DIABETES Health

Diabetic diet play an important role in controlling diabetes. Hence understanding how diabetic diet plan works is essential to every diabetes patients. There are four types of diabetes, the most common of them are type 1 and type 2. Both Type 1 as well as type 2 diabetes can be controlled effectively by realizing and respecting proper nutritional goals. Since the nutritional goals for Type 1 and Type 2 are different, it is essential for a diabetes patient to know and fulfill the nutritional goals for each type of diabetes and the diabetic diet plan involved.

Diabetic Diet Type 1

Type 1 diabetic diet is a diet plan that focus on balance of carbohydrate intake. It is essential for people suffering from type 1 diabetes to maintain a special focus on avoiding Carbohydrates. With type 1 diabetes, there is a delicate balance of carbohydrate intake, insulin, and physical activity that is necessary for optimal blood levels of a sugar called glucose. Studies show that total carbohydrate has the most effect on the amount of insulin needed and maintaining blood sugar control. For those with type 1 diabetes, on a fixed dose of insulin, the carbohydrate content of meals and snacks should be consistent from day to day because if these components are not in balance, there can be wide fluctuations, from too high to too low, in blood glucose levels. Patients with Type 1 diabetes should have a diet that has approximately 35 calories per kg of body weight per day (or 16 calories per pound of body weight per day). Generally, carbohydrates should make up about 50 percent of the daily calories ( with the accepted range 40-60 percent). In general, lower carbohydrate intake is associated with lower sugar levels in the blood. However the benefits of this can be cancelled out by the problems associated with a higher fat diet taken in to compensate for the lower amount of carbohydrates. This problem can be improved by substituting monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats for saturated fats.

WARNING : Try not to withhold food or give food when a child is not hungry. Insulin dosing and scheduling should be base on child's usual eating and exercise habit. For children with Type 1 diabetes, weight and growth patterns are useful way to determine if the child's intake is adequate.

Diabetic Diet Type 2

With type 2 diabetic diet plan, the main focus is on weight control, because 80 to 90 percent of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight. This condition requires a diabetic diet meal, with reduced calories, even distribution of carbohydrates, and replacement of some carbohydrate with healthier monounsaturated fats helps improve blood glucose levels. Examples of foods high in monounsaturated fat include peanut or almond butter, almonds, walnuts, and other nuts. These can be substituted for carbohydrates, but portions should be small because these foods are high in calories. In many cases, moderate weight loss and increased physical activity can control type 2 diabetes. Some people will need to take oral medications or insulin in addition to lifestyle changes. In case of children, diabetic diet meal plan should be recalculated often to account for the child's change in calorie requirements as he or she grows. Changes in eating habits and increased physical activity help reduce insulin resistance and improve blood sugar control. When at parties or during holidays, sugar-containing foods can still be eaten, but children should have fewer carbohydrates on that day. For example, if birthday cake, Halloween candy, or other sweets are eaten, the usual daily amount of potatoes, pasta, or rice should be eliminated. This substitution helps keep calories and carbohydrates in better balance. For children with either type of diabetes, special occasions (like birthdays or Halloween) require additional planning because of the sweets that abound.