All Together Better: Tips & tricks for nutrition while living with type 2 diabetes

Sandra Sobel, MD, Jen Caudle, DO, and dietitian Jennifer Rock discuss tips and tricks for nutrition while living with type 2 diabetes.

Transcript

00:00

You know, a huge part of managing and living with type 2 diabetes is, of course, diet and exercise, which we've talked about. But tell us what your starting points are for people

00:08

who are recently diagnosed. [UPBEAT MUSIC]

00:16

The first thing I have to do is clarify if they know what a carbohydrate is, because many people hear blood sugar

00:22

and they think, I don't eat any sweets at all, why do I have this problem? There are a couple of answers, including age.

00:29

The next thing I do is I educate them on the proportions of foods they should have on their plate. About 50% of your plate should be a high-fiber fruit

00:38

or vegetable. And then a quarter of your plate should be where your carbohydrates are. And then I emphasize protein based on their current weight.

00:48

Then I help them with reading their satiety cues, because a lot of people are disconnected

00:55

from whether they are full, and they'll just keep eating anyway. And then we move on to exercise goals on top of that. That would be, one day a week, we're gonna get them moving.

01:04

Then it becomes easier to build upon it. Working out one and then adding two-- that's a much easier road to increasing

01:11

their physical activity. Dr. Sobel, I'd love to just have you jump in. Are there any quick tips you offer your patients as an endocrinologist that might be beneficial for those

01:20

listening with type 2 diabetes? SANDRA SOBEL: Establishing a normal sleep wake cycle is essential because a lot of hormonal secretion

01:27

happens while we sleep. Hydration, movement, even going up your stairs after you eat and come down and up and down, or just take

01:35

a walk around the block. All of that can be really helpful, straightforward tips. Big changes can be intimidating,

01:43

even for people who don't have diabetes. What are some other tricks you have up your sleeve? I recommend quick, easy, pre-made items that they can get

01:51

at the store. When these things are easy and accessible, you are more likely to eat them. And that way, you don't run out of food and go get takeout.

01:59

You're not reinventing the wheel. You're just trying to piece together meals. [AUDIO LOGO]