Weight Fitness

Diabetes Diets for Better Living

April 17th, 2010 at 02:40pm Under Uncategorized

Healthy diabetes diets will assist you in controlling your blood sugar levels.

All doctors recommend a healthy diet for diabetics, but in addition to that, you need to exercise daily to maintain a healthy weight. Exercise also plays a major role in making you feel good, energized and it can also boost your immunity.

Every diabetic will have different needs, that is why it is vital that you formulate a personalized meal and exercise plan.

You should do this in conjunction with your doctor or specialist to ensure that nothing is left out. Your medical requirements are your first priority so always make sure your doctor approves of any dietary changes that you wish to implement.

Let’s look at diabetes in a little more depth so you can understand the and why of diabetes diets.

Diabetes nutrition has the aim of doing three things:

- Maintaining blood sugar levels as measured through the A1c haemoglobin test.
- Controlling your blood pressure
- Lowering your cholesterol and/or maintaining low cholesterol

What about alcohol?
A diabetes diet will generally not include alcohol. There are many calories in alcohol and it should not be drunk when your blood sugar level is not optimal. Most diabetics avoid alcohol altogether, but you may be occasionally able to drink it. See your doctor for specific advice.

When buying food, consider the glycemic index. This is a ranking that is able to estimate the effect that a particularly food will have on a person’s blood sugar level. Carbohydrates play a big role in determining the rating of particular foods in the glycemic index.

Low glycemic index foods will not cause rapid spikes in your blood sugar levels after you eat them. High glycemic foods will cause a blood sugar spike and increase their level. The BMI (body mass index) of people who eat alot of high glycemic foods is also likely to be higher as they are likely to have more body fat. A dietician or nutritionist can assess your diet to see if it fits will within the glycemic index as recommended for a diabetic.

By Paul

Diabetes Diet – Control That Sugar Now!

March 6th, 2010 at 12:17am Under Uncategorized

If you have diabetes then you know just how closely you have to scrutinize what you eat everyday. A diabetes diet is all about glucose control. Whilst there is no one specified diet for diabetics but you can easily stick to a safe and healthy eating plan by learning about the foods that are ok to eat all the time, those that are fine in moderation and the foods or food types that you should avoid.

Your blood sugar levels are greatly influenced by what you eat and how much you eat. Diabetics should avoid eating large meals. Instead, eat regular smaller meals all day. 5 small meals per day are better than 3 large ones.

Carbohydrate intake is a particular focal point for a diabetes diet. You will want to minimize intake of simple carbohydrates. These include white breads, white rice and other white grains. These grains have had the wholesome part taken from them (for what reason is hard to tell, since wholegrain tastes so much better!). Not only do complex carbs benefit your health, but they also taste better and provide a fuller meal for you. You will always feel fuller if your carbohydrate intake consists of complex carbohydrates instead of simple carbs. This advice applies to all people, not just diabetics but is particularly important for diabetics.

Vegetables are your best friend when you have diabetes. You can eat them as much as you like: preferably everyday.

As you should know, sugar and sweets must be minimized when you are diabetic. You don’t have to give them up altogether; but you certainly need to monitor your intake. Eating sweets once per week is probably the maximum that you should aim for however this will depend upon the type of diabetes you have, the severity of it and other factors. Opt to try a sugar free version of your favorite desserts.

If you are a smoker and have been diagnosed with diabetes your doctor will tell you to give up smoking because smoking can make your diabetes symptoms much more severe.

Always speak to your doctor about your diabetes diet before trying anything new or if you are unsure whether particular foods are right for you.

By Paul