If you are a diabetic, you will know how dicey a disease this is. Your blood sugar levels tend to fluctuate constantly, sometimes wildly enough to leave you thoroughly exhausted! You relax just after a meal, thinking that the sugar levels are going to steady now, but lo and behold! You would suddenly feel shaky and weak and your sugar takes a nosedive just about a half hour after the meal! So how do you tackle this problem and what is the ideal diabetes medication to control these extreme ‘sugar swings’?

You first have to learn if you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. After a detailed examination, your physician will prescribe a medication schedule for you. If you are suffering from the former, you need to take insulin injections, the dosage of which will be prescribed and manipulated by your doctor.

If you are a Type 2 diabetic, however, oral medication might do well enough for you, though not always. There are some people with Type 2 diabetes who are still administered insulin injections. But this type of diabetes can usually come under control once the patient reduces his or her weight and gets into a proper exercise schedule.

“I am already on medication. So why do I need diet and exercise?”

The above is a very common question posed by many diabetics. Most people do not realize how vital diet and exercise are to maintaining general health, especially so with diabetes.

Diet

Eating a balanced diet and cutting down on sweet, processed and oily foods cuts down accumulating unnecessary calories! Fibrous foods increase metabolism and give you a filled up feeling without you having to consume too much food.

Exercise

Moderate exercise everyday increases your immunity levels, injects energy into you and also regulates your blood sugar levels. Though you may initially feel tired out, you will feel just great after about 2-3 weeks of exercise. Ask your doctor about the right kind of exercise for you.

Now you see why your diabetes medication has to be complemented with diet and exercise, right? Take care of the above factors and you move several steps towards leading a happy, healthy life ahead!

Gestational diabetes occurs to a woman when she is pregnant. Even perfectly healthy women without a prior history of diabetes can fall prey to this disorder during their pregnancy. Of course, this disorder disappears once the baby is born, but may raise its head each consecutive time she gets pregnant. Besides, such women also stand the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes at a later stage in their lives. How can this disorder be controlled? Believe it or not, a sensible diet can easily regulate your symptoms if you are suffering from gestational diabetes.

Here is the ideal diet for expecting women suffering from diabetes:

• Carbohydrates are vital to provide energy for the pregnant woman. Complex carbohydrates can be gotten from fruits, veggies, nuts, whole grains and dry beans. These substances easily convert into glucose and so, are the best thing for you! You can also find carbs in milk, pasta, bread, cereal, rice and yogurt. Additionally, it will do well to include proteins and some degree of fats in your daily diet. Of course, you need to visit your doctor before starting off on any diet whatsoever.
• Fibrous foods aid digestion, lower blood cholesterol levels and slow down the absorption of sugar in the body. This means, fiber cleans up your intestinal tract and also keeps up your energy levels for longer periods of time. Fruits, vegetables, beans and peas, cereals, whole grains, sprouts and brown rice are loaded with fiber.
• Fatty foods are best avoided; though okay in moderation. You can also use fat substitutes such as toned milk, low-fat yogurt, lean meat, egg whites and so on. It is also better to bake, roast, grill or boil your dishes rather than fry them.
• Salty or sodium-rich foods have to be minimized as well. These foods raise blood pressure levels, so are never good for anyone, especially you! Try to avoid canned, packaged and processed foods, as they are all sodium-rich.

Take care of your diet during gestational diabetes and you will soon be spinning with top energy levels!

Did you know that diet and exercise are the key factors to control Type 2 Diabetes? Not only that, they are also useful to prevent the onset of diabetes if you are not already suffering from it.

Today, Type 2 Diabetes or ‘adult onset diabetes’ is becoming a very common condition the world over. If you are suffering from this type of diabetes, you need to know that you can still live an active life, provided that you follow the rules of the game!

Let us find out how diet and exercise help with this condition.

Diet

Regulate your diet and eat sensibly. This is the very first step to maintain health for all time. Consume a balanced diet comprising all food varieties and reduce oily and sweet foods. Include a lot of fibrous foods like sprouts and fruits and see the benefits for yourself! Work out a different diet pattern for each day of the week, so that you do not get bored eating the same thing everyday!

Additionally, cut down on alcohol and quit smoking altogether. Doing this will also control your diabetes.

Exercise

Exercise is an absolute must for all of us. Bestowing fitness and health on us, it is also a powerful anti-depressant and immunity builder for us. Exercises such as swimming, dancing, yoga, cycling and so on keep our engines revving all day long! Even moderate exercise 3-4 times a week can work miracles for our body!

Talk to your physician regarding a workout schedule. You may include different routines each day of the week for variety and also to maintain your level of interest!

Keep a watch on what you eat and how healthy a lifestyle you lead. You do not need to deprive yourself of anything. Just keep control over yourself and you will soon be bouncing with good health and cheer, in spite of your Type 2 diabetes!

There are a whole lot of tales going around about diabetes. If you are a diabetic, you will only be told what not to eat and not what you should eat! So what is the ideal diabetes nutrition plan for you? Read on to know more…

Fad diets are never good for anyone, especially so if you are diabetic. So just throw such plans into the dustbin! Include all food types in your everyday diet and eat in moderation

Vegetables and fruits help like nothing else. Choose the ‘colorful’ varieties – they help more!

Fish, poultry and lean meats are a good source of protein. So consume them in moderation.

Say ‘Yes’ to whole grains and lentils – they are a rich source of fiber!

Oily and sweet foods should be avoided. Of course, you are allowed that occasional bite, so you do not feel the craving to binge on them!

Skimmed milk and milk products are excellent for you.

Reduce consumption of fizzy drinks. Switch to plain water instead.

Putting your plan into action

Set up a systematic diet chart for yourself. This way, you will follow a regulated meal schedule. Eat sensibly and you will soon notice how light you feel. You will also be able to regulate your weight, blood pressure and blood sugar this way, without having to compromise on general energy levels.

If you are a diabetic, it is most advisable for you to regulate your diet in order to maintain the optimum health quotient. Talk to your physician, follow the above diabetes nutrition plan and keep healthy in spite of diabetes. Here’s to your health!

Diabetes is one disease that has assumed vast global proportions today. Keeping this in mind, the American Diabetic Association has introduced the most ideal diabetic meal plan, the Diabetes Food Pyramid. While it includes all food varieties, it is also worked out in a way as to regulate your blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

This pyramid is made up of six food categories, the largest one at the bottom rung, which also consists of the safest food types. The food type at the top of the pyramid is considered to be most ‘dangerous’ for diabetics, hence is best consumed least or even altogether avoided.

Our body needs up to 1600 calories a day for it to function optimally. The food plan mentioned below helps give us those calories, without letting us put on extra weight.

1. Whole grains and starch come at the very bottom of the pyramid. Whole grains are fiber-rich, so they give your general metabolism a good boost! Though starchy food is not considered too good, it is so when consumed in moderation. Starchy substances contain carbohydrates, which help maintain energy levels.
2. Vegetables contain many minerals, nutrients and vitamins. So they are vital to maintain good health. The colored varieties are especially good for you! Raw sprouts and dried beans also contain a high degree of fibers and nutrients.
3. Fresh and dry fruits are loaded with a good deal of minerals and other nutrients. Many of them have anti-oxidant properties as well, so you will do well to consume them.
4. Skimmed dairy products are ideal to give you the strength without letting you balloon out!
5. Meat, cottage cheese and tofu are a rich source of protein. Only, avoid red meats and opt for lean meats instead. You can also include poultry products such as egg whites, chicken and turkey.
6. Fatty and oil-laden foods are to be avoided to the maximum extent, as these only prove to be detrimental to our body. It is also desirable to cut down on or even avoid alcohol.

Make sure to talk to your doctor before embarking on your diabetic meal plan. Follow his or her advice and you are sure to enjoy sound health!

If you are suffering from high blood sugar, it is very vital for you to keep it under your control forever. Otherwise it may end up causing major trouble for you. Believe it or not, one of the key factors to regulate your blood sugar is to follow the ideal diabetic diet. What is this and how does one get to doing it?

Being on a diet does not mean you should start feeling guilty about each extra morsel you eat! On the contrary, you are free to enjoy any kind of food as far as you eat moderately. In this article, you will learn more about how to balance your diet and bring it to the optimum level. Of course, it is always advisable for you to talk to your physician before you embark on any diet.

• Proteins give you energy and precious amino acids, which help heal the body. Besides, they contain lesser calories and can regulate your blood sugar levels. About 1/5th of your diet should be made up of proteins.
• Carbs keep the body going. Additionally, they help prevent ketosis. It is better to break up carbohydrate consumption into 4-5 tiny portions each day. It can make up more than half of your diet everyday.
• Fibrous foods are very good, as they improve digestion and also regulate your sugar levels by throwing out the extra glucose from the body. The ideal amount of fiber is about 25gms per every 1000 calories.
• White foods such as white flour and sugar are best avoided. Go for the ‘brown’ varieties of foods instead – they are far healthier!
• Include lots of fresh fruits and green leafy veggies in your daily diet. Of course, you could do well to give over-sweet fruits such as mangoes and avocados a miss!
• Avoid oily and sweet foods to the maximum, as they only cause harm to your body. If you really need to, you could use about 20% unsaturated fat each day. Make sure to exercise well and burn it off.

This diabetic diet is most beneficial for you, as it gives your body all it needs, without causing it any damage! Of course, make sure to continue your medication side by side with your special diet.

Btw, happy new year :o)

You can easily bring your diabetes under control if you are particular about following certain schedules, such as diet, exercise and medication schedules. One of the most important aspects that determines the extent of diabetes is your diet. Your blood sugar levels can rise arbitrarily if you are not disciplined with your diet factor. Now, your next question is going to be: “What is it that I can eat with my present condition?”

While there are certain restrictions placed on your diet, your food does not necessarily have to be bland and boring. Here, we have listed out some convenient pointers to achieving good health through your diet.

Generally, you should include fiber-rich foods and reduce fatty, sweet and starchy foods as far as possible. Also avoid processed and canned foods, as they are sodium-rich. Apart from that, you should also cut down on heavy meals and instead, have smaller meals more often. You may eat a couple of light digestive biscuits in between meals if you so wish. Your diet should be balanced and should include all food varieties too.

For breakfast

Have low-fat oatmeal and throw in some nuts, one fruit and some raw sprouts. These will give you both the sugar and carbohydrates necessary to last till lunch! If you are used to having milk, just drink a glass of skimmed milk.

In case you prefer omelets, do away with the egg yolk and only take egg whites, which are not loaded with cholesterol!

For lunch and dinner

Consume a lot of salads. This will give you high doses of fiber and will also enhance digestion. Substitute salad dressing by low-fat yogurt dressing instead. Apart from this, eat a lot of green leafy vegetables, stew, beans, chickpeas and navy beans. These things contain ‘good cholesterol’. Eat lean meats like fish and white meats. Avoid fat-rich red meats and always trim away the fat from the meat.

Needless to say, it is always advisable for you to consult with your dietician before you start off on a diet for your diabetes.

A lot of people tend to think that a diabetic diet is the most boring thing on earth! But this is definitely not so. If you only take the trouble to find out more about the ideal diet for you and follow it properly, you will see to your utter surprise that your can enjoy absolutely tasty and flavorful meals, in spite of your current disorder! So what is the right diet for diabetics such as you?

The best method to plan your diet is to visit a healthcare advisor, talk to him or her and then let them draw out your diet chart for you. The special food pyramid plan is usually the most ideal one for diabetics. This plan lets you eat all types of food in moderation, without having to feel guilty about consuming the wrong kinds of food! Because it includes all food varieties, your health remains in good condition as well, as your body is able to get all the nutrition it needs.

The bottom of the pyramid is the widest, containing the healthiest foods, thereby allowing the most consumption of the same. Here is how the pyramid is built:

• Whole grains contain precious fiber, which supplies nutrition without letting you put on weight. It is great for digestion and also regulates your blood sugar and pressure levels as well. Starchy foods give you the energy to carry on your activities all day long. So these most advisable food types are at the very bottom of the pyramid.
• Vegetables are rich with several nutrients and minerals. They also contain a good degree of fiber and vitamins. So they are good for you too. Go for veggies like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and so on and you can never go wrong!
• Fruits are yet another source of fiber and vitamins. Only avoid rich fruits like mangoes and avocados as far as possible, as they are laden with those sinful calories!
• Skimmed milk and milk products give you the required calcium and energy without putting on those inches in your waist!
• Lean meats are a good source of protein. Tofu is one fine vegetarian protein supplier!
• Oil-rich and sweet foods are best avoided, as they only slow down the system, without giving any other benefit. So these are best avoided.

Follow this diabetic diet plan and you are assured of a healthy life ahead!