The Importance Of Following And Maintaining A Diabetic Diet

A diabetic diet is a specially designed eating plan that is high in carbohydrates and low in fat. People with diabetes don't need to go out and purchase special foods to maintain a diabetic diet, they can eat the same foods as the whole family. A healthy diet based on the diabetes food pyramid is beneficial to diabetics and non-diabetics alike.

Making healthy food choices is not so hard. All it takes is a little bit of planning to include all your favorite foods. But first, you need to understand the basics of a diabetic diet.

A diabetes diet or meal plan should be based on the specially designed diabetic food pyramid. The diabetes food pyramid groups foods based on their carbohydrate and protein content and not on how they classify as a food. Foods are divided into six groups, with fats, oils and sweets on the very top (so eat less of these) and bread, cereals, pasta and rice on the bottom (so eat more of these).

Breads, cereals and the like are foods that are high in carbohydrates. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) suggests 6-11 servings per day. Sample servings are: 1 slice of bread; ľ cup dry cereal or 1/3 cup of rice or pasta.

Vegetables should also be eaten in plenty as they are naturally low in fat and a high in fibre, not to mention vitamins and minerals. The ADA suggests eating 3-5 servings per day. A sample serving is 1 cup of vegetables (raw) or ˝ cup (cooked). Fruits are also recommended, so add about 2-4 servings, which translates to about 1 small fresh fruit or ˝ cup canned fruit. Eat a little less of meat and beware of foods like potato chips, candy, cookies, which have high levels of sugar and fat.

Your fat and sugar intake should be limited. The ADA suggests keeping servings very small (sample serving size is ˝ cup of ice cream or 2 small cookies) and to keep them for a special treat.

A quick Internet search for "Diabetes diet" or "Cooking for people with diabetes" brings up numerous dietary suggestions in the form of recipe books to buy and have at home or online diet recipes which you can print out and use. The ADA has a "Recipe of the Day" section with lots of great ideas targeted at those living with diabetes or friends of diabetics. As for books, the ADA recommends "Mr. Food's Quick and Easy Diabetic Cooking" and Nancy S. Hughes's " Quick & Easy Low-Carb Cooking for People with Diabetes".

The right plan will help diabetics improve blood glucose levels, blood pressure, cholesterol and keep weight balanced. To complement your diet, add regular exercise to your lifestyle to help your body use glucose.

Dean Erickson. Journalist, and web site builder Dean Erickson lives in Texas. He is the owner and co-editor of http://www.diabetes-diet-resources.info on which you will find a longer, more detailed version of this article.

New York Times (blog)

"Pre-diabetes," diabetes rising among US teens Reuters By Amy Norton NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The percentage of US teenagers with "pre-diabetes" or full-blown type 2 diabetes has more than doubled in recent years -- though obesity and other heart risk factors have held steady, government researchers ... Alarming study about teens with diabetesNew York Daily News Diabetes on the Rise Among TeenagersNew York Times (blog) Nearly a quarter of teens diabetic or prediabetic, report saysWashington Post (blog) USA TODAY -CBS News all 434 news articles »

Diabetes diagnosis doesn't stop stock-car driver Ryan Reed StandardNet By Rachel Lenzi First, the doctors told Ryan Reed that he had Type 1 diabetes. Then, they told him he would never be able to be a competitive race-car driver. Reed didn't listen to the diagnosis. He told himself that there had to be another way to ... Teens and DiabetesWIFR all 2 news articles »

Correct treatment of common diabetic foot infections can reduce amputations Science Codex Diabetic foot complications are the most common cause of lower extremity amputations and half of all patients who have a foot amputated die within five years. Most amputations can be prevented with proper care of diabetic foot infections, ... and more »

Girl, 9, determined to hold off diabetes Charleston Gazette Lexi Winnell, 9, is insulin resistant, a red-flag warning sign of diabetes risk. Swimming, walking and exercising, she and her grandparents are determined to bring down her risk of diabetes. "We want her to have a long, healthy life," grandmother Kelly ...

Teen diabetes on the rise KYTX More >> EAST TEXAS (KYTX) -- The number of teenagers in the US who are developing Type II diabetes is rising sharply. A new study in the Journal Pediatrics shows that teens at the greatest risk are overweight or obese. 21-Year-Old Sylvisha Perry has ... and more »

Medgadget.com

Data Design Diabetes Demo Day Semi-Finalist: iRetainRx Medgadget.com by Nicholas Genes on May 21, 2012 • 3:51 pm First up in our coverage of semi-finalists for Sanofi's Data Design Diabetes Demo Day is iRetainRx. Previous coverage here and here. iRetainRx's founder and CEO, David Parpart, began the pitch boldly, ... and more »

Diabetes Quick Fix: Pita Pocket, Tomato and Corn Salsa with Greek Salad Sacramento Bee (From "Mix'n'Match Meals in Minutes for People with Diabetes" by Linda Gassenheimer, published by the American Diabetes Association. Reprinted with permission from The American Diabetes Association. To order this book call 1-800-232-6733 or order ... and more »

Beaufort man advances to semifinals in diabetes innovation challenge Hilton Head Island Packet By AMY COYNE BREDESON French pharmaceutical company Sanofi is hosting the 2012 Data Design Diabetes Innovation Challenge to find new ways to fight diabetes. The winning team will receive $100000 to develop their concept.

Bingo helps boy with diabetes keep blood sugar in line Gaston Gazette Juvenile or Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disorder where the pancreas doesn't produce insulin. One in 20 people affected by this disease will die from low blood sugar, often in their sleep. A diabetes alert dog is trained to notice minute changes ...

Diabetic foot ulcers can be deadly Canton Repository By Diana Rossetti Perhaps the most dreaded complication arising out of diabetes is a foot wound that leads to amputation. “Even though many diabetics breathe a sigh of relief, thinking that is the end, that they have handled the problem,” said Dr. and more »