A Diabetic Diet To Keep The Body Healthy: A major part of properly managing diabetes involves participation in a healthy diet and lifestyle. A strict meal plan and suitable food choices are crucial in the everyday routine of a diabetes patient. It is commonly believed that to maintain blood sugar levels, diabetics do not have a wide variety of alternatives concerning food and nutrition. However, a healthy diabetes meal plan can contain an assortment of nutritional options, to satisfy the cravings and physical needs of the diabetic.
Devising a Healthy Diabetic Diet
Building a suitable diabetic diet plan can seem overwhelming at first, but is actually a very simple process. There are essentially two different goals in relation to nutrition for Type I and II diabetes. In Type I diabetes, the total amount of daily carbohydrates has the most significant effect on blood sugar maintenance, and how much insulin is needed. With diabetics who use a fixed dose of insulin to maintain their disease, the daily carbohydrate amount in snacks and meals should remain consistent. To produce ideal levels of glucose, diabetics must incorporate a suitable balance of carbohydrate consumption, insulin, in addition to physical activity. If these elements do not equate, there will most likely be a varied fluctuation in the levels of blood glucose.
The management of Type II diabetes focuses primarily on weight control. An estimated 90 percent of Type II diabetics are overweight. For these individuals, a diet consisting of an equal disbursement of carbohydrates and reduced calorie foods is recommended to assist in the improvement of blood glucose tolerance. In several cases, reasonable weight loss and an increase in physical activity can greatly improve the lives of Type II diabetics. However, in children and adolescents with Type II, certain measures must be taken. Dietary plans for these age groups should be formulated to account for the change in caloric requirements as the child grows. To meet the needs of a growing diabetic child, physicians often recommend consumption of three snacks and three small meals daily.
For both forms of diabetes, there are certain, similar guidelines that should be followed for a nutritional eating plan. All aspects of food and eating can affect your blood glucose levels. When you eat, how you eat, and most importantly, what you eat are a crucial part of diabetes management. To keep your levels within a healthy range, there are a few points that must be taken into consideration. Diabetics should have a routine when it comes to both medication and diet. Meals should be eaten at the same times daily, with medication taken at a set time, as well. Equal amounts of food should also be eaten every day, and should incorporate foods from each of the food groups. This includes, milk and yogurt, vegetables, fruits, starches, in addition, to meat and meat alternatives. The ideal protein consumption should be in the range of 15 to 20 percent of total daily calories. About six ounces of protein, which is equal to the size of two card decks, is recommended daily. Diets should contain foods reduced in saturated fat, with no more than 10 percent consumed each day. Low fat choices are lean meats, legumes, and skinless poultry. Carbohydrates should also be taken into careful consideration when devising a meal plan. Suitable carbohydrate choices include pasta, brown rice, beans, and whole grain breads. Look to food labels for information about serving size and the type of carbohydrate, as certain types can affect overall blood glucose control. For those still unsure of how to properly balance food choices, a physician or registered dietician can be of assistance.
