As a travel nurse, you see a wide variety of patients each day with unique ailments. However, certain conditions are more common than others, and you'll likely treat these throughout your career. Diabetes is one disease that's widespread among adults and children alike in the U.S.
In fact, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 9.3 percent of Americans, or 29 million people, have diabetes. About 208,000 of those individuals are under age 20. So whether you work in pediatric care or an assisted living community, you're bound to treat someone with diabetes. When that time comes, have these dietary tips on hand for your patients:
The importance of portion control
Weight control is one of the best ways patients can monitor their blood sugar. Part of that involves getting regular physical activity – the World Health Organization recommends adults get 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week. However, portion control also plays a crucial role in managing weight, especially for those with diabetes.
According to the Joslin Diabetes Center, eating the appropriate amount of food helps keep your blood glucose at a safe level. That being said, it can be tricky to know how much is enough. Encourage patients to use scales and other instruments to portion out their food on a regular basis. Even if your patients believe they can visually estimate the amount, it's important to use measuring tools at least once a week to ensure they're on the right track.
Diabetics may also benefit from utilizing the American Diabetes Association's Create Your Plate method. To do this, patients should visualize three sections on the plate: two portions that each take up 25 percent of the plate and one 50-percent segment. The largest section of the plate should be filled with non-starchy vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, eggplant and pea pods. Patients can fill one of the quarter sections with grains and starchy foods, such as quinoa or brown rice. The final plate portion should include a protein source, like chicken or fish.
Foods to stay away from
In addition to taking up portion-control strategies, those with diabetes should limit certain foods in their diets. The Joslin Diabetes Center advised that folks with this condition limit the amount of sodium they consume, though they don't need to eliminate it altogether. Rather, they should just cut out foods with high-salt content such as canned soup, salad dressing and processed meat.
Additionally, while foods with high fat won't necessarily affect blood glucose levels, they can increase the risk for a heart attack or stroke. As such, diabetics should limit saturated and trans fats in their diets by cutting out cheese, red meat, butter and whole milk.
Finally, foods heavy in carbohydrates and sugars can easily cause blood sugar spikes. Those with diabetes should limit the amount of baked goods, bread, pasta, white rice and sugary snacks in their diets. However, saying no to sweets can be hard, especially when you consider how many celebrations call for these treats, like birthdays and parties. People with this disease shouldn't feel like they can never have a bite of cake. Advise patients to just save these tasty moments for special occasions.
Foods that can help with diabetes
Managing a diabetic diet doesn't involve just limiting foods. In fact, there are several foods that are beneficial for people with this condition. The ADA named beans, berries, tomatoes, low-fat yogurt, whole grains and nuts among its list of diabetic superfoods. That's because these items have a low glycemic index and are chock full of important nutrients like potassium, calcium and fiber.
Those with diabetes or prediabetes can greatly benefit from making dietary changes. Travel nurses should equip themselves with the appropriate knowledge and resources to provide diabetes management education.