Role Of Diet in the Management of Diabetes
Rachel Masih,
Dietician working for a Heart Center in Delhi .
DIET
Diet plays an important role in the management of diabetes. Being diabetic
does not mean that the patient should deviate from the normal diet
completely. The aim of the diabetic diet should be to control the blood
sugar and to maintain an adequate nutritional status.
The following components of a diabetic diet if properly followed will help a
diabetic achieve a good control of blood sugar.
Maintain normal weight
Choose right type of carbohydrate
Increase fiber in diet
Include antioxidants in the diet
Fixed meal timings
Smaller meals
• Maintain normal weight:
Most of the diabetics are obese or overweight. They must try to achieve
ideal body weight. If underweight, then they should try to bring it up and
maintain at ideal body weight. For normal sedentary individuals Saaol
recommends a dietary allowance of 1600 cal/day. For overweight individuals
is it 1200-1400 cal/day and for underweight. 1800 cal/ day.
•Choose right type of carbohydrate:
Most of our body cells utilize glucose as a major source of energy.
Carbohydrates are the main source of glucose in the body.
There are two types of carbohydrate
i. Simple carbohydrate
ii Complex carbohydrate
Simple carbohydrate consist of the basic glucose units joined together in a
straight chain. As soon as they get into the digestive system the links
break up very quickly releasing the glucose molecules that raise the blood
glucose level.
Complex carbohydrates are those in which the glucose units are linked in a
complex form i.e. branched structure. When this is put into the digestive
system the links break up slowly, thus gradually releasing the glucose. So
there is a gradual rise in blood glucose levels. This allows insulin more
time to work.
Thus, a diabetic must select the kind of carbohydrate which will constantly
supply the blood with glucose, but will not suddenly increase the blood
glucose level. In other words a diabetic patient must eat complex
carbohydrates instead of simple carbohydrates.
To distinguish between simple and complex carbohydrate it is not always
possible to get the food tested in a laboratory every time before consuming
it. For this, one simple rule is anything that tastes sweet when put into
the mouth is simple carbohydrate. Example raw sugar, honey, jaggery. Those
foods which do not taste sweet are complex carbohydrate. Example chapatti,
vegetables.
If you want, you can make use of artificial sweeteners like sweetex, equal,
sugar free to make the food taste sweet.
•Increase fiber in diet:
Diabetics must consume high fiber foods. Fiber slows down the absorption of
food in the intestine. Thereby they are very effective in controlling blood
glucose. Wheat, oat, wheat bran, all vegetables (except potato) are good
sources of fiber. Fruits, whole cereals, whole pulses also have more fiber.
One should take lot of salads with meals, put lot of vegetables and choker
in the flour for making chapattis, take sprouts etc. to increase the fiber
content of food.
•Include antioxidants in the diet:
Diabetes also damages nerves, eyes, kidneys, heart and leads to early
ageing. Most of these degenerations are promoted by oxidation of cells.
This can be prevented by consumption of vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E.
Intake of fairly good amount of coloured fruits (non-sweet) and vegetables,
citrous fruits, whole pulses, whole cereals, sprouts will provide all
antioxidants to the requirement level.
•Fixed meal timings:
A diabetic should take same amount of food everyday. It is better to have
fixed meal timings, as many of the diabetics are either on insulin or
medication. This would ensure adequate action of these medications with the
release of glucose from food.
•Smaller meals:
Instead of having 1-2 big meals a diabetes patient must have 6-7 smaller
meals. This helps in preventing peak rise in blood glucose levels and helps
to maintain it at normal limits. A diabetic must not also skip meals or do
fasting, to prevent chances of hypoglycemia.
Written By: Rachel Masih
Email: ash_rachel2003@yahoo.co.in Brief Profile: Rachel is a Dietician, currently working with a Heart Center in Delhi.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article are strictly those of the writer and 123oye does not take any responsibility for them.
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