Diabetes Diet

Diabetes diet guidelines are that there won’t be one set of guidelines suitable for everyone. Each and every diet plan should be designed around the individual. It is a common misconception that there is such a thing as a diabetes diet, there isn’t as people with diabetes should eat exactly the same amount of calories as a non diabetic person.

For the diabetic, knowing what to eat, what foods to avoid, and how to achieve and maintain a healthy weight can seem very difficult.

The Diet for Diabetes is straight forward yet you need to know how to control the carbohydrates.. It is important to monitor what carbohydrates you are eating and when you are eating them. Diabetics need to try to keep their blood sugar levels as balanced as possible avoiding both high blood sugar levels and low blood sugar levels.

How much of the carbohydrate or carb (CHO) foods can I eat? Well that depends if you would need to lose weight, gain weight or maintain your weight.

Diabetes 2 diet contain a green leafy vegetable or salad, Protein foodstuff (eggs , meat, fish, cheese) and a smaller portion of carbohydrate vegetables or rice, pasta or whatever other carbs.

With Type 2 Diabetes Diet, protein foods do not raise your blood sugar, so you can add extra fish, eggs, meat, etc with your meals. The American Diabetes Association has what’s called the Diabetes Food Pyramid. Designed much like the revised (2005) version of the USDA’s Food Pyramid, this pyramid provides excellent information and diabetes diet guidelines to help you gain control of your blood sugars, your weight, and your diabetes.

The diabetes food pyramid is divided into six groups. The size of the groups varies. The larger the group, the more servings per day of foods within that group should be consumed.

Grains and starches (carbohydrates) is the largest group. This includes foods such as rice, pasta, breads, and cereals, potatoes, corn, peas, and some beans. The recommended number of servings per day is 6-11. Most people should use the lower number of servings.

The next group is vegetables. Vegetables are naturally low fat. This makes them a good food choice for everyone. Spinach, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflowers, carrots, tomatoes, lettuce, and cucumbers are examples of vegetables in this group. Please note the more starchy vegetables like potatoes, corn, and others are in the grains and starches group. The recommended number of servings per day for this group is 3-5.

The middle layer of the Diabetes Food Pyramid is fruit. This group also contains some carbohydrates. Berries, melons, apples, bananas, peaches, grapes, and other fruits are found in this group. The recommended number of servings is 2-4 per day.

Following the fruits is the milk group. This includes milk and milk products. For those trying to reduce their weight and cholesterol choose low-fat dairy products. Recommended servings are 2-3 per day.

Almost at the top of the pyramid is the meat group. The meat group includes chicken, beef, turkey, fish, eggs, dried beans, cheese, and peanut butter. You only need 4-6 ounces servings per day.

At the top of the pyramid are the fats, sweets, and alcohol group. This group should be avoided. Most recommend keeping your portion sizes small and only having these foods on special occasions.

Hints for a Successful Diabetes Diet

The following hints will give you some idea of what changes you will need to make in your diet to successfully manage diabetes:

-          Eating often – rather than 1-2 large meals per day, it is healthier to consume 3-4 small meals. This allows you to eat in healthy proportions without feeling hungry throughout the day.

-          Whole-grain foods – whole-grain foods such as wheat breads, wheat rice, and wheat pasta help you to control the amount of carbohydrates you take in.

-          Fresh fruits and vegetables – eating fresh fruits and vegetables will help your digestive system to perform correctly. It is easier for your body to turn natural sugar into energy.

-          Fat – eating less fat is essential to an overall healthy diet and this allows your body to be able to digest food better and absorb the necessary nutrients.

-          Sweets – consuming large amounts of sweets can cause your body to retain excess sugar levels in the blood because the kidneys cannot turn the sugars into energy fast enough.

-          Carbohydrates – carbohydrates turn to sugar in your body and are necessary in order to have the energy needed for your body to function properly. The key to carbohydrates is learning when you should consume them and how many you should consume.

-          Alcohol – as with any healthy diet, your consumption of alcohol should be limited. Alcohol has a high content of sugars and, just as too much alcohol can impair your body’s motor skills and judgment ability, too much alcohol can also impair your body’s ability to turn sugars into energy.

Article You Maybe Interested In Reading : Diabetes Causes or Diabetic Diet