Healthy Diet Plans >> Diabetic Diet

Diabetic Diet

Diabetes is a common condition related to the absorption and processing of sugar in the body. A diabetic will typically suffer from large variations in the level of sugar in their blood, especially after meals. It is because of the dangers of a sudden spike in blood glucose levels that a diabetes diet is necessary. Glucose is the type of sugar that is found in the blood and is the easiest source of energy for the body. In a healthy individual, glucose is absorbed into the various cells of the body where it is broken down for energy and regulating body temperature.

In a person with diabetes, the absorption of glucose is slow and insufficient. This leads to an excess amount of glucose being present in the blood. This condition is known as hyperglycemia. When this happens over an extended period of time, various body organs become affected. The kidneys are responsible for filtering blood of toxins and waste products. When there is excess blood sugar, the kidneys are overloaded with the task of removing this excess amount of glucose. Over a period of time the kidneys may be damaged by this. Kidney failure is a common complication of diabetes for this reason.

Diabetes Diet Plan

There are many different medical treatments for diabetes. Diabetics may take recommended oral medications and in severe cases, the individual may require regular injections. Often the medication is in the form of artificial insulin. Apart from medication, there is a diabetes diet that an individual can follow to help control this problem. This diabetes diet plan will ensure that the individual does not consume foods that would lead to excessively elevated blood sugar levels. There is no fixed diabetes diet plan for all individuals suffering from this condition. A diabetic diet plan depends on the height, weight, and gender of the individual as well as his/her physical activity. One important factor when deciding which foods to consume is a consultation with the glycemic index.

A diet for diabetes needs to take the glycemic index into consideration. As a rule, all foods on the high end of the glycemic index should be avoided or at least cut down to the bare minimum possible. Another important factor in the diabetes diet plan is the planning of meals and quantities. When the body is bombarded with a large quantity of food, it may not be able to absorb sugar effectively. This can cause several problems associated with high blood sugar. Therefore, a diabetes diet plan should be made based on smaller servings of food rather than large servings of food. It is advisable for a diabetic to consume more meals of smaller quantity rather than few meals of large quantity. This type of a diabetes diet gives the body time to absorb sugar slowly and also loads less sugar into the blood at any given time. Fruit platters and unsweetened yogurt smoothies are excellent diabetic desserts.

When an individual suffers from diabetes, he or she may use portable blood sugar measurement devices. These allow the individual to track blood sugar levels throughout the day. This can help while formulating a diabetic diet plan as well. The type 2 diabetes diet follows the same theory as mentioned above. In this condition, insulin is being produced but is being produced slowly or insufficiently. This means that the body can handle some amount of sugar easily but will struggle once the quantity of carbohydrates in the food rises beyond this point. Diabetics must consume as much fiber as they can. Fiber allows for the smooth flow of food out of the digestive system and helps with efficient waste production and disposal and must be included in a diabetes diet. This type of fiber is known as insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber is also very helpful to diabetics. Soluble fibers tend to absorb water and may also absorb some of carbohydrates in the digestive system. This absorbed food is also passed out of the body as waste. Soluble fiber thus helps to prevent rapid weight gain and also rapid absorption of food.

An important factor in a diabetes diet is the consumption of healthy foods. Fresh fruits and vegetables contain plenty of nutrition. They are also natural sources of fiber. Fresh fruits and vegetables also do not contain the type of carbohydrates that are immediately absorbed. This type of ‘bad nutrition’ is therefore avoided when one consumes fresh produce rather than processed foods. A substitution of processed foods with unprocessed foods may also be beneficial as it provides the feeling of having eaten without providing the ‘sugar rush’ associated with bad carbohydrates. A diabetic must also consume plenty of water so that there is efficient urine production and disposal.

Pre diabetes is the term used to describe blood sugar levels that are higher than normal but not high enough for a positive diabetes diagnosis. A pre diabetes diet will help to prevent the onset of diabetes.

What Foods Should I Avoid With Gestational Diabetes?

Gestational diabetes is a condition in which pregnant women have markedly higher levels of blood glucose in spite of the absence of any prior signs of diabetes. This condition is caused due to a dysfunction of the pancreas, which secretes the hormone known as insulin.

If you have developed gestational diabetes, make a note of the foods to avoid. These include foods that are rich in carbohydrates. When you have gestational diabetes foods to stay away from include potatoes, whole grain breads, shredded wheat, and canned foods. You can supplement this lesser intake of carbohydrates with proteins and fat. Consume more of dairy products, fish, chicken, cereals, fruits, and vegetables.

What Pre Diabetics Should Not Eat?

Pre diabetes is referred to as a condition in which your blood sugar level is slightly more than the normal levels. If you maintain a healthy life style after you are diagnosed as a pre diabetic, it is highly unlikely that you will ever develop type-2 diabetes. Here, healthy life style means diet control and adequate exercise.

Pre diabetes foods to avoid are foods rich in carbohydrates such as potatoes, rice, bananas, rice other sweet fruits and foods rich in fats such as fried food, red meat, and canned/processed products.

Pre diabetes foods to eat include whole grains,albeit those that have a low carbohydrate content.

By maintaining good eating habits, you can surely prevent diabetes even if you are diagnosed as a pre diabetic. Consult your health care provider and a qualified dietician to prepare a specialized diet plan.

Can You Help Me In Meal Planning For Diabetics?

Meal planning for diabetics is of utmost importance. You need to strictly abide by the dietary plan as advised by your dietician or health care provider. In fact, despite being a diabetic, you could lead a normal life by simply following a healthy dietary plan.

Meal plan for diabetics, both type 1 and type 2 diabetics, is similar. In both the cases, you need to refrain from carbohydrates as well as fatty and rich foods. Also, it is best to divide carbohydrate intake over five to six smaller meals in a day. Do consult your dietician while preparing a healthy dietary plan for yourself.

What Kind Of Snacks Can A Diabetic Eat?

If you are a diabetic, you need to eat healthy snacks that are low in sugar and carbohydrates. Snacks for type 1 and type 2 diabetes patients are not very different, as in both cases, you need to eat foods that are low in sugar, fat, and carbs.

Some of the healthy snacks for diabetics are listed as follows:

• Baked chips
• Popcorn
• Baked salsa
• Sugar-free cocoa
• Nuts such as walnuts, almonds, peanuts, and cashew nuts
• Sprouted whole grains such as wheat, black gram, and some pulses
also make for nutritious snacks for the diabetics as they are rich in protein.

Submitted on March 22, 2011