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St. Maarten Medical Center
Dietician
This brochure provides you with general information about Hypertension and what foods are best to eat to reduce the risks and foods for if you have been diagnosed with hypertension.
If you have any questions after reading this brochure, you can contact your medical caregiver.
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You first need to understand the role of insulin in your body to understand what diabetes is.
Diabetes can strike anyone, from any walk of life and it does in numbers that are drastically increasing. So what is diabetes you ask?
Your body turns food into sugars or glucose when you eat. At that point, your pancreas is supposed to release insulin.
Insulin serves as a “key” to open your cells, to allow the glucose to enter and allow you to use the glucose for energy. But with diabetes, this system does not work.
Type 1 diabetes is a form of diabetes when the body no longer produces insulin because the body’s own immune system has attacked and destroyed the cells where insulin is made.
The cause of type 2 diabetes is largely unknown, but genetics and lifestyle clearly play roles. Type 2 diabetes has been linked to obesity, genetic risk factors, and inactivity.
The healthy plate format is a visual eating tool to help you manage your calories and carbohydrates while eating a well-balanced meal. Pay attention to your total carbohydrate intake by reading food labels. Aim to eat approximately the same amount of carbohydrates at each meal at about the same time each day.
Know where to look! Food labels can help you make better choices.
If you are overweight, losing 5%-10% of your body weight can improve your blood sugar.
If you are trying to lose weight contact a registered dietitian who can help assist you with a personalized meal plan.