Diabetic (diabetes) Diet
Diabetics need to go on a very particular diet to level off their blood sugar levels and keep their insulin levels at an acceptable level. Diabetics have to eat very particular things and if they stray from this diet they need to have insulin injections at the ready. For a long time diabetics had to have a needle at the ready; recent advance in medicines have left diabetics free to eat what they want and adjust their insulin levels with insulin injectors that are attached and can dispense what their needs are at the ready.
But just because medicine has made leaps and bounds advances does not mean that diabetics can be any less mindful of their diet. In fact, the patients need to be just as mindful, if not more so that they don’t go into a diabetic shock.
Remember, first of all to listen to your doctors orders. If there is something particular about your case, you need to be mindful of what your doctor says. But because diabetes has been around for so long and because people with diabetes go on to live long, healthy, productive lives, there are some generalizations to be made.
-Maintain desirable weight. Blood glucose can be well controlled by losing and maintaining optimum weight
-prevent heart and blood vessel diseases
-50-60% of daily calories comes from carbohydrates
-12-20% from protein
-no more than 30% from fats
-have many small meals throughout the day rather than one or two big meals
-weight loss should be handled gradually
-keep blood cholesterol levels at a manageable level
-avoid meats and dairy products for their high levels of saturated fats
-enjoy fiber, fruits, veggies, breads and cereals; they may help lower blood glucose
Diabetes doesn’t need to be an end. In fact, it can be an exciting new chapter in your long and healthy life. Of course you will need to check back in with your doctor periodically and speak with a nutritionist about what may suit you at particular points. But just because you’re on a curtailed diet doesn’t mean that it has to be exclusively one way.