Meal planning includes choosing healthy foods,
eating the right amount of food, and eating meals
at the right time. The American Diabetes
Association and the American Dietetic Association
developed 6 food exchange lists for the purpose
of meal planning for people with diabetes as
part of a diabetes diet. The 6 lists for a
diabetes diet are: starch or bread, meat and
substitutes, vegetables, fruits, milk or dairy,
and fat. Every food on the list has approximately
the same amount of carbohydrate, fat, protein,
and calories for the amount given.
Any food on the diabetes diet list can be
exchanged for any other food on the same list.
The food exchange lists also show the number of
food choices that can be eaten at each meal
and snack. Using the foods on the exchange list
(along with a personal meal plan designed by a
registered dietitian or nutritional counselor)
will control the distribution of calories
throughout the day so that food and insulin
will be balanced.
Meal plans for a diabetes diet differ depending
on the type of diabetes. With insulin-dependent
diabetes (Type I), consistency in the time meals
are eaten and the amounts and types of food
eaten is very important to allow food and
insulin to work together to regulate blood-glucose
levels. If meals and insulin are out of balance,
extreme variations in blood glucose can occur.
In non insulin-dependent diabetes, weight
control is the most important principle in
addition to a well-balanced diet.
Consultation with a dietitian or nutrition
counselor or your medical practitioner is an
invaluable tool for planning meals and
controlling a diabetes diet. They can also
advise you on long term maintenance diet plans
and make recommendations for regular exercise
options.
Azuc Sangi is the owner of
Diabetes IT
which is a premier resource for diabetes information.
for more information, go to http://www.diabetesit.com
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Prologue and Rationale
When the level of blood glucose rises above normal it gives rise to a condition called diabetes. The food we eat gets converted into glucose or fat in our body to provide energy for work. The organ lying near the stomach known as pancreas secretes a hormone, insulin that helps the glucose to get stored in the body cells. When pancreas are not able to produce insulin in required amounts or is not able to use insulin the glucose is not able to get store in the cells, as a result the sugar gets stored in the blood causing diabetes. The cases of diabetes are much higher these days as compare to the past. It occurs in all age groups but the most common sufferers are obese people in middle or older age. The most commonly used screening tests are the determination of the fasting blood glucose level and the blood glucose level tested two hours after a meal. The normal fasting blood sugar content is 80-120mg.per 100 ml of blood, this can go up to a level of 160 mg. per 100 ml of blood two hours after meals. Anything above these levels can be termed as diabetic levels.
Types of diabetes
Type 1 diabetes
In this type 1 diabetes the body stops producing insulin or produces less to regulate the level of blood glucose. It was previously called insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) or juvenile onset diabetes. The people suffering from types 1 diabetes require insulin treatment daily to sustain life.
Type 2 diabetes
In this type of diabetes the pancreas secrete insulin but the body is not able to use the insulin. This condition is also referred to as insulin resistance. This insulin resistance results in type 2 diabetes when enough amounts of insulin is not secreted to cope up with the higher demands. It was previously known as non-insulin dependent mellitus (NIDDM) or adult onset diabetes. It doesn’t occur in younger people. It can be controlled with proper diet, weight loss and exercise.
Gestational diabetes
It usually occurs during the second half of pregnancy. It can cause problems for the mother and babies if proper medication is not done. It disappears after the delivery. The women who suffer from this diabetes in pregnancy have more chances to suffer from type 2 diabetes in the later years of life.
Symptoms
The various symptoms of diabetes are:
Dry skin
Slow recovery from an injury
Frequent urination
Fatigue
Blurred vision
Excessive thirst and hunger
Sudden weight loss
Intense hunger
Weak appearance
Numbness of hands and feet
Stomach pains
Causes
Systematic overeating and obesity mainly cause diabetes. This overeating is just not if sugar and refined carbohydrates but also high intake of proteins and fats. Grief, worry and anxiety are also the causes of diabetes that affects the metabolism and cause sugar to appear in the urine. It may also be caused due to some disorders like cancer, tuberculosis and cerebral disease. Diabetes is a heredity disease, which can affect many generations. It can also be caused due to many nutritional deficiencies and use of certain medicines for longer period of time.
Treatment
1. Soybean is a very good source of emery for diabetic patients. It is full of proteins, iron, calcium, vitamin A and fibre
2. Fenugreek seeds are very useful in diabetes. Soak about 90-100 seeds in 250 grams of water and leave it overnight. Mash them in the morning and sieve in a cloth and drink mixture regularly. Use for at least 2 months to cure diabetes.
3. Fruit, leaves, seeds and juice of jamun are also useful. Its seeds prevent conversion of starch into sugar. Drink half cup of water mashed with 3-4 leaves of jamun tree. Take it for 5-10 days.
4. Roast barley, make its powder and eat chapatti made out of it.
5. Bitter gourd ( karela) is one of the best options. These can be simply fried with salt and other condiments and can be taken 2-3 daily.
6. Regular moderate exercise helps to control diabetes.
7. Diabetes can be controlled with specific yogaasana like shashankasana.
8. Juice of bilva and parijataka leaves in equal parts, 2 teaspoons taken twice a day also helps in the reduction of sugar.
9. Half-cup karela juice can also be taken.
10. Regular juice of grape fruit cures diabetes.
11. Patola (snake gourd) and bimbi are also beneficial for diabetic patients
12. Leaves of mango tree also fight diabetes. Boil 3-4 fresh leaves of mango tree in the morning and drink.
13. Chew 3-4 leaves of jamun morning and evening in the early stages.
14. Supplementation of cereals with gram is highly beneficial. Make a chapatti of gram flour and barley flour.
15. Regular intake of two tender leaves each of neem and bilva in the morning reduces blood sugar.
16. Soaked almonds are also beneficial.
17. Take 60 grams of fresh ripe fruit of jamun and dip in 300 grams of boiling water and then cover it. Mash it after half an hour and sieve. Divide into three parts and drink each part thrice a day.
Diet
Celery, cucumbers, string beans, onion and garlic are highly beneficial for diabetes patients. Onion and garlic have been proved beneficial in reducing blood sugar in diabetes. Upon arising the patient must have a glass of Luke warm water with fresh lemon juice. In the breakfast the patients should include any fresh fruit except bananas. Steamed or lightly cooked green vegetables such as cabbage, spinach, cauliflower, turnip and mushrooms are the best for the lunch. Cooked starchy foods should be avoided as in the process of cooking the cellulose envelops of the starch granules burst and the starch is easily absorbed in the system. Emphasis should be on raw foods as they stimulate and increase insulin production
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Diabetes has acquired its name from the Greek word “siphon”. Diabetes is a disorder of the metabolism and the endocrine system, and is a blood-related disease. It has two forms: Diabetes mellitus (from the Greek word for sugar) and Diabetes insipidus. The main causes of this disorder are that either the body does not produce enough insulin, as happens in type 1 diabetes, or it does not use the available insulin in a proper manner, as in type 2 diabetes. Insulin is a hormone that helps the body convert glucose into energy. The factors which contribute to diabetes include lack of exercise, excessive weight, age, poor diet and, most importantly, genetics.
The symptoms of diabetes are fatigue, as the body does not get enough energy due to non-absorption of glucose, unquenchable thirst due to frequent urination, and weakening of the eyesight as a consequence of loss of excess body fluid in the form of urine. A diabetic person is also susceptible to frequent infections, like urinary tract infections, colds and flu. Another symptom is a tingling or burning feeling in the hands and feet. Most of the time diabetes goes unchecked because the symptoms are harmless.
A number of tests have been devised to help find out if you are diabetic. The fasting plasma glucose test, done in the morning, is a relatively cheap and easy test. It measures the blood sugar levels when one is not eating. The random plasma glucose test does not require fasting and can be done at any time. This type of test is the easiest and does not require any preparation. The oral glucose tolerance test involves checking blood glucose while fasting and then asking the patient to drink a super-sweet solution, after which the test is repeated, the results are compared to the standard, and if your reading is higher than normal then you have diabetes. Other tests involve glycated hemoglobin, urine tests and finger-prick tests.
It is sad that diabetes is a life-long disease. Even if you undergo treatment in the form of medication, diet change and exercise to get your sugar levels under control, you are still diabetic.
Diabetes provides detailed information on Diabetes, Symptoms Of Diabetes, Diabetes Supplies, Diabetes Diets and more. Diabetes is affiliated with 1200 Calorie Diabetic Diets.
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