Diabetes and Diet - Controlling Your Diabetes

Once the pancreas fails in its function to produce insulin when it is needed or in the right proportions needed, the body's blood sugar level becomes affected by the intake of other foods containing glucose. The impairment leads to diabetes and diet now becomes a critical concern.

Diabetes and diet becomes associated by giving great concern in planning the diabetic's diet. Otherwise, foods high in calories and carbohydrate will contribute to the presence of glucose in the bloodstream. Diabetes and diet planning should now work hand in hand as a way of managing the diabetes disease. Aside from diet, treatment includes medicines and exercise to control the blood sugar level.

To understand how and when the insulin fails, we must try to understand the main function of the insulin.

Below is a step-by-step description on how insulin affects our diet intakes:

1. During and after each meal, carbohydrates and proteins are broken down into amino acids.

2. Immediately after each meal, the bloodstream absorbs glucose and amino acids where there is a razor-sharp rise in the glucose level.

3. The increase in the glucose level will signal the beta cells in the pancreas to produce insulin in the bloodstream. This happens within 10 minutes after each meal when the glucose level is at its peak.

4. Insulin enables glucose and amino acids to enter the muscle and liver cells. Just like any hormones, it will regulate whether it will be used for energy or stored for use in the future.

5. In the absence of insulin that will enable glucose and amino acids to enter the muscle and liver cells, there will be excessive blood sugar level known as hyperglycemia.

Due to the inability of the body to utilize sugar, glucose will be carried in the urine and will be discharged instead of being used as energy.

As can be analyzed from the function of insulin, diet plays an important factor. Although there is no single diabetes diet to suit everyone, there is a general diet guide for people with diabetes for monitoring purposes.

In relation to this, the following dietary advice should be heeded:

1. Eat plenty of fiber-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, legumes or seeds.

2. Consume in moderation foods with sugar.

3. Reduce the intake of foods high in cholesterol.

4. Reduce salt in the food.

5. Maintain a daily balanced diet with 10% to 20% calories, fat of not more 30% and carbohydrates of up to 60%. This is according to the American Diabetes and Dietetic Association.

As always, referring to the guidelines set by your doctor and dietitian will give better results. The dietary compositions stated above was based on individual diet taken on the merits of sickness. Hence, diabetes and diet should be made on a per patient basis and not on general assumptions.