Diabetes and Nutrition – the importance of good food

Diabetes and nutrition should never be taken lightly. Doctors and health professional always highlight the importance of good food to diabetics. If we want to live a long and health life then nutrition and good diet should be of concern to all of us - every single living human being. It is not only the diabetics among us should be concerned about good health.

Here is a little reminder of what is diabetes mellitus?Diabetes is a metabolic disorder it occurs when the body doesn’t regulate the blood sugar level properly. This is brought about when the body does not make enough of the hormone insulin or can’t use it properly to alleviate high levels of sugar in the blood.

Diabetics are afflicted by two main types of diabetes. The main two main types of diabetes that affect most diabetics are type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas doesn’t produce any insulin or produce it in miniscule quantities.

If you were not paying attention in biology class, the pancreas is a small organ which is located near your stomach. Its main job is to produce insulin for use within the body to regulate blood sugar levels.

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin to fulfil the body’s requirement for the substance. It sometimes occurs when the cells in your body simply just ignore the insulin produced. Whenever the insulin in the body is ignored it tends to be classed as insulin resistance.

What is the major concern of diabetes and nutrition?
Health care professional has concluded that between ninety percent (90%) and ninety five percent (95%) of people who are diagnosed with diabetes is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Type two diabetes is largely reversible if caught early enough for treatment to be effective.

Diabetes is cause be a malfunction in a simple process in the body. When food is digested the body converts most of the food eaten into a substance called glucose. Glucose is a form of simple sugar. The pancreas will then release insulin in the blood stream to regulate the rise in the sugar level. Insulin is the gate keeper allows the glucose to enter all the cells of the body. The cells of the body will always use the glucose from the food we eat for energy. This is in both diabetics and non-diabetics.

The malfunction of this simple process causes the build up of glucose in the blood stream instead of moving it from the blood stream into the cells of the body where it is needed for energy.

The high level of glucose in the blood stream causes many if not all the complications of diabetes. Whenever these complications develop it can lead to other more serious health issues or even death among diabetics.

How can I factor in diabetes and nutrition in my life hassle free?
When it comes to what you eat does diabetes and nutrition matter? Whatever you eat will matter and will impact your health. Most dieticians will tell that you are what you eat and that statement is true.

Whatever you eat matters and is closely connected to the amount of glucose or sugar in your blood stream. With this in mind it become clear that if you make the right food choices now it will help you control your blood sugar level over time.

Over the years a number of methods have been developed to assist you in making better choices and better deal with diabetes and nutrition. In your Diabetic meal planning goal setting some of the most popular methods or tools used are listed below:

• The food pyramid

• The plate method

• Carbohydrate counting

• Diabetic food exchange lists

These are simply guides to help you on the holistic path but your dietician will be there to hold your hands and help you along with this process.

With Diabetes and nutrition diets are the secret weapons in dealing with the disease. To accomplish the right diet you may have to conform to a special diet plan.

There isn't a one “diabetes diet fit all” concept that will work. Your doctor will always suggest that you work closely with a registered dietician who will design a meal plan that will suit you individually.

A meal plan is really a guide that helps you to decide what kinds of food to eat at meal times and for snacks. The diabetic meal plan also suggest how much food to have and in what quantity and in what combination.

Diabetes sufferers or people who have diabetes need eat healthy foods. If you do not suffer, at the moment, from diabetes you still need to follow an appropriate diet plan. Diet plans are a requirement for people with or without diabetes. This is especially important since there is quite a lot of people who are currently suffering from undiagnosed diabetes.

With the concept of diabetes and nutrition a good diet is essential but what constitute a good health diet?
A healthy diabetic diet normally consists of 40% to 60% of calories from complex carbohydrates, 20% from lean protein and 30% or less from the good fats.

A good diet should also be low in the bad cholesterol, low in salt and also low in added sugar.

Diabetes and Nutrition – The basic requirements of starting a healthy lifestyle are listed below.
The following are requirements to cover the main dietary guidelines of diabetics:

• Eat a variety of good foods

• If you have diabetes – balance the food you eat, your activity level and your medication (insulin)

• Include whole grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables in your diet

• Avoid foods with too much sugar

• Restrict your sodium intake to the recommended level

• If you have to drink alcoholic beverages do so in moderation

Thanks for stopping by my diabetes and nutrition page why not visit some other pages and purchase the book the diabetes reversal report. Good luck

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