The U.S. Diabetes National Fact Sheet issued a year ago reported that almost 26 million adults and children suffer from the serious disease called diabetes. Diabetes is a disease in which the levels of sugar in the blood of the affected people is higher than normal, a seriously unhealthy condition. To avoid additional complications it is important that people with diabetes should follow a diet that helps control the levels of sugar in the bloodstream.
It is necessary for patients with diabetes to adopt a diabetic menu that meets their nutritional needs without elevating their blood sugars. With the right healthy diet, diabetes can be controlled and allow the diabetic patient to live a near-normal life. The key is to ensure that food consumed does not contribute to the possible complications that can diminish the quality of life of the diabetic person.
There are several forms of diabetes, the most common of which are classified as type-1 diabetes and type-2 diabetes, of which the latter form comprises about 90% of the diabetic population. In type-1 diabetes, the body does not produce sufficient levels of insulin. As a result, patients must give themselves daily injections to compensate for the imbalance. Type-2 diabetes patients also produce insufficient insulin. However, in type-2 patients, the body eventually stops responding to insulin altogether, resulting in additional complications and additional treatments. In both cases, following a diabetic menu greatly helps improve health.
A regular diabetic menu provides to wide range of food items from which to choose but some foods may need to be restricted in portion size. Typically, foods listed on a diabetic menu include meat, poultry, fish, fruits and vegetables, cheeses, yogurts, and other dairy products. Ideal fish items are salmon, tuna, herring, mackerel, sardines, and lake trout. It is important to understand that carbohydrates, one of the essential nutrients, is the major source of sugar in the bloodstream and while sugar is an important source of energy for the cells of the body, it can occur or in some foods in the amounts that the diabetic body cannot tolerate. Vegetables are good sources of low content carbohydrates.
Fruits do contain sugar and some are better than others but usually recommended as lower sources of fruit carbohydrates are watermelon in a cup serving, cantaloupe and grapefruit in half cup servings. A medium sized apple is good too. Between meal snacks of the right type can help moderate the rise in blood sugars somewhat and it helps to combine lean proteins and a small amount of healthy fat with high in fiber fruits or vegetables, but in limited amounts, don't overeat.
It can be difficult when shopping to resist the temptation to pick up some of the food items that can cause problems by raising sugar levels, great looking pies and pastries come to mind or chocolate cakes or any highly sugared item. It has been suggested that a way to avoid such alluring foods is to shop with a pre-written list and buy only the items on the list that was compiled we care before leaving home.
To add sweetness to food items, we need not rely on real sugar but can use artificial sweeteners instead. Commonly used to sweeten a cup of coffee, there are several varieties available in powder form or in some cases in liquid form, the product called Stevia for instance is one of them. Stevia is considered safe to use by the FDA. Artificial sweeteners can also be used in the home kitchen for baking.
In conclusion
Diabetes, if left untreated, can lead to the development of other serious and often life-threatening health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, limb amputation, eye disease and blindness - the leading cause of all of which is diabetes. Much of this can be avoided by following a well-designed diabetic menu from the time that the diabetic condition is first diagnosed. Don't wait until the damage is done.
It is necessary for patients with diabetes to adopt a diabetic menu that meets their nutritional needs without elevating their blood sugars. With the right healthy diet, diabetes can be controlled and allow the diabetic patient to live a near-normal life. The key is to ensure that food consumed does not contribute to the possible complications that can diminish the quality of life of the diabetic person.
There are several forms of diabetes, the most common of which are classified as type-1 diabetes and type-2 diabetes, of which the latter form comprises about 90% of the diabetic population. In type-1 diabetes, the body does not produce sufficient levels of insulin. As a result, patients must give themselves daily injections to compensate for the imbalance. Type-2 diabetes patients also produce insufficient insulin. However, in type-2 patients, the body eventually stops responding to insulin altogether, resulting in additional complications and additional treatments. In both cases, following a diabetic menu greatly helps improve health.
A regular diabetic menu provides to wide range of food items from which to choose but some foods may need to be restricted in portion size. Typically, foods listed on a diabetic menu include meat, poultry, fish, fruits and vegetables, cheeses, yogurts, and other dairy products. Ideal fish items are salmon, tuna, herring, mackerel, sardines, and lake trout. It is important to understand that carbohydrates, one of the essential nutrients, is the major source of sugar in the bloodstream and while sugar is an important source of energy for the cells of the body, it can occur or in some foods in the amounts that the diabetic body cannot tolerate. Vegetables are good sources of low content carbohydrates.
Fruits do contain sugar and some are better than others but usually recommended as lower sources of fruit carbohydrates are watermelon in a cup serving, cantaloupe and grapefruit in half cup servings. A medium sized apple is good too. Between meal snacks of the right type can help moderate the rise in blood sugars somewhat and it helps to combine lean proteins and a small amount of healthy fat with high in fiber fruits or vegetables, but in limited amounts, don't overeat.
It can be difficult when shopping to resist the temptation to pick up some of the food items that can cause problems by raising sugar levels, great looking pies and pastries come to mind or chocolate cakes or any highly sugared item. It has been suggested that a way to avoid such alluring foods is to shop with a pre-written list and buy only the items on the list that was compiled we care before leaving home.
To add sweetness to food items, we need not rely on real sugar but can use artificial sweeteners instead. Commonly used to sweeten a cup of coffee, there are several varieties available in powder form or in some cases in liquid form, the product called Stevia for instance is one of them. Stevia is considered safe to use by the FDA. Artificial sweeteners can also be used in the home kitchen for baking.
In conclusion
Diabetes, if left untreated, can lead to the development of other serious and often life-threatening health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, limb amputation, eye disease and blindness - the leading cause of all of which is diabetes. Much of this can be avoided by following a well-designed diabetic menu from the time that the diabetic condition is first diagnosed. Don't wait until the damage is done.
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For additional diabetes information, check out Diabetic Menu and also Diabetic Menu - Serious Challenge.
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