The diabetic diet may be used alone or else in combination with oral hypoglycemic drugs or with insulin doses. The main objective of diabetic diet is to maintain ideal body weight by providing adequate nutrition along with normal blood sugar levels. The diet plan for a diabetic patient is based on the height, weight, age, sex, physical activity and the nature of diabetes.
Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder in which the body fails to convert sugars, starches and other foods into energy. Many of the foods you eat are normally converted into a type of sugar called glucose, during the process of digestion. The bloodstream then carries glucose through the body. This glucose is either converted to quick energy by the hormone insulin or is stored in the body for further use. In diabetes, the body either does not make enough insulin or it cannot use the insulin correctly, and this causes the glucose levels to rise in the bloodstream. Therefore, it is important that you need to select foods that are high in nutrition and low in calories.
Dos and Don’ts for Diabetics
Dos…
- Eat food at fixed hours. Make sure that you have three proper meals & light snacks in between
- Eat about the same amounts of food each day
- Eat slowly and chew your food well before you swallow
- Drink sufficient amounts of water that will help flush the toxins off your system
- Include fresh vegetable salad in every meal
- Take your medicines at the same time every day and exercise at about the same time every day
- Fat free milk, yogurt, and cheese to be taken
- Eggs whites can be included
- White meat - chicken and fish are good
- Have beverages – Tea or coffee with out sugar or with sugar free in it
- Increase fibre intake in the form of raw fruits, vegetables and whole cereals
- Include sprouts in your diet
- Intake of bitter gourd, fenugreek, Indian blackberry (jamun), flaxseed, cinnamon, garlic, and onion are known to considerably reduce blood glucose level
- Check your feet for cuts, blisters, and swelling which are likely to result from diabetes-related nerve damage
- Have good sleep daily
- Check your blood sugar level regularly and also check the other tests such as kidney function, liver function, heart function, ketone levels as required
- Check your weight from time to time, and always maintain an ideal body weight
Don’ts
- Do not skip meals and medicine times
- Do not eat directly after a workout
- Do not overeat
- Do not fry foods. Instead bake, boil, poach or sauté in a nonstick pan. Use less oil in cooking
- Eat less high-fat red meat and avoid organ meats
- Limit the use of condiments such as ketchup, Soya sauce, mustard and salad dressings as they're high in salt and can be high in sugar, too
- Limit your salt intake
- Avoid white flour, white rice, potatoes, carrots, breads and bananas as they increase the blood-sugar levels
- Avoid milk cream, egg yolk or food items cooked in coconut milk
- Avoid processed, ready-to-eat food preparations, sweets and sugary drinks (canned beverages) that provide empty calories
- Choose fresh foods over canned
- Quit smoking
- Stop alcohol consumption
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