It is estimated that 30.3 million people in the United States are living with diabetes, with over 2 million suffering from a diabetic foot ulcer. Staffers at the Cody Regional Health Wound Care Center say proper nutrition plays an important role in managing both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, as well as the associated comorbidities.

People sometimes have difficulty knowing what they should and should not eat for proper nutrition, especially if they are affected by diabetes. People with diabetes should be aware of what they are eating at all times, Cody Regional Health officials say, as well as how food may affect their diabetes. In recognition of Nutrition Awareness Month, the Cody Regional Health Wound Care Center offered these tips:

• A key to good nutrition is knowing what to eat and what not to eat. Fruit, non-starchy vegetables and fat-free dairy have a low glycemic index and provide key nutrients.  

• There are three types of carbohydrates: starches, sugars and fiber. A proper amount of carbohydrates can be good for anyone’s diet, but people with diabetes need to be especially careful with carb intake. 

• In addition to eating healthy, it is also important to live an active lifestyle if you have diabetes. Regular activity can help lower blood glucose. When you’re active, your cells become more sensitive to insulin so it can work more effectively. 

With diabetes being one of the leading causes of chronic wounds, staffers at the Wound Care Center say it is important that diabetics understand some of the key aspects of nutrition. Eating the right foods, they say, can help a wound heal. 

For more information about living a healthy life with diabetes and preventing non-healing wounds, contact the CRH Wound Care Center at 707 Sheridan Ave. in Cody or call 307-578-2538.