For the type 1 and type 2 diabetic the importance of a diet for diabetes cannot be overstated. Used in conjunction with drug therapy a proper diet is considered the single most important part of managing this deadly disease. Those who are newly diagnosed need to be properly educated with regards to diet, exercise, and medication to help avoid and minimize the complications that diabetes creates.
Significant lifestyle changes need to be made by anyone who suffers from this disease and the first person to tell them this will be their doctor when they are diagnosed. The doctor will be the primary point of information and reference for their diabetes care and management. A good doctor will also be able to refer their diabetic patients to a licensed nutritionist who is skilled at helping create a diet for diabetes that is individualized to each of their clients.
The most important aspect of this type of diet is controlling blood glucose (sugar) levels. This can be hard for people who have an inherent sweet tooth but avoiding foods and snacks with large amounts of sugar is a basic necessity for the diabetic. The good news is that there is no shortage of foods available that the diabetic can eat along with plenty of recipes to help prepare tasty meals.
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) has a website full of dietary information for the diabetic. They also have information about the latest treatments and medical research that those with diabetes need to stay current with. You will also find the Diabetic Food Pyramid on the ADA site. The food pyramid for diabetes is much like the regular food pyramid most people are familiar with except that it breaks down the food groups based on which are the better choices and the daily amounts a diabetic should be eating.
Because diabetes is becoming such a serious and growing health issue for an estimated 17 million people in the United States the food industry in this country has created a large array of food items aimed at people with diabetes. The situation is only going to get worse because the obesity epidemic will continue to create type 2 diabetics at an alarmingly growing rate into the future. Fortunately these products not only help to control blood glucose levels but give those who suffer this disease a variety of foods that will satisfy just about everyone, even those who have a sweet tooth.
A diet for diabetes is a drastic change for most people diagnosed with this disease, but if they are to successfully manage and live with their condition it is something they must do. Having the support and understanding of family and friends during this transition to a dietary change is also important and will help more quickly deal with their diabetes and the complications it can cause.
Andrew Bicknell
http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/information-about-a-diet-for-diabetes-730247.html
Originally posted 2010-09-03 08:49:51.
Is anyone else finding contradicting information about the best diet for diabetes?
I was reading Dr. Barnard’s book about becoming totally vegan and then eating all the good carbs all you want. But everything else seems to indicate you need to eat very few carbs and plenty of lean meats, all in small portions. What’s the deal? I am on the high end of normal, bordering pre-diabetes (after gestational diabetes). Trying to stay "normal."
The American Diabetes Association used to recommend a fairly high carb diet, but now they seem to finally be swinging the other way.
I recommend going moderate on the carbs. Having been a vegetarian as a teen, I really don’t think it would work. I’m on a moderately low carb diet now and its working fine for me. Extremes are best avoided, both extremely high and extremely low carb. They are too hard to stick with and may cause damage in the long run. We just don’t know.
Get a meter if you don’t already have one and test to see how foods are affecting you. I recommend Jennifer’s page on testing, its the best advice out there on how to figure out what diet works for you. Everyone is an individual and you have to find what suits you and you can stick with long term. I’d say that the South Beach diet is a good place to start, but skip the induction phase.
http://www.diabetic-talk.org/jennifer.htm
also check out
http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-NbDgUzQhfrJTXdmg.DfXS.Tx
References :
It’s pretty much a concensus that eating a balanced diet is the most helpful for everyone. Trouble is, that’s hard.
Balanced means eating by the ‘food pyramid’. Not the OLD one, the new one. In order of what you should eat the most, to what you should eat the least, the new one is Vegetables, fruits, complex carbs, meats and dairy, fats/oils/refined sugar.
I find that this diet is what controls my diabetes the best. I’m not a vegan–and don’t think a vegan diet is particularly healthy, to be honest. It can lack certain minerals, and it’s really hard to get complete proteins from a vegan diet. We need some of the nutrients found in meats and fish–and you just can’t get these by taking supplements.
However, I eat more vegetables than anything else, and the only carbs I eat are whole grains, and unrefined rice. I do eat some sugar–(have a sweet tooth) but I keep it to a low level. But I also make sure I get a decent amount of proteins–cheese, soy milk, yogurt and lean meats. I keep red meats and fatty meats very low–and stick to mostly fish and chicken, lean pork and very lean beef. I do not eat fast food or even restaurant food very often anymore. This was a HUGE help in controlling my sugar.
I think you can eat darn near anything as long as you practice sense and moderation. I have dessert with dinner. I have fruit. I have candy once in a while. I don’t binge, I don’t eat lunch at McD’s and I try to keep my portions reasonable, rather than the ones we’ve gotten used to these days.
A good book is called "Eat This, Not That" if you have questions about what you are getting in most commercial food. Otherwise, the best idea is to find out as much information as you can about what foods are and are not good for you–and stick to a sensible, balanced plan.
References :
http://www.menshealth.com/eatthis/index.php
Avoid sugar and high amounts of carbohydrates. Eat balanced meals with whole grains at regular times. Losing weight helps control diabetes.
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