Controlling Diabetes With Diet

THERE is no cure for diabetes. Diabetes can only be managed and controlled. Management of diabetes conducted in three ways: medications, insulin, diet. 

Managing diabetes through dietary means implementing a balanced diet and limit in a controlled diet. This applies to all diabetics, irrespective of diabetes type. In some cases, a good diet alone is enough to control type 2 diabetes. 

However, if you suffer from diabetes type 1 (insulin-dependent diabetes), you need to balance food intake and insulin injections to achieve your best blood sugar levels. All type 1 diabetics must get insulin shots, but only a small fraction of patients with type 2 diabetes who require it.

In essence, there is no special diet for diabetes. Foods that are eaten by diabetics are the same food is eaten by everyone. The recommended diet for diabetics as well as good for everyone. The difference is, this diet is far more important for diabetics, because without it any drugs become ineffective: 

1. Eat regularly 

You can easily keep blood sugar levels under control if you eat regularly. If you get insulin, dietitian or doctor will explain the importance of balancing diet with injections and gradually find your own way so that your food intake to produce energy. This may be difficult at first, but with good discipline you can do it. Generally, you have to consume large meals or snacks every 3-4 hours and take medications or injections to help control your sugar levels. If you work at night, you may need extra food or snacks. 

2. Weight control 

Diabetics who are overweight are strongly encouraged to lose weight. You need to follow some simple guidelines to lose weight. (Remember that the only way to lose weight is to consume less food calories than you need for daily activities). 

•  Eat fewer servings 

•  Reduce consumption of fried and fatty foods 

•  Reduce snacks like chips and cookies, replace it with fruit or juice without sugar 

•  Increase physical activity and sport to be more fit

3. Eat the right carbohydrates 

Carbohydrates are digested in the body to produce glucose, which gives you energy. There are two types of carbohydrates: sugars and starches. 

Sugary foods such as soft drinks, candy, chocolate, sweet biscuits and puddings should be avoided because it is very quickly cause spikes in blood glucose. You can choose food / artificial sweetened beverages such as saccharin or aspartame, but in the long term excessive use can be bad for health. Carbohydrates from flour such as rice, bread, potatoes, pasta, cereals and fruit more slowly absorbed by the body and is a good source of energy. You can consume it regularly throughout the day. 

To measure how fast or slow carbohydrates increase blood glucose, experts use a measure called the glycemic index or GI. The lower the GI number, the smaller the small fluctuations in blood glucose and insulin levels caused by consumption. 

4. Maintain a balanced diet 

Balanced diet allows you to control diabetes and ensure the effectiveness of your treatment. As a guide, your diet must meet the following criteria: 

•  Two-fifths of your plate should consist of foods that contain carbohydrates, which should also be high in fiber. 

•  Two-fifths of your plate should consist of vegetables or fruit. 

•  One fifth of your plate should contain protein sources, such as meat, fish, eggs, tempeh or tofu. 

If you follow a balanced diet, you do not need vitamin or mineral supplements. Some experts argue that the lack of some elements such as chromium and selenium may accelerate diabetic complications. However, there is no way to measure the amount of their diet or their level in your blood. The best way to get them in your diet is to create a diversity of foods you eat. 

A healthy diet means the right combination of good food and replace hazardous foods with beneficial ones. If you are still worried or anxious about what you eat, ask the advice of your dietitian or doctor.