Diabetes Diet

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Regulating food intake is a crucial component of any diabetes treatment. Controlling the symptoms is dependent on your body’s ability to balance blood glucose levels, which can only be done if you eat the right amounts and types of food.

Goals for a Diabetic Diet

In general, a diabetes diet is not very different from the healthy, balanced diet doctors encourage for everyone. It is high in fiber and protein and low in fat, with an overall balance of nutrients. The difference is that diabetics need to be extra careful about their sugar intake, and therefore foods like carbohydrates and sweets need to be limited.

As a diabetic, the major goals you should try to achieve through your dietary habits are:

 

• Balancing your blood glucose levels: Whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, you will generally be given insulin or other medications to help your body break down sugar into energy. That is why you need to be sure your calorie intake is balanced with the medications, so that your body’s sugar level doesn’t rise or drop dramatically.

   

• Healthy lipid levels: Too much fat in your body can be dangerous and therefore your aim has to be to maintain a healthy level of cholesterol and triglycerides in the body, which also ensure the heart’s safety.

   

• Maintaining a healthy weight: Being overweight only exacerbates symptoms of diabetes, which is why doctors always stress maintaining a healthy body weight.

   

• Avoiding complications: Diabetes has been known to trigger other diseases related to the heart, kidney, eyes, and feet. By following a strict diabetes diet you can avoid these complications.

Nutritional needs

Here is a guide to some of the common food components that need to be monitored on a diabetic diet:

Proteins
When compared to fats and carbohydrates, proteins are a considered to be a safe choice for diabetic diets, since they do not raise the blood sugar level like carbohydrates, or supply high calories like fats. Experts suggest that for a diabetic, proteins should provide around 12% to 20% of the daily caloric intake. Each gram of protein is equivalent to 4 calories and it is usually recommended as a bedtime snack to maintain the glucose level. One of the richest sources of proteins is fish, which can be taken as one or two servings in a week. Other protein rich food products are soy and lentils.

Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates comprise the highest source of blood sugar. But in spite of abounding advice to the contrary, it is not true all diabetes patients should completely eliminate carbohydrates and sugars from their diet. In fact, doctors recommend that carbs account for 40%-60% of your daily caloric intake.

The carbohydrates that we consume are generally one of of two types. The complex ones found in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and starches and the simple ones found in table sugar and processed foods. For a diabetic diet, complex carbohydrates from vegetables and whole grains are best, as they take more time to break down and contain fiber, which is extremely important for preventing heart disease, promoting weight loss and preventing type 2 diabetes. On the other hand, starchy foods like potatoes and pasta, while still necessary, should be limited. Simple carbs, however, should be avoided.

 

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