People with type 1 diabetes<\/a> have insulin deficiency, not insulin resistance. Insulin deficiency means that your pancreas doesn\u2019t make enough (if any) insulin to promote healthy blood sugar levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the other hand, the most common cause of type 2 diabetes<\/a> is insulin resistance. Unlike type 1 diabetes which has fewer known risk factors, the risk factors for developing insulin resistance include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have insulin resistance<\/a> or don\u2019t make enough insulin, your healthcare provider may recommend that you take injectable insulin. Injectable insulin is meant to mimic your body\u2019s production of insulin and helps lower blood glucose levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n People with type 1 diabetes need to inject insulin because they don\u2019t produce enough on their own. All other diabetes medications<\/a> besides insulin are geared towards people with type 2 diabetes and aren\u2019t effective in treating type 1 diabetes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your blood sugar levels haven\u2019t been well-controlled on other medications, you may be a good candidate for taking insulin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Taking insulin doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019ve failed to manage your diabetes. It means that your pancreas can\u2019t make enough insulin anymore and needs some help from injectable insulin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having a hemoglobin A1c of 9% or greater is often an indicator that you probably need insulin. It\u2019s best to keep your A1c below 7%, indicating good blood sugar control. With an A1c over 9%, you\u2019re more likely to suffer from diabetes complications<\/a> like kidney disease<\/a>, heart disease<\/a>, neuropathy<\/a>, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might also need insulin medication if you can\u2019t take other medications to treat type 2 diabetes. For instance, certain diabetes medications aren\u2019t suitable to take if you have kidney disease because your body can\u2019t clear the medication from your body as quickly. Metformin<\/a> is one example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your diet affects how insulin impacts your blood sugar level. For example, if you inject insulin and then don\u2019t eat for hours, you\u2019re more likely to have low blood sugar<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you eat a high-carbohydrate diet, you\u2019re less likely to have low blood sugar after injecting insulin since the carbohydrates raise blood sugar levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re prescribed insulin, your blood sugar levels are too high without it. An insulin diet should be similar to other healthy diets for people with diabetes to promote healthy blood sugar levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the biggest influencers on blood sugar in your diet is carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are in fruits, vegetables (especially starchy vegetables like potatoes and corn), fruit, grains, milk, yogurt, and any food with added sugar like honey, table sugar, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Carbohydrates are broken down into glucose (sugar) when they\u2019re digested. Foods like protein and fats don\u2019t raise blood sugar levels like carbohydrates, but they can impact how quickly carbohydrates turn into blood sugar. Eating protein and\/or fat with moderate amounts of carbohydrates slows down the release of sugar into your bloodstream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have insulin resistance, eating a diet rich in refined carbohydrate foods and added sugar causes your body to try to release more insulin to compensate for the rise in blood sugar. Higher insulin levels can make weight loss more difficult and can lead to pancreatic burnout\/insulin deficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An insulin diet is no different from other healthy eating habits for managing diabetes<\/a>. An insulin diet promotes healthy blood sugar levels while avoiding both high and low blood sugar. Moreover, an insulin diet may also promote weight loss which can improve insulin sensitivity<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Grains are a type of carbohydrate, but they fall under the \u201chealthy carbohydrate\u201d category. Whole grains are rich in fiber, a type of carbohydrate that doesn\u2019t raise your blood sugar level. The higher the fiber content, the less impact the food will have on your blood glucose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A few examples of whole grains are oatmeal, brown rice, whole wheat bread, bulgur, barley<\/a>, and whole-wheat pasta. Whole grains are also richer in protein than refined grains like white rice and white bread.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most vegetables are low carbohydrate and rich in fiber, so they don\u2019t raise blood glucose levels significantly. Vegetables are also a great source of vitamins<\/a> and minerals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n An insulin diet should include plenty of non-starchy vegetables such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Nuts<\/a> are a good source of healthy unsaturated fats as well as protein. Fat and protein don\u2019t raise blood sugar as carbohydrates do. You should aim to eat protein with all meals and snacks on an insulin diet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Animal products are rich in protein and free of carbohydrates. Eating protein with carbohydrate foods can help balance your blood sugar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Legumes like beans and lentils are a great plant-based source of protein and are an excellent source of fiber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Foods to avoid on an insulin diet are those that are likely to cause sharp increases in blood sugar. These foods may also hinder weight loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sugary drinks are the leading contributor to added sugar in most people\u2019s diets. Drinks like soda, sweetened teas, sugary coffee drinks, energy drinks, and many more are packed with sugar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Foods high in added sugar cause blood glucose spikes and should be eaten sparingly on an insulin diet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sweetened foods like candy, ice cream, cake, etc., are usually sweetened with sucrose (table sugar), corn syrup, or high-fructose corn syrup and can worsen blood sugar control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Refined grains are stripped of their nutrient- and fiber-rich parts, leaving behind a lower-fiber, lower-nutrient grain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n White bagels, flour tortillas, white bread, and white rice are just a few examples of refined grains that you should avoid on an insulin diet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Manufacturers add sugar to foods that might otherwise seem healthy, like yogurt, certain nutrition bars, and granola. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Check the nutrition facts label and try to avoid foods with more than five grams of added sugar per serving. Aim to keep your added sugar intake below 30 grams per day on an insulin diet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Eating a healthy diet low in both refined carbohydrates and added sugars and rich in high-quality protein, healthy fats, and fiber-rich plant foods can help promote healthy blood sugar levels. An insulin diet should mimic these healthy eating habits to promote blood sugar control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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Who would need insulin medication?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Can your diet affect insulin levels?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Foods to eat on an insulin diet<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Whole grains<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Non-starchy vegetables<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Nuts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Meat, chicken, eggs, & fish<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Legumes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Foods and drinks to avoid on an insulin diet<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sugary drinks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Sugary treats, candy, etc.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Refined grains<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Other foods with added sugar<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Explore More<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"insulin-sensitivity\"](\"https:\/\/blog.bensnaturalhealth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Top-8-Natural-Ways-to-Boost-Insulin-Sensitivity-1024x256.jpg\")
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