Once you become a diabetic you get worried about your diet.It is better that you consult your doctor as he can guide you through proper diet.What you eat is closely related to the amount of sugar in your blood so it becomes necessary for you to control your diet intake so that your sugar level is under control.
Special Diabetic Diet
There is as such no one specific diet for diabetes.You will have to chart out a meal plan with the help of your dietician. For a diabetic person a healthy diet consists consists of 40% to 60% of calories from carbohydrates , 20% from protein and 30% or less from fats.Your diet should be low in cholesterol , salt and sugar. You need to plan your diet according to your lifestyle , weight and medication.
Nutrition Treatment in Diabetes
Your each meal can have 2 to 5 choices of carbohydrates, 1 choice of protein and a certain amount of fat.
Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates are found in fruits , vegetables , beans and starchy foods as bread. Have fresh fruits and avoid canned fruits. Condinments such as nonfat mayonnaise, Ketchup and mustard are also carbohydrates.
Carbohydrates intake can be controlled by counting your carbohydrate.Carbohydrate counting means counting the total number of grams of carbohydrate you should eat at a meal .
Protein : Protein is found in meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, beans and some vegetables. Try to eat poultry and fish more often than red meat. Don’t eat poultry skin, and trim extra fat from all meat. Choose nonfat or reduced-fat options when you eat dairy, such as cheeses and yogurts.
Fat : Butter, margarine, lard and oils add fat to food. Fat is also in many dairy and meat products. Try to avoid fried foods, mayonnaise-based dishes (unless they are made with fat-free mayo), egg yolks, bacon and high-fat dairy products. Your doctor or dietitian will tell you how many grams of fat you may eat each day. When eating fat-free versions of foods (such as mayonnaise and butter), check the label to see how many grams of carbohydrates they contain. Keep in mind that these products often have added sugar.
Soluble fibers are found mainly in fruits, vegetables and some seeds, and are especially good for people with diabetes because they help to slow down or reduce the absorption of glucose from the intestines. Legumes, such as cooked kidney beans, are among the highest soluble fiber foods. Other fiber-containing foods, such as carrots, also have a positive effect on blood sugar levels.
Some myths about Diabetic diet :
1. You must avoid sugar at all costs- include your favorite desserts or chocolates once or twice a week in moderation.
2. A high-protein diet is best – A healthy diet includes protein, carbohydrates, and fats. You need to have a balanced diet.
3. You have to cut way down on carbs – You need to focus on whole grain carbs as they get digested slowly and hence your blood sugar remains under control.
4. You need special diabetic meals- You need to eat your food in moderation .
When you are diagnosed with diabetes it takes some time to adjust to diet . But you can have a healthy diet which will keep your sugar under control and yet satisfy your taste buds.
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by on 29. Jan, 2010 in diabetes diet, diabetes nutrition
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This is really very useful and informative post. Thanks for sharing.