Diabetes Newsletter - May 2020 Diabetes_ENews_MAY2020
MAY 2020
DIABETES ONE DAY AT A TIME
Inside this issue
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Insulin Safety Tips
Can Puzzles Help Diabetes?
Black Bean and Corn Salad
Calendar of Events
How to Read a Food Label
By Cathy Maurer, MS, RDN, LD
Since healthy eating is an important part of managing your diabetes, the information on the
front of the package and on the Nutrition Facts label can help you make better food choices.
Here are 5 tips for reading a food label:
� Look at the list of food ingredients located at the bottom of the Nutrition Facts label.
Look for heart- and diabetes-healthy ingredients such as whole grain oats, whole grain
corn, rye, whole-wheat flour, olive oil, and canola oil. Avoid hydrogenated or partially
hydrogenated oil. Remember the main ingredient is listed first. Other ingredients are listed
in descending amounts.
� Look at the serving size. Is this the amount you will be eating? The serving size does not
tell you how much to eat. The serving size tells you the amount to eat to get the vitamins,
minerals and nutrition that are listed on the label. If you eat more, know that you are
getting more carbohydrates and sugar than what’s listed.
� Look at total carbohydrates, not just sugar. The dietary fiber, total sugars and added
sugars are all part of the total carbohydrates. Total Carbohydrates, total sugars, and
added sugars can all increase your blood sugars if you eat too much. Added sugars
are sweeteners that are added to the product when it’s processed or packaged. Avoid
foods with a lot of added sugar. Work with a diabetes educator to determine your total
carbohydrate recommendations.
Ingredients: Whole Grain Oat Flour,
Whole Grain Wheat Flour, Brown Sugar,
Sugar, Malted Barley Extract, Molasses,
Salt, Tumeric, Annatto Extract
� Look at the amount of dietary fiber. Look for foods with 3 or more grams of fiber. Fiber
helps lower your blood cholesterol. It may help keep your blood sugar within normal range
and help with the digestion of other foods. It may also help keep you fuller longer, so you
don’t overeat.
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