Diabetic Food and Nutrition

Diabetes is a major health concern that has gripped a majority of population. Living with diabetes is a task that can be achieved with the right balance of medicines, and a rigorous diet and exercise plan that helps people combat the risks of diabetes. People who have diabetes should understand the fact that a diabetic diet is necessarily a diet that allows you to consume all sorts of healthy food in moderation.

Since maintaining normal blood sugar level is of utmost importance while living with diabetes, food and nutrition are of prime importance while living with diabetes or coping with diabetes. While coping with diabetes not only should the food intake be nutritious and healthy, but also proper meal times and schedules should be followed rigorously. A well-planned diabetic diet is the one that keeps the calories and fats away and provides essential nutrients in the right quantity at the right time. Make note that eating at the right time can make all the difference to the effects of the diet.

There exists a food pyramid suggested for the diabetes patients that contains four categories or tiers of the pyramid, the largest and the lowermost of which contains grains such as wheat, rye, and oats, which are extremely healthy. The second layer consists of fruits and vegetables. It is a common myth that fruits should be completely avoided, however minute servings of fruits that result into an intake of 15 grams of carbohydrates which can be allowed. In case you are eating a low carbohydrate fruit you’d be eating a larger portion whereas you can help yourself to a smaller serving of a fruit that has higher carbohydrate percentage.

Diabetes nutrition also suggests inclusion of vegetables due to their beneficial nutritional properties like lower fat, and higher percentage of vitamins, minerals and fiber. Hence try and include all sorts of vegetables like spinach, sorrel, broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, tomatoes, cucumbers, and lettuce in the diet. The non-vegetarian edibles are included in the third layer, which promotes the consumption of lean meat with maximum exclusion of fat and cooked in a healthy way. And the topmost and the minutest category includes the high-calorie items like butter, dairy products, and all other fat-rich substances which should be avoided or their intake should be restricted to a minimum possible.

While living with diabetes, one has to watch for the carbohydrate intake. Make sure you have a controlled amount of carbohydrate intake at every meal to ensure that your blood sugar remains constant throughout the day. If you are taking insulin supplements you need to adjust the amount of carbohydrates in accordance to your insulin dose. Do not indulge in fatty high-calorie food, since too many calories and increased cholesterol levels can lead to increased complications like weight gain and chronic heart diseases.

In case you just cannot do away without the sweets, there exist a number of artificial sweeteners that help to satiate your sweet cravings. These artificial sweeteners do not affect the blood sugar levels; however beware of the brand that you pick. It is better to check out the credibility of the product by locating a certification by a credible organization like the American Diabetes Association. Sweeteners that contain Saccharin Aspartame, Acesulfame potassium and Sucralose can be considered safe for use.

In addition to this when you are planning to eat out or eat processed food, try and keep an eye on the ingredients and make a conscious decision to pick out healthier options for your diet. Keep a controlled healthy diet and follow your meal timings to combat diabetes.

By Uttara Manohar
Published: 3/6/2008

Article from: www.buzzle.com