When watching our health, what we eat is just as important as how much we eat. Too many of the wrong tasty treats can be an invitation to diabetes. This is one risk factor for diabetes that is easily eliminated by developing good eating habits.

The body is a machine that needs fuel to run. We are supposed to eat to live, but often we are “living to eat.” Some of the foods we eat taste good, but are not necessarily good for us. Consuming these foods can result in medical complications and diseases, including diabetes.

Running to a doctor only when something goes wrong is not good health care. Your doctor wants to get to know you and your lifestyle. He or she wants to help you maintain your good health, not fix you up after the fact. Diabetes is one of those illnesses that may be prevented, and, when caught early, can be treated and managed. Many of the signs and symptoms of diabetes go unheeded because we don’t get regular physicals. When a physical exam is performed once a year, your doctor can monitor changes in your body that need to be addressed. Many problems can be caught in the early stages if you have yearly physical exams.

Use the food pyramid. Check out MyPyramid.gov to take a look at the new and improved food pyramid. It goes step-by-step through the different types of food groups: carbohydrates, fruits, vegetables, fats and oils, sweets, and protein. A balanced diet is what your body needs to function at its best. You’ll feel and look better with a properly balanced diet.

Sort out your carbohydrates. There are two types of carbohydrates: simple and complex. Simple carbs are those that don’t offer any nutritional value and we know are bad for our body. These simple carbs include sugary snacks, processed sweets, sweet drinks, and any foods made from refined white flour. The carbs that are good for you are the complex carbs, which are really the good tasting carbs, scout’s honor! Complex carbs include fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, and whole grains.

Learn about the glycemic index. The glycemic index is a way of rating carbohydrates according to how much they spike your blood sugar compared with pure glucose. Any carb that is rated 50 or below is considered “low GI” (glycemic index). Be careful of making assumptions here. Not all good “complex carbs” are “low GI.” For instance, white potatoes are complex carbs but they have a “high GI.”

Choose good proteins. Protein is one of the major building blocks of all cells in your body. It is usually not hard to find enough sources of protein. The problem is finding enough excellent sources of protein. Eat lean meats, seafood, fish, nuts, and beans such as black beans, pinto beans, navy beans, lentils, and garbanzo beans for your protein boost.

Good oils do exist. Fats are important in the body. They are used in the makeup of cellular membranes and cushioning of the organs and tissues in the body. Healthy fats include unsaturated oils such as olive, canola, and safflower.

No, there is no magic pill or exercise that will once and for all get rid of your belly fat. That will only happen with a healthy diet and routine exercise. Boring, but true. Do these two things and you will reduce your risk of diabetes Type 2 with each pound of fat you melt.

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