Managing your blood sugar is one of the most necessary responsibilities of living with diabetes. If you're diagnosed with type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes, it means that your body is struggling to process and regulate the right amount of glucose in your bloodstream.
Thankfully there are ways you can manage your blood sugar levels, like exercising, eating healthier foods, and checking your levels regularly. There are sometimes helpful supplements and medications you can take along with these lifestyle changes, but it's crucial to talk with your doctor first.
To learn more about healthy ways of managing blood sugar, we talked with dietitian Courtney D'Angelo, MS, RD, author at Go Wellness about some helpful supplements.
According to D'Angelo, fiber supplements can be a great way to help you reach your daily recommended value of fiber and help to manage your blood sugar.
Why fiber supplements may support blood sugar management.
"As a dietitian, I strongly believe in getting the amount of fiber you need from your diet by eating the right foods," D'Angelo says, "however, if you are having a hard time incorporating certain foods into your daily diet, then a fiber supplement should help you attain the recommended amount you need each day."
"For a healthy diet, the ADA (American Diabetes Association) recommends 25-35 grams of fiber daily because consuming the recommended amount of fiber daily can help improve glucose control," says D'Angelo.
The CDC also recommends you get enough fiber in your diet and even refers to this nutrient as "the carb that helps you manage diabetes." Fiber directly helps you manage your blood sugar, and it can also help you maintain a healthy weight during the process, another crucial part of living with diabetes.
"Fiber passes through your digestive system intact and your body handles that differently than how carbohydrates are digested. So, when you eat foods rich in fiber or take a dietary fiber supplement, it is less likely to cause a spike in high blood sugar," says D'Angelo.
Fiber supplement vs. high-fiber foods
As she mentioned earlier, D'Angelo is a proponent of getting your fiber through the foods you eat instead of relying on a supplement. That's because when you eat whole foods, you reap the benefits of their other nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and more. You can find high amounts of fiber in common foods like apples, oats, beans, bananas, whole grains, nuts, and most seeds.
If you're still having trouble getting enough fiber in your diet, though, you may benefit from trying a fiber supplement. Before you incorporate any of these plans into your daily routine, it's important to talk with your doctor first.
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