Why Eating Fiber First Can Help Manage Type 2 Diabetes - Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials

If you have Type 2 diabetes, you’ve probably spent plenty of time thinking about what to eat to help keep your blood sugar (glucose) steady. But did you know that the order in which you eat different foods can help, too? When it comes to meal order, fiber deserves first place. Registered dietitian Tegan Bissell, RD, LDN, CDCES, explains the benefits of dietary fiber and how eating it first can help keep your post-meal glucose in range. Fiber and its role in diabetesMost people think of fiber as the nutrient that helps keep you regular. But it also has many other health benefits, especially when you have diabetes. One of dietary fiber’s biggest benefits is its role in blood sugar management. Fiber is a type of carbohydrate, but it works differently from typical carbs. Your body can’t break it down, which means it doesn’t raise blood glucose the same way other carbs do. So, eating high-fiber foods can slow digestion. “When you eat fiber with a meal, sugar reaches your bloodstream in a more controlled manner, preventing blood sugar spikes,” explains Bissell.