When a person is afflicted with the diabetes disease, the doctor will prescribe diabetes diet control, exercise, change in lifestyle or even a diabetes team just to maintain a near normal level of blood sugar.
There will be a drastic change in the diet and lifestyle, if diagnosed with diabetes. The key here is to adapt to the changes required in order to avoid complications brought about by the disease.
Diabetes is a never-ending ailment that requires a very tedious monitoring. This is the offshoot of an imperfect control of blood sugar in the body which resulted to high blood sugar level. The diabetes diet based on a per individual basis, will be part of the treatment to control the disease. This will depend on the type of diabetes; whether type 1, type 2 or gestational.
It is ideal for patients with diabetes to seek the advice of a professional dietitian for an individualized diet plan.
Moreover, the recommended well-balanced meal by the American Diabetes and Dietetic Association should comprise of protein of 10% to 20%, 30% fat and 60% carbohydrates of the daily calorie intake. A gram of carbohydrates or a gram of protein is equal to 4 calories while one fat gram is equivalent to 9 calories.
As a guide, the diabetes diet control should address our intake of the following food groups:
1. Carbohydrates preferably complex carbohydrates like fruits, vegetables, nuts, peas, beans and whole grains which are known to be rich in fiber. Although fiber is not digested, it draws water and binds the feces as it passes the stomach.
Insoluble fiber like nuts, fruits, wheat bran, vegetable, etc. helps in the achievement of weight loss. Conversely, soluble fiber such as barley, apples, potatoes, oat bran, etc. helps lower the blood pressure which is good for the heart.
Simple carbohydrates or sugar should be taken in moderation but nonnutritive or artificial sweeteners can replace sugar. The approved artificial sweeteners by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are saccharin, sucralose, aspartame, neotame and acesulfame potassium.
2. Protein in small amounts, around 14 grams, is recommended before sleeping to sustain the normal blood sugar level. A diet that is low in protein and salt may delay the development of a kidney disease. Fish rich in omega-3 are tuna, salmon, swordfish and halibut.
No more than two servings per week is advisable due to the presence of mercury in some fish. Other sources of protein include soybeans, tofu, lean meat or beef, skinless chicken or turkey.
3. Fats and oils--The saturated fat in animal products stimulates the liver to create about 66% of the body cholesterol and this can be dangerous to the heart. This is usually found in coconut and palm oils and cocoa butter. Trans-fatty acids which is equally detrimental are found in commercially baked products, fast foods and margarine.
Fat is not at all harmful since this is also needed by growing children. Fish oil contains anti-inflammatory and anti-blood clotting properties. Oils from sunflower, corn, safflower and soybean have Omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids that is good for the health but sometimes associated with certain cancers. Canola and olive oils can lower the blood pressure level.
Initially, the diabetic can experience difficulty in adapting to the diabetes diet control plan. Nevertheless, he will learn to live with it as time progresses.