Articles
Diabetes prevention: 5 tips for taking control
1. Get more physical activity
2. Get plenty of fiber
3. Go for whole grains
4. Lose extra weight
5. Skip fad diets and just make healthier choices
Content
1. Lose extra weight
2. Be more physically active
3. Eat healthy plant foods
4. Eat healthy fats
5. Skip fad diets and make healthier choices
When to see your doctor
5. Skip fad diets and make healthier choices
Many fad diets — such as the glycemic index, paleo or keto diets — may help you lose weight. There is little research, however, about the long-term benefits of these diets or their benefit in preventing diabetes.
Your dietary goal should be to lose weight and then maintain a healthier weight moving forward. Healthy dietary decisions, therefore, need to include a strategy that you can maintain as a lifelong habit. Making healthy decisions that reflect some of your own preferences for food and traditions may be beneficial for you over time.
One simple strategy to help you make good food choices and eat appropriate portions sizes is to divide up your plate. These three divisions on your plate promote healthy eating:
- One-half: fruit and nonstarchy vegetables
- One-quarter: whole grains
- One-quarter: protein-rich foods, such as legumes, fish or lean meats
