Diabetes is a physical anomaly in which the body is unable to process the available food energy properly. Hence, managing an effective dietary plan is the cornerstone of tackling this disease. The following information would be your Bible to combat this disease.
Diabetes Meal Planning Made Easy After numerous research initiatives, the American Diabetes Association no more recommends a single sweeping dietary plan for the entire diabetic population. Now, you can have your own plan based on your particular lifestyle. All you will be required to do is consult a registered dietitian.
Statistics show that most of the fatal diseases amongst Americans, these days, are actually lifestyle disorders. Cancer, heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, stroke, etc. are all caused due to over-eating and following a sedentary lifestyle. Hence, the dietary guidelines laid down by the American government for their citizens centers around being physically fit and following a restrained eating habit.
Aiming for fitness is your first step to not only prevent, but also to remedy these diseases. It is of utmost importance, therefore, to maintain a healthy weight and remain physically active on a daily basis.
By healthy weight, the government means that your Body Mass Index (BMI) should remain within the specified limits. BMI is an index whereby your height is mathematically related to your weight to find out whether you are obese, overweight, normal weight, or underweight. If your BMI is below 18.5, you are underweight. If it is between 18.5 and 24.9, then you are normal weight. A BMI between 25 and 30 means you are overweight. And if it is above 30, you are obese.
To maintain your BMI at normal levels all you would require is a regular exercise of at least 20 minutes every day. You could go for jogging, brisk walking, light exercises, yoga, or similar such exercises.
The next step for a healthy lifestyle is to create a healthy nutrition base. Whole grains and varieties of fruits and vegetables must be preferred over fast food. 6 to 11 servings of cereals, rise, pasta and whole breads can be had on a daily basis. 3 to 5 servings of vegetables and 2 to 4 servings of fruits have been recommended by the USDA.
Milk, yogurt, cheese, meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, nuts and eggs must be restricted not more than 2 to 3 servings a day. Fats, oils and sweets must be avoided as much as possible.
Doctors and dietitians, all over the world, recommend these tips even for treating diabetes. It is a known fact that you get released of type 2 diabetes as soon as you obtain a normal BMI.
I hope diabetes meal planning is made easy now. The most important thing for a healthy lifestyle is to eat good food and stay fit.
By: Dawn Smith
Posts Tagged ‘Whole Grains’
Diabetes Meal Planning Made Easy
March 23rd, 2010Childhood Diabetes Treatment
March 19th, 2010
Children and teenagers diagnosed with diabetes whether it be type 1 or type 2 need a balanced diet and plenty of physical activity. Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes include tiredness, fatigue, increased urine production, extreme thirst, stomachaches in children as well as headaches and sometimes even seizures or unconsciousness.
Adolescents with type 1 diabetes also known as insulin dependent diabetes need constant insulin injections and to monitor their blood glucose levels. Kids or Teens with Type 2 diabetes don’t always have to take insulin injections but they should still monitor their blood glucose levels and eat the right foods.
Most children with type 2 diabetes suffer from obesity and have a family history of diabetes. Losing the excess weight by following a specific diet will help decrease the body’s insulin resistance resulting in more energy and better overall health. A healthy balanced diet is the same for everyone. Low fat, high fiber, more starches, high carb, low protein, all of these are ideal for a balanced diet. Just follow these guidelines:
Eat 6 servings of fruit and vegetables a day Sweets are okay in moderation. About once or twice a week at the most. Eat 3 meals and 3 or 4 snacks throughout the day. try spacing your actual meals 3 hours apart. Eat more starchy vegetables Stay away from wheat gluten and processed foods like fast food An example of some good carbs are : pasta,whole grains, bread made with rye,barley, or whole grain, breakfast cereal,popcorn,fruits and vegetables,and legumes.
Regular physical activity is also needed to efficiently manage diabetes, but make sure the child has juice or bread or sugar before exercising as it can lower the blood sugar and cause hypoglycemia. Family activities can help encourage the kids to turn off the TV or Xbox and engage in physical activity. Diabetics should exercise at least an hour a day. Try activities like running, hiking, jogging, walking, swimming, or playing a game.
Type 1 Diabetics or insulin dependent diabetics require more care than type 2 diabetics. Regular appointments with the doctor, constant insulin injections and blood glucose monitoring, and a strict diet are all required. Unlike type 2 Diabetes in children type 1 is not preventable but it is treatable. If left untreated however, just like type 2 diabetes, it can and will lead to complications resulting in kidney failure,nerve damage, blood vessel damage, poor circulation leading to amputation, blurred vision or blindness, Heart disease, skin and mouth and foot problems among other serious complications like heart attack and stroke. The longer the child has diabetes the sooner the complications will occur.
In order to treat or prevent complications from occurring ask your doctor about Diabetic supplements and vitamins. They are all natural and are just vitamins your body needs whether or not your body has diabetes. Some increase circulation and blood flow to your limbs , and some increase insulin production and decrease your resistance to insulin. They have a variety of different results. However, they do work slowly and it can take up to 6 months to even tell if a supplement isn’t really working for you.
By: Dallas Crosno
Diabetic Meal Planning Is A Must For All Diabetes Sufferers!
March 4th, 2010
Healthy eating through diabetic meal planning is an important aspect of diabetes management. In most cases, your doctor is likely to recommend a dietitian or a diabetes educator to help you with your diabetic meal planning. A meal plan will be developed according to your specific needs such as the kinds of foods that you enjoy and current lifestyle. In addition, your meal plan will also focus on controlling calories to help you lose excess weight if you are facing obesity issues.
When you have type 2 diabetes, the type and amount of food you eat and when you eat affects your blood sugar levels. Blood sugar levels go up after eating. You should try to eat about the same amount of food at about the same time each day to keep you blood glucose near normal levels. If you eat a big dinner one day and a small dinner the next, your blood glucose levels may fluctuate too much.
You should note that there is no single diabetes diet that is right for everyone. However, there are a few points that you should remember during your diabetic meal planning. Firstly, carbohydrates are especially important because they have the largest influence on blood glucose. You should eat about the same amount of carbohydrate-rich foods at about the same time each day. For instance, you can consume foods such as fruits, milk, starches (whole-grain bread, cereal or rice) and starchy vegetables (corn or potatoes) during your meal times. In addition, ensure that your starches come from whole grains because they contain fiber and many other nutrients and are digested and absorbed by the body more slowly than refined starches. This can help to maintain a steady glucose level in your body.
Another important aspect of diabetic meal planning involves the appropriate ratio of total calories to nutrients such as proteins and healthy fats. Depending on you circumstances, your dietitian may recommend slightly different percentages for you. The typical recommendations for the ratio of total calories to nutrients are as follows:
1. 45 to 65 percent consisting of carbohydrates
2. 12 to 20 percent consisting of proteins
3. 10 to 30 percent consisting of fats
In addition, you should limit your intake of foods that are high in cholesterol, such as egg yolks. Avoid high-fat foods and sweets because they provide a lot of calories but few nutrients. Keeping track of your calories intake can help you keep your blood sugar at as steady level and help you make adjustments for reaching weight goals.
By following the above guidelines, you should be able to easily develop an appropriate meal program to control your glucose level. Most important of all, you really have to diligently follow the plan for effective results to be seen from diabetic meal planning!
By: Sky Joe
