One of the most interesting things about diabetes is it brings discipline in the life of diabetic persons. Diabetes treatment not only depends on medicines to lower blood sugar levels, but also requires strict adherence to meal timings, exercise, and so forth.
Aims of diabetic diet
Diabetics suffer from frequent spikes in blood sugar levels on account of irregular meals. Major aim of diabetic treatment is to maintain normal blood glucose levels. This also applies to diabetes diet meal plan. Diabetics should never skip meals because it may lead to life threatening condition of hypoglycemia.
Many times anti-diabetic medicines are to be consumed before meals. This is because these medicines assist insulin to break down glucose to produce energy. If you skip meal after taking your medicine, then it will lower your available glucose in the blood to extremely dangerous levels.
Diet for diabetics is designed to maintain prolonged and normal glucose levels without spikes. It is also aimed at reducing intake of carbohydrates as these are instrumental in raising sugar levels faster than proteins.
Diet for diabetics should be rich in fiber and low calorie food substances. Omega 3 fatty acids and fats of MUFA variety are ideal sources of fats for diabetics.
Dietary considerations from Asian perspective
Asian diet consists of more carbohydrates than Western diet. Therefore Indians and people from other Asian countries need to watch their carbohydrate consumption since major part of food served in these countries consists of rice and wheat.
Ideally every person who is a latent diabetic should follow diabetic diet to reduce chances of getting diagnosed with diabetes. This is more significant for borderline or latent diabetics who have one or more close relatives suffering from diabetes.
Diabetics must avoid cream, butter, and other bakery items with high fat content. Fresh and seasonal fruits should be consumed in moderation and should be included in diabetes diet meal plan. Always go for fruits that are low in sugar content such as guava, water melon, and so forth.
It is observed that Indians are more prone to suffer from type 2 diabetes than their Western counterparts. There may be a genetic reason to this, but we need to consider dietary habits also.
There are many diabetics who are strict vegetarians. This means that they depend more on vegetables such as sprouted beans as source of protein in their meals. Milk without cream is an excellent source of proteins as well as carbohydrates.
Dietary tips for diabetes also focus on consumption of fiber rich food. It remains for a longer time in digestive tract is a good source of energy. Leafy and green vegetables and beans are rich in fiber.
Pulses have minimum effect on glucose levels in blood and can be preferred over other sources of carbohydrates.
Very high and very low blood sugar levels can be detrimental to health of diabetic people. Therefore they should eat more frequent meals. Some dieticians recommend three snacks and three small meals everyday for diabetics.
Aims of diabetic diet
Diabetics suffer from frequent spikes in blood sugar levels on account of irregular meals. Major aim of diabetic treatment is to maintain normal blood glucose levels. This also applies to diabetes diet meal plan. Diabetics should never skip meals because it may lead to life threatening condition of hypoglycemia.
Many times anti-diabetic medicines are to be consumed before meals. This is because these medicines assist insulin to break down glucose to produce energy. If you skip meal after taking your medicine, then it will lower your available glucose in the blood to extremely dangerous levels.
Diet for diabetics is designed to maintain prolonged and normal glucose levels without spikes. It is also aimed at reducing intake of carbohydrates as these are instrumental in raising sugar levels faster than proteins.
Diet for diabetics should be rich in fiber and low calorie food substances. Omega 3 fatty acids and fats of MUFA variety are ideal sources of fats for diabetics.
Dietary considerations from Asian perspective
Asian diet consists of more carbohydrates than Western diet. Therefore Indians and people from other Asian countries need to watch their carbohydrate consumption since major part of food served in these countries consists of rice and wheat.
Ideally every person who is a latent diabetic should follow diabetic diet to reduce chances of getting diagnosed with diabetes. This is more significant for borderline or latent diabetics who have one or more close relatives suffering from diabetes.
Diabetics must avoid cream, butter, and other bakery items with high fat content. Fresh and seasonal fruits should be consumed in moderation and should be included in diabetes diet meal plan. Always go for fruits that are low in sugar content such as guava, water melon, and so forth.
It is observed that Indians are more prone to suffer from type 2 diabetes than their Western counterparts. There may be a genetic reason to this, but we need to consider dietary habits also.
There are many diabetics who are strict vegetarians. This means that they depend more on vegetables such as sprouted beans as source of protein in their meals. Milk without cream is an excellent source of proteins as well as carbohydrates.
Dietary tips for diabetes also focus on consumption of fiber rich food. It remains for a longer time in digestive tract is a good source of energy. Leafy and green vegetables and beans are rich in fiber.
Pulses have minimum effect on glucose levels in blood and can be preferred over other sources of carbohydrates.
Very high and very low blood sugar levels can be detrimental to health of diabetic people. Therefore they should eat more frequent meals. Some dieticians recommend three snacks and three small meals everyday for diabetics.
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