Diabetes is a health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. When you eat, your body breaks down food into sugar and releases it into your bloodstream. Your pancreas releases insulin to help the sugar enter your body’s cells for energy. With diabetes, your body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or can’t use it effectively. This leads to high levels of sugar in your blood. Over time, this can cause serious health problems, such as heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease. While there is no cure for diabetes, making lifestyle changes can make a big difference. Losing weight, eating healthy, and staying active are important. Additionally, taking prescribed medication, getting diabetes education and support, and keeping regular healthcare appointments can also help manage the condition.

Different types of diabetes
Diabetes can be categorized into three main types: type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy).

Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is believed to occur due to an autoimmune reaction where the body mistakenly attacks itself. This reaction hinders the production of insulin in the body. Around 5–10% of individuals with diabetes have type 1. Type 1 diabetes can be diagnosed at any age, and symptoms tend to develop rapidly. If you have type 1 diabetes, you will require daily insulin intake for survival. Currently, there is no known method to prevent type 1 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes occurs when your body cannot effectively use insulin and maintain normal blood sugar levels. It is the most common type of diabetes, affecting about 90–95% of people with the condition. While it typically develops over many years and is commonly diagnosed in adults, it is increasingly being seen in children, teenagers, and young adults. Symptoms may not be noticeable, so it is important to get your blood sugar tested if you are at risk. Making healthy lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, eating nutritious food, and staying active, can help prevent or delay the beginning of type 2 diabetes.

Gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes develops in pregnant women who have never had diabetes before. It can pose risks to the health of both the mother and the baby. However, gestational diabetes usually disappears after childbirth. It does, however, increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. Additionally, babies born to mothers with gestational diabetes are more likely to experience obesity during childhood or adolescence and develop type 2 diabetes later in life.

What should you eat when you have diabetes?
Carbohydrate intake is important for people with diabetes because carbohydrates are the main source of energy for the body. They come in different forms, such as starches, sugars, and fiber, and are broken down into glucose in the body. Insulin helps transport glucose from the bloodstream to the cells for energy. However, in type 2 diabetes, the body struggles to remove glucose from the bloodstream, leading to high blood glucose levels. This can cause the pancreas to produce more insulin and eventually wear out. Maintaining a healthy meal plan is therefore crucial for managing your blood sugar levels. Monitoring your blood sugar and its response to your diet is essential. You have a variety of food options when living with diabetes, including fiber-rich foods, lean protein, fruits, healthy fats, and unsweetened drinks. Furthermore, restricting certain foods and beverages can assist in managing your condition and decreasing the chance of complications. These foods include added sugars, sugar-sweetened drinks, saturated fats, alcohol, and ultra-processed foods.

Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/diabetes.html
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods-to-avoid-with-diabetes#food-groups-to-avoid