Your food choices play an essential role in managing diabetes as they make a significant impact on your blood glucose levels. By making thoughtful dietary decisions you can help keep your blood sugar within a healthy range and effectively manage your diabetes.
At Sentara, our diabetes care and education specialists bring a wealth of experience to help our patients create healthy meal plans that focus on healthy whole foods with nutrients that help stabilize blood glucose levels. Sentara offers diabetes education and individual appointments for our patients. Working together, we can help you or your loved one make smart choices when managing diabetes.
What can you eat when you have diabetes?
Our diabetes care and education specialists can help you create a new nutrition plan to help keep your blood glucose in check. You may have an individual consult or sign up for diabetes group education classes. Healthy eating, along with physical activity and any diabetes medication, if prescribed, will be the formula for managing your diabetes successfully.
You don’t have to give up all your favorite foods. Eating in moderation is the key. We recommend a variety of healthy foods from all good groups, including:
- Fruits
- Healthy fats – Olive oil; nuts and seeds; heart-healthy fish and avocados
- Nonfat or low-fat dairy
- Non-starchy vegetables, such as broccoli, spinach and green beans
- Starchy vegetables such as sweet potatoes, corn or beans
- Protein
- Whole food instead of highly processed foods
- Whole grains
How can we support you with diabetes?
Our diabetes care and education specialists assist those just diagnosed with the disease and others who have been managing it for years.
We cover topics such as:
- Advanced carbohydrate counseling
- Blood glucose monitoring
- Exercise
- Insulin and medications
- Healthy eating
- Healthy living with diabetes
- Insulin and medications
- Insulin pump therapy
- Medical nutrition therapy
Some of our patients are considered prediabetic. In these cases, their primary care manager will refer them so we can make changes with the goal that they can avoid diabetes.
To schedule your diabetes nutrition management appointment, please visit our Diabetes Locations page to find a location in our community where this support is available. Your health insurance will require a physician referral.
Diabetes medical nutrition therapy
Sentara offers Diabetes Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT), a type of treatment that provides an evidence-based approach to help you achieve successful management of diabetes. MNT requires a separate referral form from your healthcare provider.
Our registered dietitians offer a personalized meal plan that includes your health goals, lifestyle and preferences. The meal plan is based on the principles of balanced nutrition, portion control and carbohydrate counting. It may also involve adjusting the timing and frequency of meals and snacks.
The goal of diabetes MNT is to achieve and maintain glycemic control, promote optimal nutrition and health, and prevent or manage complications, such as cardiovascular disease, neuropathy and nephropathy. In addition to dietary modifications, MNT may also involve education about physical activity, medication management and self-monitoring of blood glucose levels.
To schedule Medical Nutrition Therapy, please visit our Diabetes Locations page to find a location in our community where this support is available. Please speak with your provider before registering for one of our classes or an appointment with our nutritionists. Your health insurance will require a physician referral.
Pregnancy and gestational diabetes
Every year between 2 and 10 percent of women are diagnosed with gestational diabetes. During pregnancy, changes within the body cause an increased need for insulin.
Gestational diabetes can increase your risk of high blood pressure during pregnancy. Your baby may be very large – 9 pounds or more, making delivery more challenging.
If you’re diagnosed with gestational diabetes, our diabetes care and education specialists will work with you to modify your diet during your pregnancy to help control blood sugar levels.
Learn more about gestational diabetes.