After being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, many diabetic truck drivers wonder what kind of diet they should begin to follow. “There’s not really a one size fits all diet,” says Laura Wahl, RD at Healthcare Services Group. Instead of following a strict, specific “diabetes diet,” Ms. Wahl recommends diabetic truckers, portion out their daily carbohydrate intake in order to keep blood glucose levels in check.
“Allot a certain number of your daily carb allowance toward each meal and try not to go over that. Don’t make your portions so big that they affect your blood sugar,” she says.
As a general rule of thumb, limit carb intake to between 45 and 65 percent of your daily recommended calorie intake. So for a man aiming to eat 2,200 calories a day, no more than 1,430 of those calories should come from carbs. If we’re talking total grams, try to eat about 130 grams a day, and split evenly across meals as Ms. Wahl recommends.
Truck Drivers’ Risk For Diabetes Far Greater Than National Average
Don’t let the term “diabetic diet” scare you
A “diabetes diet” is really nothing more than “a healthy diet, especially for a diabetic truck driver .” The only difference is that diabetics have to watch their intake of high-carb and high-sugar products as they can send blood glucose levels spinning out of whack. As with any healthy diet, a diabetic diet is rich in fruits and veggies, whole grains, and lean proteins and low in added sugars, simple carbs, and saturated/trans fats.
Avoiding the foods that litter the shelves of Truckstop convenience stores isn’t always possible. However, there are some food options on the road that will still keep diabetic truck drivers healthy, such as:
- Turkey jerky
- Almonds
- Fresh fruit/veggies
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Peanut butter crackers
- String cheese
Much of eating a truck-driver-friendly diabetes diet comes down to the personal situation and setup, but fortunately, it doesn’t require having too many fancy kitchen tools and storage devices. Simple fresh and canned fruits and veggies are great food options on the road (just make sure they’re in juice, not syrup). 100% whole wheat slices of bread and English muffins will keep for quite a bit on the truck. Further, with the help of a refrigerator and a slow cooker, a truck driver can increase the number of meals for diabetics that can be made on the road.
Following a “truck driver’s diabetic diet” can be done, and plenty of truckers are doing it! Sure, it requires some additional planning compared to a typical trucker’s diet, but what are the alternatives? Unmanaged diabetes can lead to complications that can end a trucker’s career, which is why it is so important to get that diet on track before it’s too late.
Furthermore, combine these tips on a diabetes-friendly meal with exercise plans and take control of your type 2 diabetes! You may have the diagnosis, but you don’t have to be a statistic.
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