Vitamins and Minerals

People with diabetes have the same requirements for vitamins and minerals as people without diabetes. If you are eating a variety of foods, rich in vegetables, fruits, cereals, and grains, then you are most likely getting all the vitamins and minerals you need.

The one exception may be the need for calcium to prevent osteoporosis. Large doses of micronutrients have not been shown to help diabetes or blood glucose levels. In fact, large doses of some vitamins can be harmful. If you think you may not be getting all the vitamins and minerals you need, check with your dietitian before you take any vitamin or herbal supplements. A few changes in your food choices may correct the nutritional deficiency.

If you are thinking about becoming pregnant or are pregnant, you have slightly different nutritional needs. You may need a prenatal vitamin or a multivitamin. Folate is generally recommended during pregnancy. Check with your dietitian or doctor about your needs.

Salt
Many people with diabetes, especially those with type 2 diabetes, may also have high blood pressure. High blood pressure can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. And for some people, too much dietary salt can increase blood pressure. So, if you tend to have high blood pressure, you may try reducing your salt intake.

But what does that mean? Just stop shaking table salt on your food? That's part of it, but it may sometimes be difficult to figure out where all the salt in your diet is coming from. Many foods contain salt or another ingredient high in sodium, the element in salt that affects blood pressure. Sometimes it's rather obvious, because the foods taste salty, such as pickles and bacon.

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But there can be hidden salt in many foods, such as cheeses, salad dressings, cold cuts, canned soups, and fast foods. Even some peanut butters contain added salt.

Take the salt shaker off the table, read labels to get an idea of salt or sodium content, and try other flavorings such as herbs and spices to make your food tastier. Remember, a little salt goes a long way.

"People with diabetes can't drink alcoholic beverages." Not true. If your blood glucose levels are on target, it is unlikely that an occasional alcoholic drink at mealtime will harm you. In fact, a recent study published in JAMA showed that light to moderate alcohol intake is associated with reduced risk of death due to coronary heart disease for people with type 2 diabetes. The key is to drink moderately. Moderate drinking is defined as no more than one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men.

One drink is 12 ounces of regular beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1 1/2 ounces of 80 proof distilled spirits. Remember these tips: