How do you control your diabetes?
August 24th, 2010I would like to know how people control their diabetes in terms of personal things that you may do to keep as close to a normal blood sugar as possible. In addition to meds.
Jeanne
Including fruit in a diabetic diet is something that a lot of folks with this condition can be very confused about. We all be aware that fruit contains sugar but what we do not know is whether or not fruit should be avoided. But as long as a diabetic is keeping an eye on the amount of sugar that they are eating, it should be find to include some fruit in their diet. For example there are more carbohydrates in fruits including mangoes than there are in the likes of strawberries. Eating fruit on a diabetic diet requires the person to judge each fruit individually and just make sure never to go over the top.
Some Other Things To Consider With The Diabetic Diet And Fruit.
-Folk who have type 1 diabetes and need to take insulin, have to constantly check their blood sugars and make adjustments to their diet accordingly. Those who have stable blood sugars and who eat fruit already won’t have too much of a problem. Nonetheless they will have a need for a re-think if they suddenly increase their consumption of fruit and then find that there is a major change to their blood sugars.
-A person who does not have to take insulin to control their diabetes has Type 2 diabetes and they need to speak to their dietician about the inclusion of food in their diet. They should be able to eat fruit but may need to keep an eye on the amount. Information will be key in helping them judge which fruits and how much is safe to eat.
The belief that fruit cannot be included in a diabetic diet is a myth. There is no contributing factor why most diabetics can’t enjoy fruit, but like most others of food they will need to be balanced about it. Eating too much fruit would likely be a bad thing, but too much of anything is almost always bad.
People that unfortunately suffer from any type of diabetes always like to learn all they can about things like diabetes diet. In today’s day and age, diabetes information has become readily available for all interested parties, and there is a lot on things like diabetic diet. Don’t be left behind; a little online searching can reveal a goldmine of info, so get to it and you could be finding out things like diabetic diet and fruit.
Diabetes 2 is a serious condition which can lead to major disorders of the body. It does not have a simple or permanent cure yet, but it can certainly be controlled by lifestyle changes. These changes include a healthy diet, healthy eating plans, and regular physical activity or exercise.
What is Type 2 Diabetes?
Type ii diabetes is the result of high sugar (glucose) levels in the blood which occurs after eating many different types foods, but especially poor quality carbohydrates (in white flour, sugary sweets and in highly processed foods which contain little fibre; you need fibre in foods to help you slow down the rapid rate of sugar absorption from the intestines ?otherwise blood sugar levels will rise too quickly!). The high levels of sugar in the blood stream circulate around the body causing damage to all the major organs of the body including eyes, heart, kidneys, blood circulation system (arteries) and your sex organs.
There are two different types of diabetes. This article is about Diabetes 2, the main type of diabetes. It can be diagnosed by performing the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). In this test, the individual is provided with a sweet drink having 75 grams of sugar (glucose). Then following 2 hours, the blood sugar level is determined after a portion of blood is taken. A diagnosis of Diabetes is made when the findings are made of a blood glucose value of 200 mg/dl (11 mmol/l) or more.
Role of Diet:
You can certainly control Diabetes 2 effectively with a correct ‘diet routine’ which should include only the least quanttities of simple sugars (sweets) and simple carbohydrates (such as white flour products). It is important to eat ‘complex’ carbohydrates including wholegrain products (with plenty of fibre), vegetables (but not potatoes), beans and pulses (chickpeas, lentils and peas). Also, you need to change your eating habits by eating frequent smaller sized meals. As a result, smaller rises in your blood glucose levels will be achieved when following a meal plan with smaller sized meals (instead of really big rises in blood glucose if you have only one or two really heavy (big) meals a day). So, you should eat more of fresh vegetables and fruits while reducing the intake of white flour (although brown (wholemeal) flour is good), reduce white rice (although wholegrain brown rice is good) and foods high in fat (especially those with a lot of trans and saturated fats!). Olive oil is considered a quality and healthy oil in diabetes; but you should also decrease your intake of all fats, including oils. It is also advisable if you don’t have diabetes to follow this eating plan as it is healthy and may even prevent the onset of diabetes!
Lifestyle in Diabetes:
A healthy life style will surely help you to control Type 2 Diabetes and its seriousdreaded health complications.
Firstly, do regular exercise (you can easily walk 10-20 minutes a day) to keep yourself fit and active, and also to burn and help your body reduce the sugar (glucose) levels in your blood. As mentioned, you will need to alter your lifestyle by revisiting your diet. So, eat in smaller portions by dividing three big meals a day into six smaller meals. Decreasing the simple carbohydrates, sugar and salt intake in your diet is also a must.
You will need to closely monitot your blood sugar readings constantly and minimise any large sudden jumps in blood sugar readings by not eating the wrong foods correctly and by keeping yourself fit, healthy and active. See your dietitian and doctor routinely with your sugar level records.
Exercise and Diabetes Control:
90 % of the individuals who have Type two Diabetes are over weight according to research surveys. Consequently physical activity has a major role in the routine to prevent the onset of Diabetes 2, and even keeping diabetes in check, once you may get it. Physical activity assists in reaching and keeping a healthy, as well as keeping you fit and vital! Any sort of physical activity is satisfactory, and ideally performed with a timer (for 10 – 30 min) and slowly leading up to 30 min (per day), several (4-5 times per week). However, chat with your physician before you commence! Walking, jogging, swimming and yoga are good exercises to achieve the required level of physical activity to help you reduce your blood sugars!
Diabetes Prevention:
There is no permanent cure for Type two Diabetes but you can help prevent or control it by a good diet plan, regular exercise, medication (if required) and avoiding all types of stress (which can increase your blood sugars!). So, eat a healthy and controlled diet with smaller portions, avoid stress, take any required medications and do exercise to enjoy life with diabetes!
Cooking with the proper (best) oils aids anybody with Type two Diabetes and for people who don’t too. However, those with Diabetes have a higher risk of heart disease than the general population. That is why finding the right oils are so important. Several good options on the market will help keep the unhealthy fats at bay. Some are great for cooking at high temperatures. Others are not. It is also well known that as oil reaches smoke point, it commences to degrade. At that point, did you know terrible free radicals release into the oil and undesirable carcinogens go into the air.
Canola oil is a good example of healthy oil for someone with Type ii diabetes. This is a mono-saturated fat that works in baking, sautéing, stir-frying and in salad dressings. It has a higher smoke point than many oils at 425 degrees Fahrenheit (220 degrees Celsius). It is also more affordable than many other healthy oils. It makes it a great choice for the majority of cooking needs. Safflower oil is another common oil choice that is also recognised as healthy. This polyunsaturated oil works fine for numerous cooking methods. With a smoke point of 450 degrees Fahrenheit (232 degrees Celsius), it can handle almost anything you can throw at it. Sunflower oil is another excellent choice with a high smoke point of 460 degrees Fahrenheit (238 degrees Celsius). The highest temperatures of sautéing and frying will not limit this oil in any way.
There are other oils to consider, however. Suppliers obtain oil from many plant all over the world. These oils are gaining popularity amongst those that want healthy oils in their cooking. Flaxseed oil is a popular selection. It introduces omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids into the equation. It has the properties of a low smoking point of 225 degrees Fahrenheit (107 degrees Celsius). That means using it in cooking over heat is not a good idea. It makes a great addition to salad dressings or other cold preparations though. Walnut oil is another healthy choice. It is classified as a polyunsaturated fat and full of omega-3s. It has a higher smoke point at 400 degrees Fahrenheit (204 degrees Celsius).
Olive oil is a great option when looking for oil for dressings or low cooking temperatures. With a classified smoke point at 325, it is not a good choice for sautéing or frying. Grapeseed oil is good for cooking and grilling. It adds a mild nutty flavor for use in salads and other preparations. It has a higher smoke point at 420 degrees Fahrenheit (216 degrees Celsius). Almond oil, avocado oil, and peanut oil are great options for healthy oils.