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Diabetes is a serious condition affecting millions of
people around the world. Quality nutrition can go a long way in preventing
diabetes as well as treating diabetes. The word diabetes diet is
a misnomer as it is not a rigid menu plan but a lifestyle change that
involves eating right.
Diabetic Diet
Fiber is considered invaluable in stabilizing glucose levels and improving
blood cholesterol. The advantage of including sufficient quantities of
fiber in your diet aids in slowing digestion and the absorption of nutrients.
This will result in slower and steadier release of glucose from accompanying
carbohydrates in the diet. Fiber soaks up excess bile acids that get converted
into blood cholesterol. The accompanying feeling of fullness provided
by a fiber rich diet helps persons with type 2 diabetes that are trying
to lose weight.
Dietary tips for Diabetes
1. Drinking at least eight glasses of water can keep dehydration at bay.
Dehydration raises blood sugars. So it is essential to replace lost fluids.
2. Diabetes is most often complicated by hypertension. Reducing the intake
of sodium can be helpful in a diabetic diet.
3. Some studies show that caffeine causes reduced insulin sensitivity.
So reducing the cups of coffee and cola might help.
4. Shattering the old myth that sweets were taboo in a diabetic diet,
it is now believed that an occasional sugary food or sweet can be consumed
provided the other carbohydrate foods are balanced along with the diabetes
medication.
5. Achieving and maintaining desirable body weight.
6. Maintaining normal blood glucose levels
7. Preventing heart disease and hypertension that tend to occur along
with diabetes
8. Spacing meals throughout the day can help cut down on heavy meals thereby
avoiding sudden peaks and troughs of blood glucose levels
Diabetes diet plan
If you are seeking assistance on diet plans as a diabetic, you can consult
the local American Diabetes Association or the American Heart Association.
They can suggest qualified dieticians and nutritionists who can assist
you with an appropriate diabetic diet plan. It is essential to maintain
optimum weight and reduce blood cholesterol. Reducing saturated fats with
unsaturated or monounsaturated fats must be a priority on any diabetes
diet plan. Exchange lists help in charting out diabetes diets.
Foods with similar nutrients and calories are grouped together. This helps
the diabetic to plan his meals. They help in avoiding monotony and rigidity
in the diabetic diet plan. Diabetic diet and meal planning is all about
eating the right amount of food at the right time.
The American Diabetes Association and the American Diabetic Association have developed 6 exchange
food lists to aid diabetes with their meal planning. Starch (bread), meat,
vegetables, fruits, milk (dairy) and fat are on the list. The food exchange
list shows the food choices that can be made within a group. The diabetic
diet and meal plan will depend on the type of diabetes that is being tackled.
Insulin-dependent diabetes is best controlled by timely meals and diet
plans. Non-insulin dependent diabetes diet plans need to be well balanced
and directed towards weight control.
The following foods are considered to have insulin-like properties. Including
them in a diabetes diet plan can be of benefit:
Garlic, tofu or soybean, raw and green vegetables, wheat germ, Brussels
sprouts, fresh flaxseed oil and GLA oils such as found in evening primrose
and spirulina.
It is essential that every diabetic becomes aware of how different food
groups will affect his condition. Education and awareness go a long way
in tackling diabetes with the right diet plan - one that will help you
achieve your total health goals.
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