APRIL 2025: Understanding Diabetes & Traditional Foods
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes happens when your body has trouble using sugar (glucose) for energy. This causes high blood sugar levels which can damage your body over time. The longer your blood sugar levels stay high the more you risk having a heart attack/stroke, vision loss, kidney damage, and leg and foot pain. Your diabetes team can help you choose the best options for you, to get your blood sugars under control.
Traditional Foods for Better Blood Sugar
Many traditional Alaska Native foods are excellent choices for managing diabetes:
- Fish and seafood (salmon/Siifish, caribou/moose, seal/muktuk) are high in healthy proteins and omega-3 fats. The fish and sea mammals are good sources of Vitamin D as well.
- Wild berries (salmonberries, blueberries) have less sugar than store-bought fruits and are very high in antioxidants which protect your body.
- Non-starchy vegetables (canned, frozen, fresh) have a lot of vitamins and fiber and won’t raise the blood sugar. These are foods like: green beans, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, Brussels sprouts. Corn, peas, and potatoes are STARCHY vegetables and can impact your blood sugar more than the non-starchy ones.
The key is to do your best with the food that is available to you in your village. If you feel like your food choices are limited. Try moving around for 10-15 min after you eat to help your body process the carbs better. Limit or avoid sugary drinks like pop/soda, juice, sweet tea, and sports drinks.
Action Steps This Month:
1. Try replacing one processed food meal with traditional foods each week
2. Check your blood sugar before and 2 hours after eating traditional foods to see how they affect you or use your continuous glucose monitor.
3. Share a traditional recipe with a family member and discuss how it helps with diabetes management
DM Program Announcements:
Call and make your appointment to see our diabetes educator. When you call to schedule and complete your appointment, you will get 2 entries into our monthly drawing for great prizes! Phone # is 907-442-7455.