Diabetes Diet Tips

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The diabetic diet may be used alone or else in combination with insulin doses or with oral hypoglycemic drugs. Main objective of diabetic diet is to maintain ideal body weight, by providing adequate nutrition along with normal blood sugar levels in blood. The diet plan for a diabetic is based on height, weight, age, sex, physical activity and nature of diabetes. While planning diet, the dietician has to consider complications such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels.

Type 1 diabetes diet,

Studies show that total carbohydrates have the most effect on the amount of insulin needed and the maintenance of blood sugar control. A delicate balance of carbohydrate intake, insulin, and physical activity is necessary for the best blood sugar levels. If these are not in balance, there can be wide swings in blood glucose levels. If you have type 1 diabetes and are on a fixed dose of insulin, the carbohydrate content of your meals and snacks should be consistent from day to day.

Type 2 diabetes diet,

The main focus is on weight control, because 80% - 90% of people with this disease are overweight. A meal plan, with reduced calories, even distribution of carbohydrates, and replacement of some carbohydrate with healthier monounsaturated fats helps improve blood glucose levels. In many cases, moderate weight loss and increased physical activity can control type 2 diabetes. Some people will need to take oral medications or insulin in addition to lifestyle changes.

The guidelines for diabetes diet planning include the following:

• Many experts, including the American Diabetes Association, recommend that 50 to 60 percent of daily calories come from carbohydrates, 12 to 20 percent from protein, and no more than 30 percent from fat.

• Spacing meals throughout the day, instead of eating heavy meals once or twice a day, can help a person avoid extremely high or low blood glucose levels.

• With few exceptions, the best way to lose weight is gradually: one or two pounds a week.

• People with diabetes have twice the risk of developing heart disease as those without diabetes, and high blood cholesterol levels raise the risk of heart disease. Losing weight and reducing intake of saturated fats and cholesterol, in favor of unsaturated and monounsaturated fats, can help lower blood cholesterol.

Balancing in nutrition

FAT, Reduce the amount of dietary fat. The current American Diabetes Association guidelines advise that less than 7 - 10% of calories should come from saturated fat. These are the fats that raise LDL ("bad") cholesterol. Dietary cholesterol should be less than 200 - 300 mg per day.

PROTEIN, Keep protein intake in the range of 15 - 20% of total calories. Choices low in fat are recommended such as nonfat dairy products, legumes, skinless poultry, fish and lean meats.

CARBOHYDRATES, Carbohydrate choices should come from whole grains breads or cereals, pasta, brown rice, beans, fruits and vegetables.

SUGARS, Limit sources of high-calorie and low-nutritional-value foods, including those with a high content of sugars. Sugar-containing foods should be substituted for other carbohydrate sources (such as potatoes) instead of just adding them on to the meal.