The Diabetic Menu - Diabetics' Guide To Healthy Eating

Diabetes is the condition where the glucose level in blood becomes uncontrollably high. If unchecked, it can lead to heart or kidney related problems, severe lifestyle related complications or even blindness in the long term. To keep diabetes in check, apart from bringing about a change in lifestyle, one needs to follow a proper diet for diabetes. Most diabetic patients are prescribed oral medication or insulin injections. However, even while being on complete medication, diabetes cannot be controlled unless the patient follows a routine diet for diabetics.   Diet and diabetes: The key to control the sugar level in blood is to work out a balanced diabetic diet and stick to it. A diet which regulates and manages carbohydrate intake is the key to keep blood sugar level in check.    The ideal diet for diabetes varies from person to person. So, it should be decided only after consultation with a registered medical practitioner. A good diabetic diet plan should include lots of fibres, fresh fruits and vegetables, whole cooked grains or cereals, small quantities of protein, like fish and chicken and a very controlled amount of carbohydrate. The diet should be low in calories, but high on nutritional value.   A typical American diabetes menu should include:

1. Lots of leafy green, dark or brightly coloured vegetables
2. Whole grain breads, beans, cereals like oats and barley
3. Proteins - mainly from fish, chicken,
4. A healthy amount of unsaturated fat - that comes mainly from fish
5. Plenty of fresh fruits

  A few things that are a strict 'No' include

1. Saturated fats - like butter, cream, red meat etc.
2. Trans fatty acids - like fast food or fries

  It is recommended that the quantity of food per meal is reduced and the frequency of food intake is increased, typically to 4-5 meals per day. Another important aspect to be remembered is that no meal should be skipped.   Alcohol and diabetes: Consumption of alcohol might aggravate diabetes, mainly because of its high calorie content. Although moderate alcohol intake might not be harmful in mild cases of diabetes, drinks with high calorie content, like beer, sweetened wines, cocktails etc should be strictly avoided.   Diabetes and exercise: Moderate physical activity helps to control sugar level in blood. A 30 minute jogging, fast paced walking, or aerobics session should be good for diabetic patients. Patients who are not accustomed to exercising should begin with light exercises and slowly scale them up. However, intense physical activity should be avoided as it would result in increased metabolism, leading to sudden drop in blood sugar level.   Diabetes weight loss: Many patients diagnosed with diabetes have a condition called insulin resistance. Such people are often overweight and have to be put on a weight loss program. Shedding a few pounds can go a long way in tackling diabetes. Although a tough exercise regimen is not recommended for diabetic patients, an approved weight loss program, such as those recommended by the American Diabetes Association, or by a medical practitioner will help loose weight and keep diabetes in control.

A regulated and balanced diet for diabetics, with a healthy lifestyle and exercise routine is the right recipe for diabetes control.