Episode 33 : Culture, Food & Diabetes: Eating Well Without Giving Up the Foods You Love

Culture, Food & Diabetes: Eating Well Without Giving Up the Foods You Love What if improving your blood sugar didn't mean giving up the foods, traditions, and flavors you grew up with? In this episode of Destroying Diabetes, Dr. Keith Hersey sits down with Jasmine Westbrooks, MS, Registered Dietitian with EatWell Exchange, for an important conversation about diabetes, nutrition, culture, and creating a healthier relationship with food. For many people living with diabetes or prediabetes, nutrition advice can feel restrictive. We're often told what we shouldn't eat—but sustainable diabetes management is about much more than a list of foods to avoid. Jasmine shares a culturally relevant approach to nutrition and discusses how people can make healthier choices without abandoning the foods that are meaningful to their families and communities. In This Episode, We Discuss:

• Why culturally relevant nutrition matters
• Common misconceptions about eating with diabetes
• Whether people with diabetes really need to eliminate foods like rice, bread, potatoes, and fruit
• How portion sizes, preparation methods, and food combinations can affect nutrition
• The roles of protein, fiber, and carbohydrates in blood sugar management
• Why labeling foods as simply "good" or "bad" can be problematic
• How traditional and cultural foods can fit into a healthy lifestyle
• Simple nutrition changes you can begin making today
• Why enjoyment and sustainability matter when changing the way you eat
• How to move beyond the cycle of restriction, guilt, and starting over

About Jasmine Westbrooks Jasmine Westbrooks, MS, is a Registered Dietitian with EatWell Exchange, an organization dedicated to improving health outcomes through culturally relevant nutrition education. Her work helps people understand that healthier eating doesn't have to mean abandoning their culture, traditions, or favorite foods. Please see ways that people can stay connected with Jasmine below: website: Eatwellexchange.org email: Info@eatwellexchange.org Facebook: Facebook Link Instagram: Instagram Link A Key Takeaway Managing diabetes isn't about eating perfectly. It's about finding realistic and sustainable ways to nourish your body, manage your blood sugar, and enjoy the foods that are part of your life and culture. If you've ever felt that managing diabetes meant giving up everything you love to eat, this conversation is for you. Connect With Destroying Diabetes If you enjoyed this episode, share it with someone who could benefit from this conversation and subscribe to Destroying Diabetes for more practical discussions about diabetes, nutrition, medications, lifestyle, and living well. Better health doesn't require perfection. Small, consistent changes can make a meaningful difference. Thanks, Ashley, let me know if you need anything else. Dr. Keith Hersey, PharmD Diabetes Educator | GLP-1 Coach | National Speaker Host, Destroying Diabetes Podcast www.drkeithspeaking.com Connect with me on LinkedIn (919) 808-2129