The Real Relationship Between Sugar and Diabetes
October 29, 2008 by JM
Filed under Diets for Diabetes
It is a common myth that sugar directly causes diabetes. It is true that diabetics have to watch their blood glucose levels and are normally reduced to eating sugar free products, sugar is not actually the cause for diabetes. However, there may be an indirect link to the two. It has been proven that obesity is the main factor for diabetes, especially type II diabetes. Consuming large amounts of sugar will lead you to putting on weight and therefore, increase your chances greatly of becoming a diabetic. There is no real answer to how much sugar one should have but the best policy is to go with moderation.
Just about everything contains sugar so it is difficult to avoid. Anything that you purchase that is prepackaged most likely contains insane amounts of sugar. Therefore, the best thing to do is avoid purchasing these foods. Of course you cannot avoid it all of the time but you should cut the majority of it out. If you are unsure of how to do so and how you are going to maintain eating the foods you like, then you are going to have to go back to the basics otherwise known as the kitchen. Make your food from scratch. There is no need to purchase frozen pizza when you can make it at home. Even better it can be a bonding experience for the family.
Your diet needs to be as healthy as can be. This means cutting out refined sugar, processed foods and anything else unhealthy. Try to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into your diet as well as wholegrain foods. It may seem a little time consuming at first but spending an extra half hour in order to avoid diabetes and living a healthier life seems like a very good opportunity cost to take.
When you are diagnosed with diabetes
October 24, 2008 by JM
Filed under Living with Diabetes
One of the biggest problems of diabetes is that it is a “common” health problem; people who suffer diabetes used to be as segregated as current patients with aids, cancer and many of the modern-day ailments nowadays for patients it is a much more open and understanding world.
In previous times, they were basically reduced to specific places and activities; eating out (in restaurants) was an ordeal since there were no diabetes-specific menus and they were forced to conduct extensive interviews with the waiters in order to know the ingredients on a specific plate.
Still this modernity and overall acceptance that diabetes patients are experiencing is a double-edged sword. When a person has been diagnosed with diabetes, he or she has to face an entire new way to see him or herself as create an entirely new lifestyle where there are things that he or she should not do or eat anymore while others will have to be restricted as much as possible.
This is one of the toughest things that diabetes requests its patients. Still, even when most of them will successfully adjust and adapt their own lives to this new condition, the number of those who are not successful at this is incredibly high-demanding disease. For those people it might be better to become involved in any of the many support groups for patients of diabetes.
The problem with these groups is that there is no constant regarding the type of assistance that they have available, of course, not every group lacks of direction, but the vast majority do. What this means, in turn, is that patients who are struggling to adapt to their new life will relapse to the old habits that initiated their diabetes state in the first place, thus causing further damage by increasing the risks that diabetes entail.
Green Diabetics?
October 8, 2008 by JM
Filed under Diets for Diabetes
No Diabetics do not turn green, they are going green. By using all natural diets, those who are diabetics are seeing many positive results in their condition and are finding it easier to maintain their normal levels of blood pressure, cholesterol and most importantly their blood sugar levels. Many people are leaving meat behind and are turning to all organic foods that are produced naturally and some are even creating their own vegetable and fruit gardens to ensure the organic origins of their fruit and veggies.
It is recommended that before you make a major diet change that you consult your doctor and nutritionist, especially if you are diagnosed with diabetes. Plus, any changes made to your diet should be made over a slow period of time rather than radically changing your diet as this could have a negative affect on your body regardless of how well you are eating. It will also be more helpful in tracking the process of going green in the body. Every body is different so as you are gradually changing your diet you will be able to see which changes you benefit from and which you do not.
With the advice of a nutritionist and weekly visits you will be able to report on your progress and narrow down exactly which foods help, which are null and if any have a negative response. Cutting lean meats completely out of your diet may or not be healthy for you depending on your lifestyle. You will need to get your protein from other sources that do not interfere with the maintenance of your blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure levels. Nevertheless you can make a more efficient plan with your nutritionist by bringing up the idea of going green and then monitoring the small changes along the way until you find the most effective dieting plan to help control your diabetes.


