Tag: diabetic diet

When a child is diagnosed with diabetes it is commonly referred to as juvenile diabetes or type 1 diabetes. This type of diabetes is not related to a child’s lifestyle, it is an autoimmune disease that results in the need for insulin injections for food to be turned into energy properly. In recent years there have been an increased number of children that have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. This is an alarming trend and one that can be mitigated because the link between children and type 2 diabetes is childhood obesity.

As it is fairly new that children are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes there isn’t a lot of information or studies on it presently. But what is known is that parents need to take action immediately. Once a child has been diagnosed at an older age there isn’t much that can be done except to manage the disease. But if a younger child is obese and makes healthy lifestyle changes that result in weight loss there is a chance that type 2 diabetes can be avoided.

Some of the early warning signs that your child may have diabetes include:

• A sudden increase in thirst that appears to never be satiated
• An increased need to urinate
• Dark patches on the skin – usually found in the folds of the skin, around the neck or around the eyes

As there are many other diseases and complications that can arise if your child is obese it is best to seek medical help for your child. Between you and your health care professional, a plan can be made and put into place that will start your child on the road to a healthier weight and more active lifestyle. Your child may be resistant at first but by involving them in the process and persistence the changes can be made.

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Carbohydrates a very big impact on blood glucose levels as they are converted to sugar by the body in the process of turning the food into energy. Too many carbohydrate servings can increase blood sugar levels. It is important for a diabetic to control the number of carbohydrates that are eaten at each meal and balance the carbohydrates with protein while limiting fat intake.

In this type of meal plan foods are grouped into three different categories: carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. The majority of foods that you eat contain carbohydrates and this will be the largest food group. Foods in this group include:

• Grains – breads, crackers, rice, cereal, pasta * Dairy – milk, yogurt * Vegetables that are considered starchy – corn, peas, and potatoes * The rest of the vegetable family * Fruit, including fruit juices * Desserts and other treats – chosen in limited amounts

This diet will require you to measure your foods for serving sizes and read food labels to determine how many servings are carbohydrates it should be counted as. It is standard to consider 15 grams of carbohydrates as one serving. For instance, if you are having crackers as a snack and are allowed one serving of carbohydrates you would look at the food label to figure out how many crackers you can have. If the serving size is 20 crackers and that equals 30 grams of carbohydrates, for a diabetic that would be considered two servings. In this example, you would half the serving size and eat 10 crackers to equal 15 grams of carbohydrates.

After some time and experience you will become adept at counting carbohydrates and knowing what foods work well with your blood glucose levels and what ones don’t. No two diabetics respond the same way to every food, you will need to learn what your own ideal diabetic diet is.

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The carbohydrate counting diet groups foods into three main groups: carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. You dietician will provide you with the number of carbohydrates you can have in a day and how that is divided up amongst your meals and snacks. Your dietician will also educate you on how you can determine the numbers of carbohydrates are in some of your favorite foods by reading food labels.

The biggest benefit of the carbohydrate counting diet is that it does not eliminate any foods. A diabetic can choose any food they wish to eat as long as they only eat enough of it to meet their carbohydrate needs. The trick to this is to choose wholesome foods that will fill you up longer. The same amounts of carbohydrates that are in a small handful of potato chips are not equal to the two slices of bread you can have instead. But it is nice to know that if you really want to – once in awhile – you can treat yourself.

Another benefit is keeping a consistent amount of carbohydrates in your body. This can help regulate your insulin needs and control. If your body has the same amount of carbohydrates to process at the same times each day it will be beneficial to your health and blood glucose readings.

When you choose a carbohydrate counting diet it is important to make sure you are doing it correctly. If you don’t you can too much or too little and both situations can be detrimental to your diabetes. Have a dietician teach you how to properly count carbohydrates and closely monitor your blood sugar levels to make sure the diet it working for you.

As with any new diet, give it time for you to adjust and learn how to plan your meals properly.

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The exchange diet is one that allows you to pick and choose the foods you eat from each of the six food groups based on portion sizes. When you begin eating with this diet, it may seem like a lot of work but as you get used to the portions sizes and the common substitutions that you make it will get easier.

One of the benefits of the exchange diet it the flexibility you have in your meal planning. As long as you are eating the correct number of exchanges from each food group you will maintain better control of your blood glucose levels.

If you get bored quite easily by eating the same food day in and day out, the exchange diet might be for you. There are endless possibilities to combine different foods together at meal times. You can have broccoli for dinner three nights in a row but make it a completely different meal each time. One night you can have one small potato, ½ cup of steamed broccoli and a one ounce pork chop; the second night have ½ cup of cooked pasta tossed with ½ cup of broccoli and one ounce of cooked chicken; and the third night try 1/3 cup of rice mixed with ½ cup of broccoli and one ounce of lean ground beef.

The exchange diet also takes the guess work out of meal planning for diabetics. It is laid out in a very straight forward and easy to understand manner. If there are foods that you cannot find on the exchange list given to you by your dietician, call and find out which group it belongs too and what a proper portion size is.

At first you should weigh and measure your foods to ensure you are using the proper amounts but as time passes you will be able to do this by sight.

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Benefits of eating a healthy diet are for everyone but for a diabetic there can be even more reasons to follow a nutritious meal plan. Keeping a stable blood glucose level is the biggest reason for a diabetic to follow a diabetic diet. It takes commitment and patience to stick with the diet and plan out all meals each week. But the more that it is done the easier it will become.

Another benefit of eating a healthy diabetic diet is reducing the amount of insulin that is needed. By eating good carbohydrate choices and lean meats you will lower the insulin requirements for your body. The foods you eat all affect on your blood sugars and when you do not choose the best foods for your body it will need more insulin to process them. In addition to extra insulin requirements, you will suffer from high blood sugars also known as hyperglycemia. This condition can have serious long-term effects on your body and its organs.

By continuing with a healthy diet and combining it with regular exercise you can lose excess body weight. This too is good for your insulin requirements and blood glucose levels. By incorporating exercising into your daily routine you can give your body’s metabolism a boost and help it process the foods you are eating. When the foods you take in are healthy choices your body is going to function better.

If you do not follow a healthy diet you can suffer from:

• Low blood sugar from not eating enough – hyperglycemia * High blood sugar from eating too much or eating the wrong foods – hypoglycemia * Gain weigh and in turn increase your daily insulin requirement * Lack the energy needed to exercise on a regular basis

Eating well can help control your diabetes and prolong your life expectancy.

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Meal planning is essential to a successful diabetic diet. It will prevent times when you don’t have anything ready for dinner and grab something that you probably shouldn’t be eating. The planning of meals should begin before you head to the grocery store in the form of a list and meals you are going to make for those ingredients.

Once a week you should sit down and plan what meals you are going to eat and make for the next week. When you are making your meal plan, don’t forget to include all meals and snacks too. If you are hungry and know what your next meal is going to be you are going to be better prepared.

In the beginning, meal planning will take some time. Depending on what diet your are following (the Exchange Diet, Counting Carbohydrates, or the TLC Diet) you are going to have to get used to the foods you can have, the portion sizes and how they can be cooked.

Plan each day out in its entirety. Make it realistic; don’t plan to make lasagna on a night that you know you won’t be home until late. Save the meals with more preparation for when you have time and make extra so you can have left-overs when time is tight.

When you are in the grocery store, do not go hungry. If you do, there is more chance that you will buy food that you do not need. Another trick while you are pushing around the cart is to only get what is on your list. If you are in line paying for your food and notice something that snuck its way in – put it back. This will not only make sure you stick to your meal plan but can save you money too.

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Even though there are free foods on a diabetic diet it doesn’t mean that you don’t have to pay for them. What it does mean is you can eat them freely without considering them an exchange or counting them as carbohydrates. These are the kinds of foods that you are going to want around the house in abundance for times when you are hungry and meal time is still too far away to eat.

Free foods have little to no affect on blood sugars and that is why they can be eaten in without counting them as part of a meal. Your diabetes educator or dietician will provide you with a complete list but here are a few items that are normally considered free foods:

• Water and other water-based drinks (such as coffee and tea) that are sugar free
• Bouillon (beef or chicken broth)
• Sugar-free gelatin (flavored or not)
• Pickles
• Cream Cheese
• Unsweetened cocoa powder
• Rhubarb
• Cranberries
• Salsa

Many condiments are considered free foods too. When you are planning a snack or a meal add some of the free foods such as salsa or cream cheese for variety or extra flavor.

Depending on your dietician, he or she may consider most vegetables as part of the free foods group too. Vegetables that do not qualify include potatoes, corn, peas, and carrots as they are considered starchy and have higher carbohydrate content. If your dietician does allow you to have vegetables in between meals, make sure to clarify the kinds you can have and if there is a certain amount you should have.

A diabetic diet can feel restrictive at times. It is nice to have some items that you can have whenever you want without having to account for them in one way or another.

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A lot of diabetic diets and diabetic meal planning center around carbohydrate intake – the amount you can have and when you should have them. This is because they play such a crucial role in managing blood sugars. Too many carbohydrates or the wrong kind can cause high blood sugars. Not enough carbohydrates can cause low blood sugars or hypoglycemia.

It is recommended that carbohydrates make up about 40% of your daily calories, but not all carbohydrates are created equal. You also need to pay attention to fat and sugar content.

Here are some carbohydrate choices that should be made frequently:

• Whole grain cereals
• Whole wheat breads and rolls
• Brown rice
• Whole wheat crackers
• Raw or lightly steamed fruits and vegetables
• Whole wheat pita pockets or wraps

Carbohydrate choices that should be made less often:

• Potato chips
• White bread
• White rice
• Other foods that have been processed
• Cookies
• Easy to eat snacks

Carbohydrates are an essential part of every diet but make sure you are including the right kinds in yours. Good carbohydrates will fill you up and not create a sudden spike in your blood sugars. Bad carbohydrates are usually over-processed, create high blood sugars, create obesity and are high in sodium.

As carbohydrates are going to make up almost half of your daily food choices it is important to fill you body with high-quality choices. Choose ones that will give you energy and not cause you to gain weight. The less processed or refined a carbohydrate is the better it is going to be for you. Even when baking, choose unbleached whole grain flour. It doesn’t make a big difference in taste but it does in the quality of carbohydrate it creates. Try whole grain flour in pancakes, cookies and cakes.

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When you are a diabetic, exercise is will help control your blood sugar levels. But if you are overweight or obese and diabetic, exercise will also help you lose weight. As a diabetic, there are additional considerations and precautions that you need to take before you begin an exercise routine. And once you have begun, you always need to be aware of the risks involved.

It is ideal to wait before your exercise if your blood glucose level is too low or high. You can do more damage than good if you do not. It is especially dangerous if your blood sugar is on the low side and you begin to exercise. The physical exertion can cause your blood sugar to drop even further which can become an emergency situation. As a precaution, if you are exercising at a gym make sure the staff are aware of your condition and have emergency instructions and numbers to call. If you walk or run on your own outside, keep identification on you that advises you are diabetic along with contact phone numbers, a snack, and instructions.

For other tips on exercising with diabetes, you can follow the same guidelines that make sense for everyone else. Stretch before and after exercising, drink plenty of fluids, and don’t push yourself too hard. It is a smart idea to check your blood sugars before and after exercising and if you are feeling light-headed during your work-out check it then too.

As feet problems are common in diabetics, wear proper footwear and socks. If you notice any sores on your feet that are not going away on their own, see your doctor. If they are not healing they can lead to an infection and other related complications. Even though there are risks involved to exercising, the benefits make it worth it.

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It may sound like a hard thing to do – be consistent and have variety in your diet at the same time. But it is possible and it is the best way to control your diabetes with your diet. The consistency comes in at specific meal times and the same servings from the different food groups. And the variety refers to trying as many different foods in the food groups as you can.

It can be easy to find a few meals that work well with your blood sugars and are easy to prepare and just stick with them. You are more than likely to get bored with this and you probably aren’t getting all of the nutrients you need from a set amount of foods.

Whether you are on the carbohydrate counting diet or the exchange diet, you have a lot of room for flexibility. You can combine different foods together for something new or try foods you have never had before. You can meet with your dietician to get additional ideas for recipes and other foods that you can eat to add more variety to your diet.

There will be times that you try a new food and your blood sugars are higher as a result. Think back about anything else that you had done differently that day – less activity or taking your insulin later than usual. If the new food is the only change you experienced talk to your dietician. You may be able to prepare the food differently or eat it with something else or you may have to avoid that food if it doesn’t work for your diabetic diet.

Just because you have diabetes doesn’t mean that you can’ be adventurous and try something new, just do it at regular meal times and within the recommended portion sizes.

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