Archive for July 2010

Renal Diabetic Diets



Diabetes is a medical condition whereby the human body produces an insufficient amount of insulin. Insulin is a natural hormone produced in the body. It is responsible for converting sugar, starch and other food material into energy. Renal diabetes is a type of diabetes, which occurs due to a low-sugar threshold in the kidneys. Diabetic patients have to take special care about their food habits. Doctors typically prescribe a special renal diabetic diet for a diabetic patient.

A renal diabetic dietary chart specifies the type and amount of food that a patient should consume every day. A person suffering from renal diabetes should eat meals that contain the right amount of nutrients. The diets should have sufficient vegetables and leguminous fruits. Doctors also recommend a diet that has vegetables with low carbohydrate levels, such as celery and cucumbers. Foods rich in amino acids such as soybeans, red beans, eggs and lean meat are also beneficial. Food that reduces the level of sugar in the blood stream is very effective in the prevention and treatment of diabetes.

It is also critical for a diabetes patient to maintain a proper body weight, as it helps in controlling blood fats (cholesterol) and lowering the blood pressure. A renal diabetic diet is designed to ensure that a diabetic does not gain weight.

People suffering from renal diabetes should avoid or eat very small quantities of any food that contains a high amount of cholesterol. They should also try to reduce their intake of fish, egg-yolks and fatty meats. The use of fat or oil in cooking should be restricted. They should only consume food products with low levels of potassium. Artichokes, beans, Brussels sprouts, lentils, lima beans pumpkin, squash, spinach, succotash and tomatoes are a few of the vegetables that are in a renal diabetic diet.

Renal diabetics can easily control their sugar level and lead normal lives by sticking to a renal diabetic diet.

By: Eddie Tobey

Diabetic Meal Menus For Kids



Kids like to eat food that is pleasing to the eye irrespective of the fact that whether they are nutritious or not. What when kids suffer from diabetic problem? Diabetic kids need to restrict on some food even if they do not like it. Controlling the diet can be the solution that will help in reducing the threat of diabetes and symptoms if the kids are already attacked by it. Parents whose kids are diabetic need to show a greater amount of attention regarding the food habits of these kids and thus has to carefully plan diabetic meal menu for kids.

They have to be careful on the amount of carbohydrates they consume in order to keep a check on their blood sugar levels. There are two problems tied with diabetes which can be faced by kids which includes coronary disease and strokes but by sticking to diabetic diet plan kids can escape the threat of these problems. A healthy diabetic meal menu for kids is related with consuming a balanced diet of non-fat dairy foodstuffs, poultry, whole grains, lean meat, fish, fruits, and vegetables. There are many delicious recipes which are particularly approved for kids with diabetes helping parents to plan diabetic meal menu for kids with ease.

Diabetic meal menu for kids can include Breakfast on the Go, Club Wrap, Cranberry Spritzer, Grilled Cheese Sandwich, Nutty Chocolate Chip Cookies, Vegetable Skillet Frittata, Strawberry Cheese Tart, Taco Popcorn, Tomato Basil Pizza Snack, and Zesty Turkey Tenderloin With Vegetables. If the kids are restricted to a low diabetic diet then they can eat carrots, avocados, kidney beans together with fish, cheese, domestic fowl, meat and eggs. Kids suffering from diabetes need not have to undergo a poor selection of diet particularly when diabetic recipe formulations are made with variety and health in mind.

By: Chris Cornell

Diabetic Renal Diet – How to Effectively Manage Renal Disease and Diabetes



Being that one of the most common extrarenal diseases affecting the kidney is diabetes mellitus, diabetic renal diet has become a topic of interest nowadays.

Diabetic nephropathy, a progressive process, commonly leads to renal failure. About 30% of clients with end- stage renal disease have diabetes mellitus.

Researchers estimate that 25% to 50% of clients with insulin- dependent diabetes mellitus or type 1 diabetes have end stage renal disease within 10 to 20 years of beginning insulin therapy.

Renal disease can also occur in the non- insulin- dependent diabetic client. The incidence of proteinuria (protein in urine) is about 25% after the 20 years of diabetes.

This diabetic renal diet is a nutritional therapy to emphasize the need for a team approach to enhance the ability of each patient with diabetes to achieve good metabolic control. In this way, by controlling diabetes mellitus, we can manage the progressive worsening condition to our kidneys thereby preventing end stage renal disease.

The kidney metabolizes 30% to 40% of insulin, and as renal function decline the degradation of insulin also decreases, resulting in a lower insulin requirement. Renal failure may be initially identified when the client is evaluated for recurrent insulin reactions.

Researchers hope that exacerbation of renal disease can be slowed by the following:

- Carefully controlling hypertension.

- Adjusting insulin therapy and carefully monitoring blood glucose to maintain normal sugar level.

- Restricting dietary protein.

Regardless of diabetic control, however, renal failure inevitably develops within 5 to 10 years after the appearance of significant proteinuria.

These are some recommended dietary modification for patients with diabetes mellitus:

- Total calories- sufficient to maintain/achieve reasonable weight in adults, or meet increased needs of children, adolescents, pregnant and lactating women and individuals recovering from catabolic illness.

- Caloric distribution of 50- 70% of carbohydrates, 20- 30% of proteins and 20- 30% of fat.

- Cholesterol limit to 300 mg/day or less.

- Carbohydrates and sweetness

- Sodium limit to about 300mg/day, less for people with hypertension if renal complications.

- Alcohol- moderate amounts may be allowed, contingent on good metabolic control.

- Vitamin and mineral supplement- not necessary but may be given to individuals on reduced calorie diets (1200kcal/day or less)

There is no one diabetic diet that will suit the individual and the special need of a person with diabetes. The diet for an individual with diabetes can only be defined as a “dietary prescription based on nutrition assessment and treatment goals”. However, the diabetic renal diet can serve as a guideline on how to manage and control diabetes mellitus thus prolonging renal disease.

By: Rachelle Gordon

Diabetic Diet Plans



When you have diabetes, your body does not produce or correctly use the hormone, insulin. Insulin is important to your health, because it helps your body to convert sugar and starch into the energy you need to live. Some people are predisposed genetically to get diabetes, but for many people, diabetes is a weight related issue. For those people careful attention to diets for diabetics is necessary.

Over 7% of the population of the United States has been diagnosed with this disease. This translates to over twenty million adults and children that suffer with the effects of diabetes.

Diabetes is diagnosed into two categories; type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Type 1 is caused by the body’s failure to produce insulin, the hormone that allows glucose to fuel the cells of the body. Approximately 5-10% of Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 1 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is much more common. It is caused by insulin resistance. This means that even though the body is producing insulin, it fails to properly use the insulin that it makes. Type 2 diabetes can often successfully be controlled by diets for diabetics.

Some people that have diabetes are required to take a daily insulin treatment. Some people treat their diabetes with daily shots or oral medication. Whether or not you take medication to treat your diabetes, diets for diabetics are an important factor in controlling the disease. The amount of food you eat, when you eat, and what you eat can all work to control your blood sugar levels.

When you have diabetes, it is important that you eat the same types of foods in consistent amounts. Ideally, you should get 45% to 65% of your daily calories from carbohydrates, 15 to 20% of your daily calories from protein, and 20 to 35% of your calories from healthy fats. If you were to suddenly get 90% of your daily calories from carbohydrates, you would radically alter your blood sugar levels causing all sorts of problems.

It is also important to eat at regularly scheduled times. Waiting too long between meals can cause your blood sugar to drop. Eating too much food at one sitting and then skipping the next meal can also alter your blood sugar levels and cause you to have diabetic complications.

The most important thing that you can do to control your diabetes is pay careful attention to the foods that you put into your body. This doesn’t mean that you have to stick to a regimented and highly restricted menu. It simply means that you need to eat a diet rich in primal foods. This means eating a diet that consists of natural and unprocessed foods such as vegetables, fruits and whole grains.

Some people have been even been able to successfully reverse the disease simply by eating a diet rich in primal foods. Instead of trying to observe a strict diabetic exchange diet that is a lot of work to calculate and maintain, many diabetics find that by choosing a healthy eating plan full of primal foods, they not only lose weight, but eradicate their diabetes.

By: Craig Aldridge

Liquid Diets For Diabetes



Patients suffering from diabetes mellitus need to adopt special diet for proper maintenance of their health. A proper diet at the same time is necessary to sustain a balance in their health. Many diseases are there that do not require any special diet, but diabetes specially does not fall into that category. This is an ailment, which requires particular medication and diet as well. Generally, the nature of diet differs according to the diabetic patterns. Accordingly, diet for diabetes mellitus is not similar with the diet of juvenile diabetes.

Whatever, the type may be, a special diet is extremely needed in this direction from preventing the disease to spread more. Although insulin is a main input requirement in the diabetes mellitus, subsequent liquid diets are also of much importance. In this case, commonly a low carbohydrate diet is preferred. Most of the times, in addition to this, fluid diets are incorporated for being easily digestible. Apart from this, they contain protein. While we are talking about the special diabetic liquid diets, we must look for the objectives of those fluid diets meant for the diabetic patients in general.

The basic objectives of these diabetic diets are more or less same. First and the foremost motive of these diets are to bring the glucose level normal in the blood. Irrespective of type one or type two diabetes, this is a major objective of the liquid diets. In order to keep the glucose level under control, patients are generally given diets comprising low or negligible amount of glucose. Apart from bringing the glucose level under control, diabetic patients also need to maintain the triglyceride and cholesterol level that is altogether known as lipid level. Both of these are required as they help to keep the blood pressure under control. Accordingly, low fat liquid diets, devoid of saturated fats, are prescribed in this connection. So far being overweight is a major problem for the patients of diabetes, and weight control remains a major aim of these diets. Again, to attain this, low fat diets are generally prescribed by the dietitians.

Maintenance of overall health is one major concern while making diets for diabetes. This is one reason that the common factor in all forms of diabetic liquid diets is the saturated fat control and carbohydrate checking. As most of the times, saturated fats are found from animal products, these animal proteins are restricted into the diabetes diets. In addition to this, trans-fatty acids containing hard margarines, fast foods, commercial products are also highly restricted. Generally mustard oil, coconut oil and other animal lever oils are cut from the diet list and instead, olive oil, canola oil, sunflower oil, and rapeseed oil are preferred.

Fluid diets, such as soups with fiber rich products like whole grains, vegetables should be taken on regular courses. Recently, a whole grain wheat meal is being popular as a perfect diabetic diet. As animal protein is highly restricted, milk and soybeans can be the supplements and they may be taken in the form of liquid diets. All these are low calorie diets and do not exceed more than 500-800 calories a day. However, strict liquid diets are meant for the diabetic obese patients and others suffering from diabetes devoid of obesity can follow a nominal strict diet unlike these liquid ones.

By: Chaim Golz

Diabetic Carb Diet – Importance of Diabetic Carb Diet



Diabetic carb diet is one of the effective diet plans to control diabetes and lose weight. Diabetes is a hereditary disorder in which the body of a patient fails to generate or utilize adequate amount of insulin. Other factors that are responsible for causing diabetes are improper habits of eating, improper workout regime and irregular lifestyle.

Diabetes patients fail to make use of glucose, which helps to generate sufficient amount of energy to the body. In addition, diabetes may give rise to serious health disorders such as eye disorders, strokes and kidney failure.

As there is no cure for diabetes, however, it can be controlled by adopting a respective diabetic diet plan followed by proper exercise regime. Before starting a diabetic carb diet, seek advice from your dietician or doctor for proper guidelines.

Moreover, make a note of your carbohydrate, protein and fat intake, as excess intake of these components might increase your blood sugar level. There are numerous products available in the market that help in measuring the amount of carbohydrates.

Although, excess fats and carbohydrates may inflate the problems of diabetes. Carbohydrates play an important role in meeting the energy requirements of the body. Therefore, the diabetic carb diet must contain all the basic food components in appropriate quantity, which is sufficient for the body to function in a healthy manner.

Therefore, a well planned diabetic carb diet certainly helps in maintaining your diabetes and blood sugar level under control and within the recommended level to stay healthy.

By: Deborah Siscoe

Diabetic Weight Loss Diet for Type 2 Diabetes



For many type 2 diabetics their diet has the double duty of not only controlling their blood sugar levels but also losing weight, which is an important step in reducing the risk factors for complications presented by this disease. The diabetic weight loss diet is an important part of keeping glucose levels in check by striking a balance between the carbohydrates, fats, and protein eaten at each meal.

Choosing healthy food is one of the most important parts of anyone’s diet, but for the diabetic it can literally be the difference between life and death. Without proper blood sugar control the list of complications suffered by those with diabetes is quite scary. It is also important to remember that while some people can control their diabetes with diet and exercise, others who are at higher risk may also need to make food choices based on the medications they are currently taking.

For many diabetics trying to figure out the exact amount of carbohydrates they can eat can be a little frustrating. In the past everyone followed the same general guidelines but in recent years that thinking has changed. Diet plans for diabetic are now individualized and are based on each person’s ability to tolerate and maintain good blood sugar control. One thing that helps individuals keep good glucose maintenance is the ability to measure blood sugar levels with personal portable blood glucose monitors that are quick and easy to use. The ultimate goal of a type 2 diabetic diet is to provide the necessary calories and nutrients needed while keeping blood glucose levels in the normal range and allowing the diabetic to lose weight.

The good news is a diabetic diet because of it very nature easily allows those who follow it the ability to lose the weight that can cause so many health problems and may be a contributor to their diabetes. The diet is low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and simple sugars while emphasizing leafy green vegetables, fruits in moderation because of their high sugar and starch content, and whole grains high in fiber. Protein from lean sources is also important, particularly those that are high in omega-3 fatty acids such as can be found in certain fish like salmon. A good starting point for anyone with diabetes is the diabetic food pyramid that can be found of the American Diabetes Association website.

Type 2 diabetes is becoming a rapidly increasing epidemic with the current obesity problem that is affecting nearly every region of the world. Because of this being able to control blood glucose levels along with effective weight loss and control is vitally important for anyone who must follow a diabetic weight loss diet.

By: Andrew Bicknell

Diabetic Diet and Its Early History



Diabetes Mellitus and its dietary management was long before applied in Egypt way back early as 3,500 B.C and so was in India not less than 2000 years way back. On the 18th century, there are authors who argue with the calorie limitations in diabetic diet can decrease high glucose levels in diabetes.

On the other hand, before the discovery of insulin, low-calorie diet was recommended to people with diabetes to prevent the killings from this disease. The approach did not really cure diabetes but simply extends life to a limited time. With discovering the use of insulin on the early 1920′s changes things and allows patient with greater flexibility with eating.

Diabetic Diet with the Later Development

Dietitians today suggested and recommend the usual healthy diet; high fiber foods, different kinds of fruits and vegetables, foods that are low in sugar, and low fatty foods mainly saturated fat.

In the mid-1970′s, the Pritikin Program was opened, patients were in a center and they were set to a program of diet and exercise. The diet was high in carbohydrates and fibers, in the company of vegetables, fresh fruits and whole grains. This program showed that it has a dramatically improvement to diabetic patients in only three weeks time.

The Vegan Diet

This diet shows that it can be effective in managing diabetes with type 2. This diet is about taking raw foods as alternatives for foods that are high with carbohydrates and sugar intent.

Timing for Eating

For diabetic people, eating healthy was not a usual matter of what to eat but also comprises on when to eat. The question will arise on how long prior to the meal will one would inject insulin? Well, it will depends on what type of insulin you take and how long, medium, or is it a quick acting insulin.

When the patient checks the blood sugar prior to bedtime and finds out that it is at the lower level, then it is very much advisable that you eat some carbohydrate before going to bed to avoid hypoglycemia.

The Particular Diets

Pritikin Diet – the diet consist of high carbohydrates, whole grains, vegetables, and fruits. This diet was with exercise accompaniment.

G.I. Diet – this diet helps the improvement of diabetes control. It avoids foods that ate high in carbohydrates. Eating foods that are low in GI can convert glucose more gradually in the bloodstream.

Low Carbohydrate Diet – this has been recommended that slowly elimination of carbohydrates from your diet can help overturn the diabetes. Fats can be the primary source of calories for the body and even the complication owing the insulin resistance can be minimized. Though, it is very much important that the diet must be in low saturated fats. Saturate fats can raise cholesterol and high cholesterol is a threat for heart diseases. Diabetic patients are more prone to heart diseases.

High Fiber Diet – This had been proved that it worked in controlling diabetes and can minimize the blood glucose levels with the same effect as with the oral diabetes medicines.

By: Cheyenne Ibit