Type 2 Diabetes - Healthy Vegetarian Eating to Lower Blood Sugar

Are you a vegetarian who's recently been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes? Or, are you living with Type 2 diabetes and wondering if you can still follow a vegetarian diet? Either way, it can help to learn more about how a vegetarian eating plan can fit into your meal plan to help manage your blood sugar levels.There are different types of vegetarian diets. Most of them exclude meat, fish, and poultry but still include dairy products and eggs. This is called a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet, and is the most common type of vegetarian diet. There are also pescatarians who eat fish but not meat or poultry. Though not covered in this article, there are also vegans, who avoid any animal products including dairy, eggs and other animal products such as gelatin.Besides not eating meat, the balance of a vegetarian diet is up to you. Since there are many different options you could eat in the other food groups, the diet can be as healthy or unhealthy as you make it. For example, if you eat lots of simple sugars - things like...

candy,

pastries, and

white bread,
you could be a vegetarian with an unhealthy eating plan.But if you eat plenty of whole grains, legumes, seeds, nuts, fruits, and vegetables, your diet could be very healthy. As a Type 2 diabetic on a vegetarian diet, these are the food types you'll want to focus on. You can fit them into whichever meal planning method you use, whether it's the plate method, carb counting, or glycemic index.


The biggest challenge for new vegetarians will probably be finding alternatives for animal foods - and trying to get enough protein each day. Talk to your dietitian about how much protein you should take-in daily. You may need about...

46 grams a day for women, and

56 grams a day for men.
Foods you could eat with high amounts of protein include...

dairy products like cottage cheese and Greek yogurt.

eggs are also high in protein.

nuts and nut butters, like peanut butter or almonds, are high in protein as well.
And don't forget about seeds such as pumpkin seeds, and grains like quinoa. Beans are also a great choice, as are soy foods like soy milk.Remember to spread out your protein intake throughout the day. Try to include a high protein food at every meal. This will help you stay full and keep your blood sugar level stable. With a little planning, you can eat a healthy vegetarian eating plan that will also help manage your blood sugar levels.