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Controlling Diabetes with Diet |
Controlling Diabetes with DietDiabetes can be controlled and reduced though its cure is not found as yet.
Diabetes is the occurrence of high blood sugar levels. And since one of the main sources of glucose is the food we eat, diet is the best way to control diabetes. Controlling diabetes with diet doesn’t mean restricting and stopping oneself completely. It is just implies to create a balance of variety of nutrients/ foods in moderation along with proper eating habits.
Meals and snacks should be consumed at regular intervals daily.
One should not be empty stomach for more than 5 hours. Irregular meals may lead to certain complications.
It is best to consult a registered dietician or qualified nutritionist who will design an individualized diet plan for controlling diabetes with diet. This diabetes control diet will depend on your body’s requirement, height, weight, diabetes type, lifestyle, eating habits, and various other factors.
It is fruitful to count the amount of carbohydrates in your diet. It’s good to divide and eat proportionate carbohydrate foods in your meals & snacks.
When the carbohydrate intake is divided equally across the meals and snacks, the blood sugar level will not rise immediately. The insulin dosage also has to be adjusted as per the carbohydrate intake. Restricting fatty foods is essential since it may lead to weight gain, heart related diseases, circulatory disorders. Glycemic index that indicates the sugar level of various food types can also be checked and noted.
Care should be taken to eat the same amounts of food throughout the day. Artificial sweeteners can be consumed. They are not harmful in the short run. Fibers form an essential part of diabetes control diet since they have the capability to slow down the absorption of glucose from intestines.
There are soluble fibers found in fruits, vegetables, seeds (kidney beans) and non-soluble fibers found in whole grains, whole wheat, nuts. Weight control is an important aspect in case of type 2 diabetics.
Alcohol should be taken in small amounts if not stopped completely else it may lead to various complications. Having alcohol on an empty stomach can also lead to hypoglycemia.
It is advisable to consume less saturated fat or preferably have monounsaturated fats such olive oil, canola oil in controlling diabetes with diet. Milk also should be low fat or skimmed.
Carbohydrates and monounsaturated fats should provide 60-70% calories. This is dependable on the weight of the diabetic person. Protein should be 15-20% of the total calories and taken through fish or soy rather than meat. Fruits should also be eaten in moderation for blood sugar control.
Various dietary methods can be chosen such as Diabetic exchange lists, counting carbohydrates grams, GI in a diabetes control diet.
Regular glucose monitoring is essential. Before the meals the sugar level should be 80-120 mg/dL and at bedtime it should be between 100-140 mg/dL.
So, an effective balanced diet, which helps in blood sugar control, can go a long way in ensuring a long and healthy life.
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