reading may come back as
fine. But since fat acts much like protein
and it slows down the digestion of carbohydrates you might notice a higher than
normal blood sugar many hours later. It’s
hard to scheme for such a spike because it's quite delayed compared to other
foods that are eaten that raise blood sugar.
The most desirable advice is to choose
natural, healthy, unsaturated fats and oils whenever possible. You can do this by reading your food labels
carefully as the alternative kinds of fats are listed on most food labels. Excessive fat intake will also cause you to
gain weight and that is another way blood sugars can spiral out of control. Extra body weight that you carry around is
taxing on your system and will affect how your body uses and needs insulin.
Healthy fat choices include:
* Black or green olives
* Peanuts and peanut butter (this doubles as a protein choice)
* Sesame seeds
* Avocado – oil or the fruit itself
* Sesame, olive, or canola oil
Additional fat choices that should be used in moderation:
* Butter or margarine
* Mayonnaise
* Pumpkin and sunflower seeds
* Walnuts
* Salad dressings