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Changes in diet and lifestyle can make a big difference in normalizing your critical health numbers (such as blood sugar, blood pressure and blood cholesterol). It's important to make healthy food choices so that you can better manage your type 2 diabetes.

With so many food options available, it's sometimes difficult to choose the healthy ones. The following list will help you determine what to include and what to limit in your diet.

Include		Limit
Complex carbohydrates (e.g., oatmeal, bran, brown rice, pasta, potatoes and vegetables)		Simple carbohydrates (e.g., table sugars, cake, soda, candy and jellies)
Fish (salmon, lake trout, mackerel and herring)		Fatty meats (e.g., fatty beef and pork)
Chicken or turkey (without the skin)		Sugar and added sugars (these include sucrose, glucose, fructose, maltose, dextrose, corn syrups, high-fructose corn syrup, concentrated fruit juice and honey)
Lean beef (round, sirloin, chuck and loin)		Sodium (Aim to eat less than 1,500 mg of sodium per day.)
Vegetables (eggplant, mushrooms, Brussels sprouts, etc.)		Cholesterol (aim to eat less than 300 milligrams of cholesterol per day)
Vegetable oils and margarines		Partially hydrogenated or saturated fats (most cakes, cookies, crackers, pastries, pies, muffins, doughnuts and French fries are made with these)
Low-fat or fat-free dairy products		Alcohol (limit your consumption to one drink per day if you're a woman and two drinks per day if you're a man)

Carefully reading food labels and limiting portion sizes also can help guide you toward a healthier diet and lifestyle. It's important to consult your healthcare provider and assess your dietary needs before making any drastic changes to your diet.