DIET IN DIABETES
Diabetes is the most
common endocrine disorder characterized by hyperglycemia,
absolute or
relative insulin deficiency
or resistance to the action of insulin.
Diabetes = siphon
or running through
Large urine volume.
Mellitus = sweet
Glucose in urine.
In diabetes the blood glucose levels are too high , as a
result the body being unable to utilize the glucose completely or partially. Glucose comes from food we eat. Insulin
is a hormone that helps the glucosegets in to your cells to provide energy. It is produced by
beta cells of the Islets of Langerhans in the pancreas.
Diabetes is either due to the pancreas not producing insulin
or the cells of the body not responding
properly to the insulin produced
TREATMENT OF
DIABETES
1. Diet
2. Drugs
3. Exercise
4. Education
5. Monitoring
DIABETIC DIET is a low calorie low carbohydrate
medium protein high fiber low fat diet.
It is also the best weight reduction diet.
In
diabetes the blood sugar levels fluctuates either it becomes high or low unlike
the popular
belief that it refers to just high blood
sugars.
It is the fluctuation that damages the
internal organs and systems. This can be
controlled by a
small
frequent meal pattern or snacking with high fiber.
Always
make sure that all meals and snacks contain fiber in some form or other. It
can be from
the whole grains and flours, skin from
pulses, vegetables in form of curries or salads etc.
A meal once eaten takes approximately two
hours to digest, for the glucose to be absorbed by
body and used .As the body utilizes glucose,
the sugar level decreases ie hypoglycemia.
Healthy snacking is required to prevent
this.
Low carb snacks like low calorie biscuits
like fiber biscuits, oats biscuits, butter milk,
Smoothies (curd blended with half a fruit),
low calorie fruits such as apple, orange, guava,
pomegranate etc.
Sand wiches or Chapatti rolls with
vegetable stuffing or a mix of vegetables and egg or chicken or paneer or soya
sprouted wheat, pulses ragi flakes with milk.
Fruits need to be restricted as fruit sugar
i.e. fructose increases blood sugar. One
low calorie fruit a day is allowed per
day for a diabetic patient provided sugars are under controlled.
High calorie fruits such as mangoes,
grapes, pineapple are a temptation to many. One can
reduce the amount of the fruit when it is a
high calorie one.
Dried fruits have a high concentration of
sugar so reduce the quantity by two dates or apricots etc.
Fruit juice other than lime juice (with dash of salt or plain) has to
be avoided.
Green salads include mixture of onions, tomatoes,
cabbage, cucumber, carrots, capsicum, bell peppers, celery and other salad greens
etc.
Apple cider Vinegar, Curd etc can be used
to enhance the taste .Avoid salad dressings or oils.
TO CONCLUDE,
- Fire foods have a high GI,
and are low in fiber and protein. They include “white foods” (white rice,
white pasta, white bread, potatoes, most baked goods), sweets, chips, and
many processed foods. They should be limited in your diet.
- Water foods are free
foods—meaning you can eat as many as you like. They include all vegetables
and most types of fruit (fruit juice, dried fruit, and canned fruit packed
in syrup spike blood sugar quickly and are not considered water foods)
- Coal foods have a low GI
and are high in fiber and protein. They include nuts and seeds, lean
meats, seafood, whole grains, and beans. They also include “white food”
replacements such as brown rice, whole-wheat bread, and whole-wheat pasta.
by,
DR.RENJU T GEORGE
INDIA
