November Is American Diabetes Month: Eat Well

November 9, 2023 / Get Well

Though eating healthy is important, it can be hard to know what and how much to eat — especially if you are prediabetic or managing diabetes. Nutritious foods in the right amounts do so much more than help you lose pounds; they help you think more clearly and even feel better. Check out this Harvard health blog on nutritional psychiatry that acknowledges the connection between mood and food.

Are you wondering what tweaks you can make to your eating behaviors and habits? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that you start by assessing your meal habits over the course of a week: 

  • Do other people, such as friends, family or coworkers, influence what you eat?
  • Do you prepare your meals ahead of time, or do you decide in the moment what to eat?
  • How comfortable are you with reading a nutrition label?
  • How often do you eat out and where?
  • What makes it easier for you to eat healthier? What makes it harder?

Take action now to positively impact your health with your food choices. If you’re looking for an easy place to start, try following the Diabetes Plate Method. The Diabetes Plate Method is a way to create healthy meals that can help manage your blood sugar. Using this method, you can put together perfectly portioned meals with a healthy balance of vegetables, protein and carbohydrates— without any counting, calculating, weighing or measuring. All you need is a plate!

Consult your medical professional for guidance that matches your specific health needs. To support your efforts, here are more resources and tips for eating well to maintain overall health: 

Food Assistance Resources
Access to healthy food is an ongoing concern for many in our area. Consider using or referring others to Food Security Resources — Virginia Department of Social Services for a listing of programs and services that exist to support Virginia households working to put food on their tables. And if you are able, please contribute to the Nighthawk Nest Food Pantry. Share generously; there are members of our NOVA community in need.

Large rectangular graphic with white background. "November National Diabetes Month" appears in red text at top left. At bottom left, words "Eat Well" appear in large green type, underneath which are the words "Diabetes Plate Method" in smaller brown type. At right is a circular illustration of the Diabetes Plate. The plate is divided into three sections. Section 1, in green, occupies half the plate and reads "Nonstarchy Vegetables" with an illustration of broccoli. Sections 2 and 3, to the right of the green half, each occupy one-quarter of the plate. Section 2, in red, reads "Protein Foods" with an illustration of a fish. Section 3, in orange, reads "Carbohydrate Foods" with two small illustrations of a potato and a pear. To the upper-right of the colored plate is a smaller blue circle, which represents Section 4. The circle is labeled "Water or 0-Calorie Drink" with an illustration of a water glass.

Submitted by:
Dahlia Henry-Tett, Chief Wellness Officer (CWO), employeewellbeing@nvcc.edu