Diabetic Diet Strategy
Diet is the cornerstone of diabetes management. An appropriate diet can help and maintain optimal blood glucose levels and prevent or delay the long term complications of diabetes. Diabetics should consult a registered dietitian to work out a diet. In addition to managing blood glucose, meal planning should take into consideration age and related health concerns like cholesterol levels or high blood pressure.
Your carbohydrates, fats, protein mix is key. To maintain healthy blood glucose levels, meals and snacks should be balanced to provide a mixture of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Adults may need to reduce fat and cholesterol intake to protect against heart and kidney disease. An overweight person needs to focus on weight loss by decreasing caloric intake and increasing daily activity levels.
CARBOHYDRATES
Carbohydrates are the basic currency of glucose. For most diabetics, carbohydrate rich food such as vegetables, breads, cereals and pasta should account for 45 percent to 60 percent of their daily calories. Because the fiber content of these carbohydrates slows down the release of glucose, high fiber starches, such as barley, oat cereals, beans, peas and lentils help suppress any sharp increases in blood sugar levels after meals
Soluble fiber, the kind found in oatmeal may actually help lower blood sugar levels (it also helps lower cholesterol). And insoluble fiber, found in whole grains and many vegetables, helps you feel full on fewer calories.
PROTEIN
Choose nutritious protein sources. There is no research to support either an increased or decreased protein intake for uncomplicated diabetes, so the recommended amount for non diabetics is also appropriate for adults with diabetes. High quality protein foods (lean meats, meat substitutes and lower fat dairy foods) should supply 10 to 20 percent of daily calories.
FAT
People with diabetes should follow a lower fat diet. High fat diets contribute to obesity and high cholesterol levels. Saturated fats from animal foods and hydrogenated fats in packaged foods should also be limited. On the other hand, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats such as those founs in vegetable oils, nuts, fish ans avocaods are good for the heart and also slow the digestion process, helping to stabilize blood sugar levels. They may also reduce insulin resistance.
source: Readers’ Digest Foods that Harm Food that Heal an A-Z Guide to safe and healthy eating
