The importance of Diet in Treating Type-2 Diabetes
Apr 12th, 2011 by sandalwood
Diabetes and the Diabetic Diet
Diabetes is a serious non-infectious disease that results from the existence of higher than normal levels of sugar in the blood, sugar in the form of glucose, usually just referred to as blood sugar or blood sugars.
The blood sugars are obtained from the foods we all eat, and whether a person is diabetic or not, the sugars are needed by the cells of the body for use as fuel to support their multitude of cellular activities that keep us alive. The body’s internal systems normally manage and control the amounts of sugar in the blood to within a safe range but sometimes, for a number of reasons, those systems become impaired and that is when above normal blood sugars can occur. That is the start of type-2 diabetes.
When first diagnosed as having type-2 diabetes, the most prevalent form of diabetes, the now diabetic person is usually advised that the control of the above normal blood sugar levels that are the cause of their disease, are best managed by a combination of diet and exercise, and in some cases, with the aid of prescription medicines.
Dietary modification, not a crash diabetic diet
For many people, the word diet means a lot of severe restrictions and sacrifices and the avoidance of all so-called fattening foods and favorite foods, perhaps even, the need to lose a lot of pounds in a short time period, especially if they are overweight, as most diabetics are when diagnosed.
Just cut down, not cut out
But that is definitely not the case. Favorite foods are not forbidden, in fact few foods of any sort are totally off-limits to the diabetic person. The treatment of type-2 diabetes relies more on dietary modification than the total elimination of particular foods. The art of planning a diabetic menu relies on a knowledge of which foods provide the essential nutrients to meet the body’s needs while also providing a pleasant eating experience.
A diabetic menu can be tailored to include favorite foods in appropriate quantities together with other nutritious food items to provide an individualized meal plan contains the number of calories to meet the body’s needs for the supply of energy, and also satisfies the tastes and preferences of the individual. And a diabetic meal plan that also combats the above normal blood sugar levels that typically occur after eating food.
More on the aspects of foods suitable for a diabetic menu can be found at Diabetic Food List and for a wide range of articles and information about diabetes, please visit Normal Blood Sugar Levels and Diabetes.
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