Living with a chronic health condition like diabetes is tedious. This condition is characterized by the body’s inability to produce enough of the hormone insulin or properly use the insulin it produces. People with diabetes often experience a sudden spurt or decline in their blood sugar levels, which can often have unpleasant consequences. So, to ensure that the blood sugar levels don’t go haywire, diabetes patients are advised to pay more attention to foods that help manage diabetes. It’s also equally important to avoid foods that can worsen the condition.

Herein, we take a look at some of the best healthy foods that help in managing diabetes.

1. Leafy green vegetables
It’s no secret that leafy green vegetables are a powerhouse of nutrients and contribute to keeping you healthy. It is an excellent choice for people with diabetes since these are extremely nutritious and low in calories. Kale and spinach are good sources of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, which is instrumental in reducing inflammatory markers and blood sugar levels. In addition to these benefits, leafy green vegetables are rich in antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin that play a vital role in protecting your eyes from macular degeneration and cataracts, which are often caused by diabetes.

2. Fatty fish
Regarded as one of the healthiest foods, fatty fish like salmon, herring, sardines, anchovies, and mackerel help manage diabetes. Moreover, it is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA, which promote heart health. These foods contain essential fats that are beneficial for people with diabetes since they are susceptible to heart diseases and strokes. These fatty acids are instrumental in protecting the line of blood vessels, reducing inflammatory markers, and even improve the way the arteries function after eating. Fish are also great sources of high-quality proteins that will keep you satiated and increase your metabolic rate.

3. Eggs
Eggs are one of the quintessential healthy foods that have amazing health benefits. These are known to reduce inflammation, improve insulin sensitivity, increase the levels of “good” HDL cholesterol, and even modify the size and shape of the “bad” LDL cholesterol. In fact, the regular consumption of eggs can help in reducing the risk of heart disease and keeps you full for hours. You can consider adding eggs as a part of your high-protein diet and even improve blood sugar levels. Also, eggs contain the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin that protect your eyes from the damage caused by diabetes.

4. Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a delicious spice and is one of the best foods to help manage diabetes. It is one of the spices with potent antioxidant activity and is known to lower blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity. People with type 2 diabetes benefit from this spice the most. Long-term diabetes is determined by measuring hemoglobin A1c that reflects your average blood sugar level, and patients who consumed cinnamon displayed a steady decline in hemoglobin A1c.

It is essential to maintain a healthy diet to keep your blood sugar under control. A healthy diet coupled with regular exercise can help you in keeping diabetes under control. The foods mentioned herein will help not only manage diabetes but also live a healthy life in general.