Diabetic Diet

People who have been diagnosed with diabetes are usually recommended a diet comprising high nutritional fiber, particularly dissolvable fiber that is low in saturated fat content. Normally, diabetic patients are advised to cut down on their consumption of carbohydrates possessing high glycemic index, but if they have hypoglycemia, physicians recommend foods and beverages that are able to rapidly increase the glucose level in blood. In contrast, nutrition experts say that there is nothing that may be precisely called a diabetic diet and advice the patients to carefully concentrate on their nutrition and diet as a part of their curing program. Nutritionists also advice diabetic patients to consume approximately the same quantity of food about the same time every day with a view to maintain stable blood sugar levels and healthy weight.

History of Diabetic Diet

As diabetes had been diagnosed long ago, the history of treating the disease too dates back to around 3,500 B.C. in Egypt and 2,500 B.C. in India. More recently, during the 18th century, physicians noted that limiting calorie or carbohydrate intake in diabetic diet would help to lessen the presence of high level of sugar in urine (glycosuria) in diabetic patients. Nevertheless, Frederick Madison Allen, who is known as the creator of modern diabetes diet much before the discovery of insulin, advocated that diabetic patients need to eat low calorie diet. This process or eating low calorie diet did not help to cure the disease, but only helped the patients for some time. It was only when Frederick Banting discovered insulin in 1922 that diabetic diet assumed a new significance as the medicine permitted the patients to be adaptable with their diet.

The Diet

Generally speaking, the diabetic diet should essentially comprise carbohydrates, fats and proteins. It is important to note that almost half of the calories in a diabetes diet should be derived from complex carbohydrates, such as whole grain breads, cereals, fruits, vegetables and low fat milk. These foods are considered to be a low calorie diet and are digested gradually raising the blood sugar levels little by little. One gram of carbohydrate is equivalent to four calories; therefore if a diabetes patient is on a 1200-calorie diet around 600 calories should come from carbohydrates extend across the day. The diabetic diet should essentially contain about 25 to 30 per cent fat, while approximately 20 per cent of the diet should comprise proteins.

In fact, compared to cooked food, raw salads comprise a better diabetic diet as they are digested more slowly. It is important to remember that just because a particular food does not contain sugar; it does not suggest that consuming it will not raise blood sugar. What is more important in a diabetic diet is the kind of food consumed, the quantity of food consumed and the form in which it is consumed. Talking about diabetes diet, it is important to bear in mind that all types of carbohydrates are transformed into glucose in the body and hence, its consumption needs to be controlled. The major worry in diabetes is that the body is unable to cope with glucose and therefore, it is necessary that the glucose levels should gradually rise in the blood stream. Often the patients seem to ignore one important aspect of the diabetic diet and that is they can intake more servings of food, but sill consume less amount of carbohydrates. In fact, three servings of vegetables are generally equivalent to one serving of carbohydrate. Hence, the focus of the diabetic diet needs to be on vegetables.

Diet Tips

When a person is diagnosed of diabetes, he or she should consult a nutrition expert to help fix a diabetic diet for them. In addition, the following tips would help a diabetic patient to control blood sugar levels, keep fit and maintain a healthy weight.

• Consume 1.4 ounce of fiber daily.

• Eat fresh fruits and vegetable at least five times daily.

• Take 4-5 small meals at intervals rather than three heavy meals.

• Substitute bakery items and fast foods with simple whole cooked cereals and salads.

• Eat more of the diabetic diet vegetables such as green peppers, turnips green, beans, broccoli, carrots and cauliflower.

• Never consume carbohydrates two hours before bedtime.

Maintaining Healthy Weight

It is essential for people diagnosed with diabetes to maintain a healthy weight, especially in the case of type 2 diabetes as surplus fat makes it difficult for such patients to generate and use their own insulin. If obese patients manage to lose weight around 10 to 20 pounds, it would help them better to control their blood sugar to such an extent that they may even stop taking medicines or lessen the medication. In addition, people suffering from diabetes should shun smoking if they desire to maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle. Smoking is particularly hazardous for diabetes patients as it is not only leads to blood circulation problems in the legs and feet, but also increases the risks of heart attacks and makes males sexually impotent. Therefore, any person diagnosed of diabetes must instantaneously quit smoking if they desire to keep fit, lose weight and maintain a healthy weight. On the other hand, although it is permissible to consume alcohol in moderation, diabetic patients must consult their physicians before including it in their diabetic diet.

Wrapping Up

Before we conclude, it is important to remind that the diabetic diet is mostly about calories. Always consume the right type of carbohydrates in the right form and right proportion. Concentrate on a low fat diet and sufficient proteins to complete the diabetic diet. Last, but not the least important, undertake regular exercise as it would help you to keep the blood sugar level under regulation and also lose weight.