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The diabetic diet is a stringent diet which can be quite difficult to comply. It takes a keen understanding on the nature of this disease and the principles behind the diet in order for a diabetic patient to fully comply with the dietary modification.
Understanding Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease in which the body either fails to produce insulin or does not make use of the insulin present. Insulin is a hormone responsible for driving glucose from the bloodstream into the cells for energy. Without insulin, glucose uptake into the different cells of the body is not possible and glucose stays in the blood, raising the blood sugar level. The long-term effects of high sugar levels in the blood are damage to the kidneys, heart, eyes and nerves.
Types of Diabetes
There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is also known as insulin-dependent diabetes or juvenile diabetes. In this disease, there is an inherent metabolic defect in that the body does not produce insulin so that the person has to receive regular injections of insulin. Obviously, this type of diabetes cannot be controlled by just diet and exercise.
Type 2 diabetes is also called non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). This more common type of diabetes is characterized by failure of the body to produce enough insulin or to make use of the available insulin. About 90% of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese and in most cases, the disease can be managed by losing weight through diet and exercise.
Principles Behind the Diabetic Diet
In a nutshell, a diabetic diet is a complete and healthy diet with an appropriate proportion of carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and minerals designed to create an even, stable and slow release of glucose into the blood. The ultimate goal is to keep the blood glucose level as near as possible to that of a normal person.
A diabetic person must identify what to eat, exercise discipline on how much to eat and when to eat in order to keep his blood sugar level within the desired range.
The American Diabetic Association offers the following guidelines in planning a diabetic diet:
Understanding Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease in which the body either fails to produce insulin or does not make use of the insulin present. Insulin is a hormone responsible for driving glucose from the bloodstream into the cells for energy. Without insulin, glucose uptake into the different cells of the body is not possible and glucose stays in the blood, raising the blood sugar level. The long-term effects of high sugar levels in the blood are damage to the kidneys, heart, eyes and nerves.
Types of Diabetes
There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is also known as insulin-dependent diabetes or juvenile diabetes. In this disease, there is an inherent metabolic defect in that the body does not produce insulin so that the person has to receive regular injections of insulin. Obviously, this type of diabetes cannot be controlled by just diet and exercise.
Type 2 diabetes is also called non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). This more common type of diabetes is characterized by failure of the body to produce enough insulin or to make use of the available insulin. About 90% of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese and in most cases, the disease can be managed by losing weight through diet and exercise.
Principles Behind the Diabetic Diet
In a nutshell, a diabetic diet is a complete and healthy diet with an appropriate proportion of carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and minerals designed to create an even, stable and slow release of glucose into the blood. The ultimate goal is to keep the blood glucose level as near as possible to that of a normal person.
A diabetic person must identify what to eat, exercise discipline on how much to eat and when to eat in order to keep his blood sugar level within the desired range.
The American Diabetic Association offers the following guidelines in planning a diabetic diet:
- Eat 3 main meals and 3 snacks each day for better appetite control and more stable levels of blood sugar and insulin throughout the day.
- Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables to create fullness, suppress appetite, reduce caloric intake and manage weight.
- Go for whole-grain natural foods rather than processed, refined or packaged ones which are generally high in sugar and fats.
- Eat fish at least 2 to 3 times a week and include dried beans and lentils into your meals as a way to cut back on the consumption of fatty meats. If you must eat meat, choose lean cuts such as those which end in "loin" as in tenderloin, sirloin.
- Choose non-fat dairy products such as milk, yogurt and cheese.
- Choose water and calorie-free diet drinks in place of regular soft-drinks.
- Choose heart-healthy liquid cooking oils over saturated solid fats.
- Watch portion sizes even with healthy foods to ensure that you do not go beyond your prescribed caloric intake.
- Cut back on calorie-rich foods such as full-fat ice cream, cakes, cookies and chips which cause a spike in blood glucose and insulin levels.