Diabetes & Diet
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Diabetes & Diet
Diagnosing diabetes is the first stage of coping with all it entails. Once diagnosed advice will be given that careful attention should be paid to nutrition and diet. Experts state that people with diabetes should eat approximately the same amount of food at the same time each day in order to keep blood sugar levels as stable as possible, while paying special attention to carbohydrate intake.
If a healthy diet plan has been followed prior to diagnosis then it will be easier to follow a nutritional regime. The following are tips to help with changes in the diet after diagnosis.
1. Eating more starches like cereal, bread and starchy vegetables will help, aiming for six servings a day or more.
2. Five fruit and vegetable a day are recommended and these can be incorporated as part of a snack or adding vegetables to stistir-fries stews. Raw vegetables can also be packed for lunches or snacks when away from home.
3. Sugars and sweets should be eaten in moderation. Favourite desserts can be split between two meals, which will still satisfy the sweet tooth but also reduce the sugar, fat and calorie intake.
4. Soluble fibres are especially good for diabetics as they slow down the absorption of glucose from the intestines and these are mainly found in fruits, vegetables and some seeds. Kidney beans and all legumes are among the highest soluble fibre foods. Carrots are another fibre food and have a positive effect on blood sugar levels. Insoluble fibres, such as bran, whole grains and nuts, are excellent for cleaning out the lower gastrointestinal tract.
Even taking all this into account, it is advisable after a diabetes diagnosis, to see a dietician to develop a meal plan to get started. Many factors will be taken into account including lifestyle, mediation, weight and additional medical conditions, as well as favourite foods. The dietician will help to create a diet to prevent complications but also to give pleasure when eating.
A Healthier Weight and Lifestyle
Maintaining an acceptable weight is very important with diabetes, especially with type 2 diabetes because extra body fat makes it hard for people with this type to make and use their own insulin. Losing ten to twenty pounds if a person is overweight will improve blood sugar control, even eventually resulting in being able to either stop or reduce medication.
Smoking makes problems caused by diabetes worse so it is advisable to quit after diagnosis. Diabetics can experience blood flow problems in the legs and feet and smoking can decrease blood flow even more.
If blood sugar is under control then alcohol, in small amounts, can be fitted into a meal plan. It should be remembered though that drinking alcohol on an empty stomach can actually cause low blood sugar. Consult a doctor on how much alcohol can be included in a meal plan then stick to it.
Moderating Sugar, Fat and Carbohydrates
Just because diabetes has been diagnosed doesn't mean completely giving up sugar, far and carbohydrates forever.
Different types of foods are broken down at different rates. For example, carbohydrates like potatoes or sugar typically take from five minutes to three hours to digest where protein takes three to six hours and fat eight or mote hours. This explains the reason different foods have different effects on blood sugar. Ice cream that is higher in fat, for example, raises the blood sugar levels more slowly than potatoes. With diabetes, desserts and sweets don't have to be given up completely; they just have to be eaten no more than once or twice a week.
Remember that it will take a while to learn how to adjust to the changes in your diet and lifestyle after a diabetes diagnosis. With practice and help, you can have a satisfying diet and keep your blood sugar under control, too.