The Diabetic Menu

Diabetes Management Made Easy

Type 2 Diabetic Diet

Sep 2

Posted by Jane in Type 2 Diabetic Diet | No Comments

We all need to eat a healthy, well balanced diet but for diabetics it is especially important.  A Type 2 diabetic diet is actually very similar to what most people should eat in terms of eating a wide variety of natural, low fat foods.  The main difference is that a diabetic has to pay special attention to their blood sugar levels, and certain types of foods may be potentially more detrimental to their health.

A diabetic needs to pay special attention to the carbohydrates they eat.  This is because the body breaks carbohydrates down into glucose, a form of sugar, when they are digested.  They provide fuel that our body needs, but because a diabetic doesn’t always produce the correct amount of insulin too many simple carbohydrates can produce a blood sugar level that’s too high and not enough carbohydrates can result in a blood sugar that is too low.  Simple sugars are found in foods such as fruit and refined sugar.  Complex carbohydrates are found in foods such as whole grains, vegetables, beans, and nuts.  These are digested as a slower rate and provide your body with a steadier source of energy than simple carbohydrates.

Diabetics also have a higher risk of developing other types of diseases such as heart disease and high blood pressure.  Therefore, they have to pay close attention to fat and salt levels.  When it comes to protein and dairy products, low fat and low calorie versions should be selected such as lean cuts of meat, low fat cheese and other dairy products made from skim milk.

Another very important part of a diabetic diet is to eat on a consistent basis.  Meals should be eaten around the same time each day.  You should also not skip meals or regular snacks, but excessive snacking between meals should be avoided.

It is also important to eat a low fat, low calories diet.  Around 1800 calories is generally recommended for a diabetic, with around 50% of calories coming from carbohydrates, 30% from fat and 20% from protein.

Before starting on any type 2 diabetic diet, you should consult with your physician and perhaps a nutritionist or dietitian who understands the health issues that a diabetic faces.  You can also get great ideas for meals from diabetic cookbooks and you can even find free diabetic recipes over the internet.  The main thing is to not rely on junk food and overly processed foods, but eat a wide variety of natural, low calories foods instead.

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Gestational Diabetes Diet

Aug 31

Posted by Jane in Gestational Diabetes | No Comments

Gestational diabetes is diabetes that occurs in women when they are pregnant.  When this happens a gestational diabetes diet may be needed to correct the problem.  If it is not corrected, it could cause potential problems for the pregnant mother as well as her baby.

When we eat, most of our food gets broken down into glucose, which is a simple sugar.  The glucose provides our body with the energy we need for daily activity.  Insulin is a hormone our body produces that helps our bodies utilize the glucose for energy.  When we don’t have enough insulin, our body cannot use the glucose as energy and our blood sugar level starts to rise.  Diabetics do not produce sufficient insulin or are insulin resistant and must either alter their diets and/or take insulin to correct this problem.

Gestational diabetes is caused by hormone changes that occur in women during their pregnancies.  An increased level of hormones can interfere with the body’s ability to produce insulin and manage glucose levels (also known as insulin resistance).  Normally a pregnant mother can produce more insulin, however in some cases this doesn’t occur and gestational diabetes develops.

When this happens, a gestational diabetes diet is needed to keep both the mother and baby healthy.  Gestational diabetes is usually temporary and goes away after the pregnancy is over.  If it goes untreated, it increases the risk of a pregnant mother from later developing type 2 diabetes.  For the baby, it can cause extra weight gain and increase the risk of a premature birth.

If it is discovered that a pregnant woman has developed gestational diabetes, a special diet plan needs to be implemented.  Carbohydrates have the largest impact on blood sugar levels because they get broken down into glucose when digested.  So it is very important to control the amount and types of carbohydrates eaten at each meal, along with the necessary fats and proteins.

When on a gestational diabetes diet, meals should be eaten at regular intervals with snacks in between.  It is very important to not skip any meals or scheduled snacks, in order to maintain proper blood sugar levels.  A consistent level of carbohydrates should also be eaten at each meal as well as snack.  Foods high in fiber are also important.  They aid in digestion and are also digested more slowly which helps to maintain a consistent blood sugar level.

The most important thing to do before going on any gestational diabetes diet, is to consult with your pediatrician or diabetes specialist to make sure that the diet takes into account the special needs of both pregnant mothers and their baby, as well as the gestational diabetes.

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Diabetic Weight Loss Diet

Aug 29

Posted by Jane in Diabetic Weight Loss Diet | 1 Comment

Obesity and being over weight are very big problems today.  One of the things it can contribute to is diabetes.  In fact, a healthy diet and regular exercise can significantly reduce the risk of diabetes.  It is important for diabetics to get their weight under control in order to help monitor their blood sugar levels.  A sound diabetic weight loss diet can help diabetics to not only lose weight, but help to control their blood sugars, and possibly even help them get off of insulin and other types of medications they are taking.

Before starting any sort of weight loss program, a diabetic should sit down with their doctor, dietitian, nutritionist or other diabetes educator to map out a diet and exercise plan that will meet their individual needs.  Diabetics need to pay close attention to not only what they eat but their blood sugar levels, insulin doses and other medications as well.  Changes to your eating habits can effect your blood sugar levels as well as the amount of insulin and medication you need to take so it is very important to consult with a specialist.

When dieting, you will need to pay attention to your blood sugar levels so that you don’t you don’t end up with too high or too low levels.  Generally speaking, it is safe to cut about 500 calories a day, across proteins carbohydrates and fats.  People who suffer from diabetes need to maintain good ratios of carbohydrates, protein and fat.  A recommended ratio is 50% carbohydrates, 30% fat and 30% protein. One other thing that should be emphasized is that diabetics need to get on a regular schedule and not skip meals to help to maintain their blood sugar levels.

It is especially important that you spread your daily intake of carbohydrates across all of your meals.  Carbohydrates affect your blood sugar levels the most, as they are turned into glucose, so you need to keep them spread out to help maintain even blood sugar levels.  In addition, you should concentrate on carbohydrates that are complex rather than simple, such as whole grains, vegetables and starches.  These are digested at a slower rate and will help to keep your blood sugar level more constant.

Getting regular exercise is another important part of a diabetic weight loss diet.  When you exercise on a regular basis you will not have to cut your calories as much to lose weight.  Keep in mind that aerobic exercise can result in immediate changes to your blood sugar levels, whereas more strenuous exercise can affect them several hours later.  You should consult with your doctor or other diabetes specialist before undergoing any vigorous exercise program. However, simple aerobic exercise like walking or muscle toning exercise like a seated row exercise should be safe if done in moderation.

Like anyone, losing weight for a diabetic comes down to eating healthy foods and exercising regularly.  However, diabetics need to also take into account the effects the diet will have on their blood sugar levels as well as any changes to their insulin and other medications.

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