Diabetes: The Nutrition Mission

By: Michael Russell
Submitted: 2007-01-17 16:18:46
Print this article | Tell a friend | For publisher | Social Bookmarking
Rating:
 

One of the harder parts of being a diabetic is the endless struggle between sugar levels and food. Often times we forget just how much fat and carbohydrates we accumulate in the foods we eat. There are several key things we can do to make this transition easier for ourselves. Everyone loves sugar and sometimes it is hard to accept that this (our love) is making us sick.

Often we try to ignore the nutrition aspect of our plan all together, in hopes that if we don't look it will just go away. This is not a good option and can cause damage that cannot be repaired. When we look at our diet, first we must determine how many servings of carbohydrates we eat on a regular basis. You should spend at least a week to two week reviewing this information. Purchase a log or journal to take note of each serving you consume. (The important word here is EACH) if you are not being honest with yourself you will only hurt yourself!

After you have established a base amount, then you can determine what is healthy for a diabetic. Generally 100-150 daily is enough. Around 30 in the morning; 45 at lunch; and maybe 45 at dinner; everyone is different so consult your nutritionist for further details. In your mission to better nutrition you must also consider what types of food to eat. May people do not realize that natural sugars cause elevated sugar levels also?

Many fruits and fruit juices contain natural sugars. These are important to monitor closely. Just because they are fruit doesn't mean they can't hurt you. Listed on the back of the packages of all types of foods you eat is a nutrition chart. This contains all the information you need to determine if the food is right for you and how much of the particular food you should eat.

There are two listings to look for whenever you pick up a package: 1. Total Carbohydrates-2. sodium

The amount of total carbohydrates is very important. Carbohydrates once in your body turn to sugar, the more you have the more it affects your sugar level. The American Diabetes Association found that the level of sugar in a product didn't matter as much as the amount of carbohydrates a diabetic consumed.

Now it is recommended that the amount of carbohydrates is limited and controlled to lower blood sugar levels, along with medication in some instances, as well as exercise.

Sodium is also important because being a diabetic increases your chances of having high blood pressure and cholesterol. Consult you physician to determine the proper amount of sodium you should include in your diet daily.

Many of us don't realize the incredible amount of sodium we intake on a daily basis. Ever heard the saying "out of sight; out of mind"? Just remember taste it before you shake it!

There are many products out that have substitutions for sugar or salt, designed for diabetics. I have listed a few that maybe useful. Also listed are a few of the fruits and other foods containing natural sugars that need to be taken with care.

Another important part of preparing meals is making sure the portions are the proper size. Each food must be weighed in order to maintain a proper diet. There are a few sites listed below this article that maybe able to help you understand portion sizes and weight. You can purchase a scale at most department stores at a reasonable rate to allow you to properly weigh each serving. There are also books available that can give a nutrition chart for the foods that are not packaged and of course Americas favorite fast foods.

Though there are extra steps one must follow, when being a diabetic; you can still lead a healthy and productive live. With proper nutrition and education you can learn to control and take care of this disease properly, this will cause fewer complications later on in life.

Recommended Fruits:

Apples Lemons Plums Grapes

Fruits Moderate In Sugar

Peaches Mangos Cherries Papayas Oranges

Bananas

Helpful References:

The American Diabetes Association

The Public Health Net

Everyday Eating Provide recipes for diabetics.

Books:

A good book for nutrition counting; lists foods from A-Z Including Fast Foods

The Complete Nutrition Counter Written by: Lynn Sonberg

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Diabetics

Article source: Expert Articles

Most Recent Articles in Diabetes category

  • Moringa - The Natural cure for diabetes - By: Avon Howard
    Diabetes is a metabolic disorder resulted in hyperglycemia. Diabetic mellitus I & II are types of diabetes where Diabetes II can be controlled by diet and exercise. Moringa contains all essential nutrient needed for the diabetic patient to control their blood glucose level.
  • The Causes of Diabetes - By: Guna Seelan
    Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are different because they are both affected by insulin deficiency differently. A Type 1 diabetic is unable to produce insulin altogether whilst a Type 2 diabetic is ether not able to use insulin at they should be able to, or they cannot create insulin in sufficient quantities to live without insulin injections.
  • Symptoms of Diabetes Type 2 - By: Guna Seelan
    Type 2 diabetes is considered less severe than type 1. In actual fact, a sufferer can often go a very long time, even years, without knowing that they have the condition. The cause of type 2 diabetes remains unknown, however that is not to say that there has not been hypothesizes drawn over the likely causes.
  • The Symptoms of Diabetes Type-1 - By: Guna Seelan
    Type 1 diabetes is a more aggressive form of diabetes than Type 2. In Type 1 diabetes the sufferer is incapable of producing insulin altogether, and as a result will have more problems than a Type 2 sufferer who either produces less insulin or is incapable of absorbing insulin correctly.
  • IBS Diet - Foods & Eating for Irritable Bowel Syndrome - By: Rachit Dayal
    This articles examples the seven most important principles of an irritable bowel syndrome diet. Following these simple guidelines can help patients of IBS get relief from their symptoms and let their digestive system heal. Inside you'll find everything you need to know about - ibs diet, most common trigger foods, right and wrong foods, soluble fibers, acid-alkaline balance, fresh vs processed foods, what to avoid, and lifestyle tips on how to eat.
  • Diabetes Diet and Nutrition Guide - By: Andy John
    Diabetes Diet and Nutrition Guide for Diabetes Patients. Proper nutrition is essential to effectively manage diabetes. Keeping blood glucose level as close to normal (non-diabetes level) as possible is the only goal of a healthy eating plan for people with diabetes. This can be easily achieved by eating well-balanced meals and healthy food in the right amounts.
  • Diabetes - Alternate Site Testing - By: Andy John
    Alternate Site Testing may be a comfort for people with diabetes. Alternate Site Testing as the name suggests, allows people suffering from diabetes to take blood samples for glucose testing using parts of the body other than the fingertips.
  • Diabetes Basics - By: Andy John
    Diabetes Basics covering What is Diabetes, Types of Diabetes, Risk Factors and Symptoms of Diabetes.
  • Buy Your Diabetes Glucose Monitor Kit Carefully - By: Roberto Sedycias
    Buying a diabetes glucose monitor kit is definitely a wise decision, but do you know what to consider while buying this device? Read on to find out.
  • Diabetes Natural Treatment - By: Natisha Nel
    Diabetes mellitus is a clinical syndrome characterized by hyperglycemia due to absolute or relative deficiency of insulin. In the simplest terms diabetes mellitus (commonly referred to as just "diabetes") is a blood sugar disease, in which the body either does not produce or does not properly utilize insulin.