Diabetes Diets

Diabetic patients not only have to worry about insulin levels but also their diet. There have been many clinical trials regarding diabetes diets - some focus on weight loss. Controlling weight loss and binge eating is important. There are recipes, weight loss calculators and other aids to help diabetes sufferers adjust their diet.

The diabetes diet most often recommended for people who suffer from diabetes mellitus is high in dietary fiber, especially soluble fiber, but low in fat (especially saturated fat). Patients may be encouraged to reduce their intake of carbohydrates that have a high glycemic index. However, in cases of hypoglycemia, they are advised to have food or drink that can raise blood glucose quickly, followed by a long-acting carbohydrate (such as rye bread) to prevent risk of further hypoglycemia.

Carbohydrates in Diabetic Diets
The American Diabetes Association recommended that 60-70% of caloric intake should be in the form of carbohydrates. This is somewhat controversial, with some researchers claiming that 40% is better, while others claim benefits for a high-fiber, 75% carbohydrate diet.

An article summarizing the view of the American Diabetes Association contains the statement “Sucrose-containing foods can be substituted for other carbohydrates in the meal plan or, if added to the meal plan, covered with insulin or other glucose-lowering medications. Care should be taken to avoid excess energy intake.” Sucrose does not increase glycemia more than the same number of calories taken as starch. Although it is not recommended to use fructose as a sweetener, fruit should not be avoided because of its fructose content. Benefits may be obtained by consumption of dietary fibre in conjunction with carbohydrate.

What has not generally been included in diabetic diet recommendations is the variation in effect from different carbohydrates. Glucose is the only carbohydrate which participates in the primary metabolic control mechanism using insulin. That mechanism is ubiquitous amongst animals, from invertebrate nematode worms through the vertebrates, including humans.

Low-carbohydrate alternatives
Some studies show low carbohydrate diets may be effective in dietary management of type 2 diabetes.

Vegan and Raw/Live Foods alternatives
Recent studies have shown that a vegan diet may also be effective in managing type 2 diabetes. Raw food protocols for treating Type 2 diabetes can be found in Dr. Gabriel Cousens book “There is a Cure For Diabetes”. Also of note are the writings of Victorian Boutenko whose son’s diabetes disappeared after converting to a raw foods diet.

Timing of meals with Diabetes Diets
For people with diabetes, healthy eating is not simply a matter of “what one eats”, but also when one eats. According to Sonsken, Fox and Judd: it depends upon the type of insulin one takes and whether it is long, medium or quick-acting insulin. If patients check their blood glucose at bedtime and find that it is low, it is advisable that they take some long-acting carbohydrate before retiring to bed to prevent night-time hypoglycemia.

Related articles

• Carbohydrate: How Much (or Not) to Munch? (diabetesmine.com)
• With diabetes, eating pizza not always a treat (mayoclinic.com)
• Diabetes and longevity (mayoclinic.com)
• How to Lose Weight With Diabetes (projectswole.com)

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