Diabetes Diet
Diabetes Facts
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Diabetes Diet Support
As a diabetic, it is imperative that you to pay close attention
to your diet and, in the case of Type II diabetics, watch your weight.
The number one concern in diet is to watch those sugar levels! Weight
loss is also a big concern since overwieght conditions will typically
aggravate the diabetic condition. Both of these areas will be discussed
in detail but first we will address the subject of diabetic diet. It is
most important for the diabetic to learn about nutrition. Managing diabetes
is a daily discipline. By following a good diet, you can make things a
lot easier and you will also enjoy the other more common benefits of healthy
dieting.
For diabetics, the best type of diet is a low-fat diet with complex carbohydrates.
Simple carbohydrates are not the best thing for diabetics. These include
things like sweets, candies, cakes, sweet drinks and jams all of which
are rapidly absorbed and digested. They will cause a surge of sugar levels
in the bloodstream which can cause serious problems. They should be avoided
or at least taken in small quantities. Complex Carbohydrates are a much
better source of energy for diabetics. These include whole wheat or wholegrain
breads, whole wheat pasta, brown rice, beans, oats and most vegetables
and fruits. These will be more slowly absorbed and digested and will therefore
help to keep the patients sugar levels stable. Besides carbohydrates,
however there are other considerations.
The goals for a diabetic diet are basically to achieve near normal blood
glucose levels and protect the heart and cholesterol levels. It is also
important to manage or prevent the complications that can come about from
diabetes. Diabetics are at risk for a number of medical complications,
including heart and kidney disease. For this reason it is important to
also limit fat intake. Avoid saturated fats and trans-fatty acids such
as hard margarine and fast food. Monounsaturated fat is preferred such
as virgin olive oil or canola oil. Polyunsaturated oils are also good
such as sunflower oil. Consume plenty of fiber-rich foods such as whole
grains and fresh fruits and vegetables. Nuts and seeds are also good..
When choosing foods with sugar, choose fresh fruits, but do so in moderation.
Another important principle for a diabetic to consider is the consumption
of alcohol. It is important, once you have been diagnosed with diabetes,
that you only drink alcohol in moderation. The best scenario would be
to avoid it altogether but this is not imperative. Alcohol behaves like
a simple carbohydrate. If you drink too much of it, it can quickly throw
off your sugar-levels. If you can't avoid it altogether, then drink it
in moderation. Especially avoid alcohol on an empty stomach.
Fiber is an important component of many diabetic diets. It is found only
in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, beans and peas. Other sources
include whole grain breads and brown rice. Dried beans, oat bran, barley,
apples, citrus fruits and potatoes all have great advantages for the heart
and for healthy cholesterol levels. Fiber supplements such as Metamucil
and Fiberall do not appear to achieve the same benefits as natural foods.
Glucomannan, however, is helpful in controlling blood glucose levels,
cholesterol, and high blood pressure.
Protein is another element that is important to take account of in the
diabetic diet. Doctors usually recommend that proteins should provide
12% to 20% of the daily calories in a diabetic diet. Still others believe
that protein should only make up about 10% of daily calories. It is a
general rule that one gram of protein has about four calories in it. In
favor of the lower percentage argument, is the fact that reducing proteins
may be helpful in slowing the progression of kidney disease. This was
made apparent during a 1999 study that showed a reduction in the need
for dialysis in patients who had been in danger of kidney failure. Still,
a diet that is especially low in protein can cause fatigue and confusion.
The best source of protein is probably fish becasue of studies which have
shown it to protect lab animals against insulin resistance. It has also
been suggested that it reduces the risk of sudden death from heart-rhythm
abnormalities. Fish that are high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon,
halibut and tuna are especially good. Although fish is usually the best
meat, the most important element is not whether you choose fish, poultry,
beef or pork but whether the meat is lean.
Fats are the most important concern for diabetics because the management
of cholesterol is done according to the amount of fat taken into the body.
Weight loss can also be managed through the regulation of fat into the
body. It has been determined that about two-thirds of the cholesterol
in your body is made by the patients liver. This is done mainly through
the use of saturated fat. The dietary key to managing cholesterol, then,
lies in understanding fats and oils. In order to calculate daily fat intake,
it is useful to multiply the number of fat grams eaten. This will give
you the number of calories which will also help to figure in weight loss
management. Reducing the consumption of saturated fats and trans-fatty
acids is the number one step in managing weight and cholesterol.
To manage these fats it is important to understand both saturated fats
and trans fatty acids. Saturated fats are found in animal products and
dairy products. Trans-fatty acids are created through a process called
hydrogenation. These fats can be found in stick margarine and in fast
foods, baked goods and white breads. It should be noted that some fat
is necessary for health. The Omega-3 are overwhelmingly considered the
best fats around. Polyunsaturated fats however are sometimes beneficial
and can be found in sunflower, corn, cottonseed oils and fish. Monounsaturated
fats are also sometimes a good choice and can be found in olive, canola,
peanut oils and most nuts.
Vitamins and Supplements have not shown extensive benefits to diabetics except in the case of Vitamin E. A small study found that people with Type II diabetes who took large quantities of Vitamin E had less inflammation in their blood vessels and therefore were less at risk for heart disease and stroke. Another study suggested that Vitamin E had aided the governing of the heart in people with Type II diabetes. Vitamin E may also help to prevent blood clots and the formation of fatty plaques on the walls of the arteries. People whose diets had elevated levels of vitamin C have sometimes been considered to be at lower risk for heart disease. There is no scientific evidence, however, that vitamin C offers any actual protection against heart disease.
Weight loss methods for a Type II diabetic should be researched and a
weekly exercise program should be enacted. It is important not to make
unrealistic goals when first starting out. Keeping tabs on your diet and
simply adding a little daily exercise to your routine will make a great
deal of difference in the beginning. Once a regular routine is established,
then it will be ok to increase the amount of exercise in a daily routine.
Patients should always consult a physician when considering a new exercise
regimen.
Weight loss becomes a more important issue for certain diabetics but not
all diabetic cases are the same. In fact, there really isn't one diet
that meets the needs of every diabetic. A Type II diabetic who is obese
AND insulin-resistant will need a different carbohydrate-protein balance
than a thin Type I diabetic. It is true that a simple heart-healthy diet
with adequate weight control may be enough for Type II diabetics but intricate
diets may be necessary for blood sugar control in Type I diabetics. This
may also be the case for the more serious cases of Type II. The more complicated
and intricate diets may include counting the carbohydrate grams and using
a glycemic index to determine glucose levels.
The methods for controlling glucose levels are different for each person.
Hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia are the main concerns for patients receiving
insulin. It is important, therefore, to monitor blood glucose levels carefully.
Patients should aim for a pre-meal level of between 80 and 140 mg/dL.
At bedtime, the level should be between 100 and 160. Diabetics who are
rigidly controlling these levels will need to check them at least four
times a day. The highest risk for hypoglycemia is at nighttime. Bedtime
snacks may be helpful in this regard. It is also important to monitor
blood glucose levels before driving. Hypoglycemia can be very hazardous
on the roads. Diabetic patients often carry hard candy, juice or sugar
packets to prevent inconveniences in this area.
In order to achieve the optimum diet, food labels can be used to to determine
the number of calories from fat, the amount of nutrients that might be
dangerous and the more useful nutrients such as fiber, carbohydrates,
protein and vitamins. Labels also indicate the "daily values,"
or percentage of a good diet that each person needs. Diabetics are encouraged
to weigh out the number of grams in each serving of food before and after
cooking the meals. Once a clear idea of the correct amount of each food
has been determined, the diabetic will be familiar with each serving and
may be able to dispense with the method of weighing out their foods.
It is clear to see that there are numerous considerations for the diabetic
patient to take into account when considering diet and weight loss. It
is imperative that the diabetic learn everything there is to know about
all areas of dieting and not depend on others to tell them what is right
and wrong for them to eat. Both dieting and losing weight require a thorough
understanding of one's own personal body and metabolism. The more the
diabetic knows, the better he or she will be in maintaining a good level
of health.