Nutrition Labels 101 for Diabetics

Many don’t bother to read nutrition labels. Is this you? Do you often zip through the table of contents of a book before you buy it? Do you check out the label on a piece of clothing to see what it’s made of? Why don’t you take the same time with your food? Here’s how nutritional labels can help you and your diabetes diet plan.

Reading the "Nutrition Facts" on food items can help you understand what you are eating, as well as how the listed ingredients may affect your diabetes. You should be able to quickly identify such potential health hazards as trans fat, saturated fat and cholesterol on a nutrition label to help you make heart-healthy choices. Too much of any of these ingredients can cause weight gain and increase your risk for heart disease. Checking the label first will also help you stay on track with your diet, as you aim to balance carbs, protein and sugar each day.

Learn how to investigate your food the right way by using this tool. Use your mouse to roll over different parts of the nutrition label to find out about that ingredient: