Diet Basics with Diabetes | |||||||||||||||||||||
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If you are still grappling with some of the basics of having diabetes,
I hope this page will help.
Peter.
The Theory is ...No, its not E=Mc2 stuff!The normal advice for everyone still applies to diabetic's. That is:-
Carbohydrate and Blood Sugar LevelsThis is the element of food that makes blood sugar levels rise quickly after a meal.Nutrionalists however advise that the bulk of our calories are eaten as Carbohydrate. Most foods have some carbohydrate but some foods have a lot. These are foods like Grains (used in Bread, Pasta, Noodles, Rice and Cereals), Sugar and Potato. As a general rule try to replace the highly processed foods in your diet with less processed or higher fibre food. These usually convert to blood sugar more slowly and can help reduce blood sugar levels. For example replace some or all of the:-
What are 'Normal' Blood Sugar Levels?A normal (non diabetic) blood sugar reading would usually be somewhere between 4 and 7 mmol/l. If you are monitoring your blood sugar levels you should have a target range to aim for. If not contact a professional and ask.If you fail occasionally is not the end of the world so do not over compensate, just try to learn from what went wrong and make any deliberate treats the exception not the rule.
If you are frequently outside of your target levels take some action or get some professional advice.
Don't wait for the next check-up!
This action may be a simple change of diet - adding a mix of salad vegetables to a sandwich, reducing (or sometimes increasing) the quantity of carbohydrate or choosing durum wheat pasta instead of potato. Any of the tips on the site in fact but ultimately may mean higher doses of drugs or even insulin. If it comes to that just remember that better control of blood sugar levels mean lower risks of complications later! Type 1 and 2 Diabetes! What's the Difference?Type 1 diabetic's cannot produce insulin, they need to inject insulin every day.Type 2 diabetic's can produce insulin but not as much as they need. They can be treated purely by diet and exercise treatments (d&e), by drugs with d&e or by insulin/drugs with d&e. Type 1 DiabetesType 1 diabetic's can balance the amount of insulin they inject with the food they eat and how they exercise.However foods that are more slowly converted to blood sugar will make control of blood sugar easier. Changes in blood sugar levels should be less dramatic! Many of the tips for Type 2 diabetics can make control easier for Type 1's, reducing the risk of blood sugar levels getting to high (hyperglycemia) or to low (hypoglycemia). DAFNE: Dose Adjustment For Normal Eating. Is worth a look too, actually for anyone injecting insulin. Type 2 DiabetesThe majority of Type 2's will be trying to reduce the peak levels of blood sugar without over doing it. In brief here's some ways to do that:-
For the best control Type 2 Diabetics should check their blood sugar levels at different times of the day
(see monitoring page).
If you test once a day swop the times you test, try it two hours or so after finishing a main meal. It may give you an insight into how the tablets/insulin, food, exercise all effect your blood sugar levels. |
Should You Eat Fast Food?If you have diabetes or not, there are problems with fast food. Its quick conversion to blood sugar make it worse for diabetic's though.If you consider the beef burger and chips illustrated, here is what may be wrong with them:-
Well, you don't really need me to tell you will be better off not having it to often. If you do succumb to tempation though. Don't make it worse:-
Make it better (healthier):-
Have a look at some of the user reviews at the end of the page in the film information link.
The Glycemic IndexThe glycemic index is used throughout the diet section of this site. Its gives diabetic's a way to estimate how certain foods will affect their blood sugar levels.Personally I don't delve deeply into the science of it all. I simply try to have not to large portions of the 'Quick' rated foods that raise blood sugar levels quickly. When I do have them I also mix them with slower rated foods in a meal. I also look at medium alternatives to the quick rated foods, granary bread instead of white for instance. For more information see:- Here are some examples with the highest rated foods cause a quick rise in blood sugar which we want to avoid.
Note that two versions of the Glycemic Index can be found on the web. The one used in the above table is based on white bread having a G. I. of 70 (with Glucose=100) the other is based on white bread having a GI of 100 (with Glucose=142). The The University of Sydney - GI Database although its missing some common UK foods is the broadest ranging GI database I have found. Don't forget by the way that a food can have a low GI and still be not recommended for Diabetics. Foods high in saturated fats or hydrogenated fats for instance. Watch Your Weight As Well!Being over weight does make a difference. Insulin works less efficiently if you are over weight.If you are over your target weight losing weight will often make your diabetes easier to control. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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By adding yet more very quick acting carbohydrate, say a sugary drink.
By having a good serving of