Archive for November 2010

Renal Diabetic Diet – Easy Steps to Stay Healthy



Renal diabetes is a type of diabetes where the blood sugar in the kidneys is low. Diabetics who suffer from chronic kidney disease must follow a renal diet in addition to their normal diabetic diet. While there are several restrictions, there is still a nice variety of food available to eat. This is important because even though you’re on a special diet, you shouldn’t have to deprive yourself. This article will give renal diabetics out there some general information about what to look out for while on the diet, as well as a list of certain permitted foods in the renal diabetic diet.

There are five major “lows” in the renal diabetic diet. The first, of course, is low sugar. This should go without saying for all diabetics, but it’s important to limit sugar intake on this diet. The second low is sodium. Salt overworks the kidneys and raises blood pressure. Therefore, try to buy food that is low in salt or low in sodium. The kidneys regulate potassium levels in the blood. Therefore, it makes sense for your diet to be low in potassium too. So, if you enjoy eating bananas, you’ll probably have to do without them from this point forward.

Protein is also the enemy of the renal diabetic diet. Limit your protein intake to eight ounces or less a day. Finally, dairy products put quite the strain on your kidneys, so a low dairy intake is beneficial as well. So, the five “lows” are sugar, sodium, potassium, protein, and dairy products. That eliminates a lot of things, right? Not exactly. While bananas are off the list, other fruits such as strawberries, cherries, pineapple, and grapes are perfectly fine to eat. Also, dairy intake must be limited to only 2 servings per day, and those choices must include no-sugar dairy such as no-sugar ice cream or sugar-free pudding.

Low potassium foods include various starches such as pasta, rice, and white bread. So, a renal diabetic diet can include these foods. Ordinary red meat is out when it comes to protein, but chicken, fish, and lean meats are perfectly fine. Clear diet sodas like lemon-lime or ginger ale are okay. In terms of vegetables, green and red peppers and celery are good places to start; there are other permitted vegetables as well, but this list is not very long. While cutting things out of your diet can be rather painful, doing so can ensure that you keep your diabetes in check and continue to live a healthy life.

By: Warren Davis

A Good Diabetic Diet!



In order to keep the blood sugar levels stable, diabetics should eat the same amount of food at the same time as a part of the diabetes diet. They should eat starch based food like cereal, bread, and starchy vegetables. You can go for six servings a day or more. Also eat five servings of fruit and vegetables every day. Sugary food and sweets should be eaten in moderation. Still having a sweet tooth! Have your favorite sweet once or twice a week only.

The reason why vegetables, nuts and fruit are recommended as diabetes diet people is because they contain soluble fibers which minimize the absorption of glucose from the intestines. In fact, legumes like kidney beans with high soluble fiber and carrots are your best bet.

If diagnosed with diabetes, it is important to go to a dietitian or consult the same doctor and chart out a diet plan for diabetes treatment. The dietitian will consider your medication, weight, your lifestyle and your favorite ‘sweet’ foods to recommend the best diet plan for you which will not deny the pleasure of eating and also avoid complications in diabetes.

Weight control is quite an important thing in Type 2 diabetes because additional fat render it difficult to make or utilize insulin. If you are overweight, aim to lose weight so that you can maintain your blood-sugar level. You may even have to restrict your medication. Do this after checking with your doctor.

If you are a smoker, you must quit smoking, if diagnosed with diabetes because it can create a lot of complications. Smoking can decrease blood flow to legs and feet which may result in amputation. Smoking can worsen impotence in diabetic men, who are already having problems with blood flow. The LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) level rises causing stroke and heart attack.

Drink alcohol in small measures. Do not drink alcohol on empty stomach because it will reduce the blood-sugar level.

When you are diagnosed with diabetes, there will be quite a few amount of lifestyle changes to be made. The body breaks down different kinds of food at different levels. Carbohydrates like potato or bread can take anything from five minutes to three hours to be digested. Fat can take 8 hours to be digested. Protein can take three or six hours to be digested. This is the reason why different types of food have different effects on the blood-sugar level. No wonder, a cup of ice-cream raises the blood sugar level slowly compared to potatoes.

Do not be depressed, diabetic people do not have to ban sweet foods totally. All you need to do is to eat them in moderate levels, as mentioned before-once or twice a week. As diabetic people are a risk to heart problems, it is advisable to eat fat to 30 percent of total calorie intake daily. Eat smaller portions of fish, meat or non-fat milk products. High protein food like Atkins Diet is not recommended as diabetes diet, because they are rich in fat. Thus we understand, that some changes in your diet and lifestyle after being diagnosed with diabetes, should keep your blood sugar in control and make you lead a happy, peaceful life.

A shining example of someone who fought Diabetes to emerge a victor is none other than one of the sexiest women in the world-Halle Berry. She was diagnosed with Diabetes 2, a condition in which the body’s ability to produce enough insulin. This happened in 1989. However Halle stuck to a diet plan for diabetes treatment and worked out in her treadmill to emerge now as one of the top 50 beautiful people in the world.

By: Arunraj V.S.

Diabetic Diet Control



Diabetic diet control Type2 diabetes is one of the most common health conditions we see in the society today. A number of reasons lead to the development of diabetes. These include:

A family history of Type 2 diabetes Obesity or being overweight Lack of sufficient physical activity Unhealthy eating patterns

Diabetic people run the risk of developing a large number of adverse health conditions, like:

Retinopathy, neuropathy and nephropathy Heart problems Diabetic food problems

Sadly, there is no cure for diabetes. However, since the development of type2 diabetes is intricately connected to a person’s weight and food habits, diabetes can be managed effectively by adopting healthy lifestyle habits.

One of the most important factors in the effective management of diabetes is diet control. A diabetic diet must achieve the right balance between nutrients and calorie count. On the one hand, it must be rich enough to provide all the vital nutrients in the right proportions. On the other, a diabetic diet must exercise strict calorie control so that the diabetic patient is at no risk of putting on extra weight. In fact, losing body weight is one of the best ways of achieving tight blood sugar control. Therefore, diabetics need to pay extra attention to what they eat.

A healthy diabetic diet must be low in fat and carbohydrates. The intake of white flour, sugar, oils, trans fats and full-fat milk products must be tightly controlled or kept to a bare minimum.

A diabetic diet must be rich in water. Alcohol, fruit juices and carbonated drinks must be avoided at all costs.

One of the main contributory reasons to the development of diabetes is the abundant intake of junk food. Fast food is rich in sugar and absolutely empty of fiber. Diabetics must eliminate fast foods from their diet.

A controlled diabetic diet is rich in complex carbohydrates and fiber. So a diabetic diet must contain lots of unpeeled fresh vegetables, legumes such as beans and lentils, brown rice, whole wheat bread, bran and oats. These kinds of food stuff are rich in fiber. The intake of fiber is particularly vital to the health of a diabetic patient. This is because fiber has the unique ability of regulating blood sugar levels. Sugar contained in the food is released into the bloodstream in very small doses in the presence of fiber. Fiber has another crucial beneficial effect. It helps in detoxification and elimination. Abundant fiber in the diabetic diet also ensures control over sharp hunger pangs.

Unfortunately, most diabetic patients find it difficult to take in dietary fiber in its natural form. This is the reason why many diabetics depend on the intake of healthy, all natural fiber supplements. A water-soluble, fiber supplement that is made from natural plant extracts and is free of all artificial flavors, additives and colors can help a diabetic patient regulate his blood sugar levels effectively.

Diet is only one part of diabetic management. Proper exercise plays a vital role in keeping blood sugar levels under control in the long-run. Therefore, it is important that a diabetic patient complements his diet control efforts with proper exercise.

By: Leisa St Ledger

Diabetic Diet Sample – Prepare Your Diabetes Diet Menu at Affordable Costs to Prevent Weight Gain



In order to embark on a diabetic diet plan one needs to consider many things. The diet plan should be that much efficient that your blood glucose level gets controlled. Moreover, the plan must consider what amount of calorie would be beneficial for you. However, the standard diabetic diet plan contains around 220 grams of carbohydrate and 1,600 calories. Don’t forget to drink plenty of water after each meal.

How to prepare your own diabetes diet menu at an affordable cost and which would prevent weight gain:

Actually meal planning is very essential to control weight gain and to increase the metabolism of the body. This diabetic diet sample would help you a lot:

Breakfast: Should have 52 gram carbohydrate an 355 calories

* 1 Teaspoon of margarine along with a slice of whole bread

* 1/4 cup of cottage cheese

* 1/2 Banana

* 1/2 Cup of Oatmeal

* 1/2 Fat free milk

* 1/2 Cup of blueberries

Lunch: It should contain 70 grams carbohydrate and 530 calories

* 1 Cup vegetable soup

* 1 Sandwich

* 1 Apple

Dinner: It should contain 60 grams carbohydrate and 640 calories

* 2/3 cup of boiled carrots

* Tossed salad of raw vegetables to ensure consumption of low fat

* 4 Apricot halves

* 2/3 Cup of brown cooked rice

* 4 ounces of chicken breast dressed with sprinkled oregano

* 1 Dinner roll of grain

Snacks: Opt for two time snacks

* 16 Fat free Chips along with salsa

* 1/2 Cup of chocolate pudding complimented with sweet taste

* 3 Cups of popcorn

Further, to prevent weight gain the following tips can also be followed along with the diabetic diet sample to ensure maximum benefit:

Acai Berry Diet and Colon Cleanse Supplement: Acai berry contains all the nutritional components which are required for the proper functioning of the body. Further this dynamic due can effectively help to cleanse the inner system of your body and increase the metabolism rate.

Cardio Workouts: Jogging, brisk waking, swimming, running etc can be opted to burn fat at steady pace.

Drink Lots of Water: It is very essential to increase the metabolism of the body and prevent weight gain at ease.

By: Kathy Murray

Diabetic Diets – What to Eat and What to Avoid



When a person has diabetes, their body does not produce enough insulin to manage the blood sugar levels within the body. This means that a person will have to resort to other measures for controlling their blood sugar levels by following a diabetic diet accompanied with regular exercise.

Other ways to ease the complications of diabetes is to take medication, such as daily injections of insulin or taking a pill, such as glucophage.

The people who are most likely to become diabetic are individuals who are overweight, as well as inactive.

In addition, many develop diabetes because people in their family are susceptible to it due to heredity. It is also the lifestyle of a person that contributes to this occurrence.

Avoiding exercise, eating lots of fats and sugar within your diet, as well as being overweight or obese, are some of the factors surrounding diabetes. It can occur at anytime with signs including frequent urination and excessive thirst.

When someone is diabetic, they are unable to produce or correctly use insulin throughout their body, which is the hormone that is responsible for changing sugar, starches and other food into energy.

One of the ways to follow a diabetic diet is to eat foods from all of the four basic food groups, as well as decrease the consumption of alcohol, fat, and sweets.

You can incorporate a wide variety of nutritious foods into a diabetic diet.

A diabetic’s diet must follow this lifestyle change wherever they may be.

When eating out at a restaurant, there are a few tips to follow when deciphering the types of food items and meals you should look out for or avoid.

When choosing something that will adhere to your diabetic diet, you should avoid foods that are described as being “creamed,” “fried” or “saut?ed.” These foods are most likely to contain loads of fat.

Foods that contain a lot of cheese, butter, oil or mayonnaises should be avoided on diabetic diets. If you must taste these foods during your meal, you should order them to arrive as a side item.

Other foods that can stray from diabetic diets include those that are prepared with sweet and sour sauce, as well as teriyaki and barbeque. They contain high amounts of sugar and carbohydrates that should be avoided while on a diabetic diet.

Diabetic diets should count the number of calories from fat as being 30% less than the total number of calories eaten throughout one day.

Diabetic diets should include foods that are low in saturated fats and cholesterol, such as skinless poultry, fresh fruit, and vegetables.

When on a diabetic diet, you should stay away from red meats, eggs, as well as whole-milk dairy products.

Diabetic diets work better when the dairy in your life comes from low-fat or fat-free selections.

10-20% of your daily calories on a diabetic diet should come from proteins in foods, such as lean meat, fish, and low-fat dairy products. The rest of a diabetic diet should consist of carbohydrates coming from whole grains, beans, as well as fresh vegetables and fruit.

Overall, there is no official diabetic diet to follow and it really depends on the individual diabetic.

If you are able to work closely with a dietician, doctor, or nutritionist, you will be able to find a balance within your diabetic diet and exercise routine.

By: Stephen Todd

Diabetic Diet Food List – What To Include In Your Diet List



Diabetes. The usual reaction I get when this word is mentioned is a gasp of disbelief. Did you also know that about 23 million Americans are diabetics? That’s a lot! These diabetics can be classified into two types – the type 1 and type 2 diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, insulin production is insufficient. Insulin, on the other hand, is not used properly in type 2 diabetes. Fortunately, doctors have a way of controlling or managing diabetes. They provide a guide or a list of what to eat or what not to eat. Diabetic diet food list is what the list is called.

Medicines, injections or any other kind of prescription is futile if you will not follow your diabetic diet. If you don’t know even inkling about the diet, then you have come to the right place my friend. Let me tell you about the right food to include in your diet.
INCLUDE:

• Fiber-rich foods – this is the staple of any diabetic diet. According to research, foods rich in fiber reduce blood sugar levels. Among the fiber-rich foods, brown rice is the most chosen and popular. Other fiber-rich foods are fruits and vegetables. However, there are fruits such as mangoes and bananas that are high in sugar so these should be avoided. Fruit juices are packed with sugar and nutrients so these should be avoided too. Apples, avocado, cantaloupes, grapefruit, peaches, strawberries, and watermelon are some of the fruits you can eat. As for vegetables, the non-starchy ones are recommended. Examples are artichokes, asparagus, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, tomatoes and zucchini. Special foods such as bitter gourd, flaxseeds, onions and soya beans are worth including in the diet plan. These foods have the power to take apart sugar and reduce glucose levels.

• Healthy Fats – one example is the omega-3 fatty acids which can be found in mackerel and salmon. This fatty acid keeps the heart healthy. Olive and peanut oils are good in managing diabetes instead of the vegetable oils. Foods that are low in fat such as cottage cheese, skimmed milk and skinless chicken wouldn’t hurt if included in the diet.

• Foods rich in protein – wondering why protein-rich foods are important? This most especially concerns those with type 2 diabetes. As mentioned, the body does not use insulin properly in type 2 diabetes. Based on studies, protein promotes effective usage of insulin in the body. In other words, protein addresses the root cause in type 2 diabetes. This reason makes protein a perfect addition to the diabetic diet list. Examples of foods rich in protein are almonds, brazil nuts, cashews, peanuts, and walnuts.

Diabetic diet food list helps in controlling your diabetes so be sure that you follow it. However, taking in large amounts will not help you so please don’t do that. Consume only what is required for you and your diabetes management will go a long way. Avoid the foods that are not included in the list. This discipline should go alongside regular exercise. Do all this and you will manage diabetes well.

By: Mick J Jones

3 Diabetic Dieting Strategies to Losing Weight



Many people suffering from diabetes are told that they need to lose weight; however losing weight for most people is not as easy as you may think. Losing weight does not just mean cutting out all of that rubbish that you had eaten, especially when you’re diabetic because most of that rubbish you had eaten should already have been cut out with your diet plan. Perhaps you do not have a diet plan which brings me on nicely to the first way to lose weight if your diabetic.

Create a diabetic diet plan

Everyone who is diabetic has to watch what they eat some more than others, whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes it is something we all have to do. So why not take this a step further instead of just reading the back labels of your microwave meals and cans of beans, prepare your own meals cook them up from scratch. Sure this may sound hard but really it is not, now I may be able to say this because before I had diabetes I was already cooking my own meals daily but even if I were not the meals I do cook are really simple and easy. There are plenty of eBooks and informational guides out there with some real treasured recipes for diabetics to cook with some tasty desserts, they are on my website. It’s all about measuring the quantities and cooking with that measurement in mind.

By creating your own diabetic diet plan you have full control over the ingredients you add and obviously this is a massive bonus as this can affect your cholesterol blood pressure and your weight which can have large adverse affects on your diabetes.

When creating your diet plan keep in mind measurements of each ingredient write it all down and mix them up a little, you don’t want to be eating the same food every day believe me that gets very boring (I had to eat porridge for 2 years 3 times a day).

Atkins diabetic diet

The Atkins diabetic diet is part of the large series of Atkins diets. The Atkins diabetic diet allows three different levels of meal plans, starting with 20 grams of carbohydrates per day, then going to 40 carbohydrates per day then ending at 60 grams of carbohydrates per day. However the authors of the Atkins books do advise people to customise the diet plans to suite themselves as obviously everyone is different.

Exercise

If you’re diabetic like anyone else exercise can be a great way of losing weight however it should be discussed with your doctor first and carefully measured. I cannot make this any clearer, exercise can affect your diet and your blood levels severely if not measured and can have major impacts on your health and diabetes. However don’t let this put you of exercising. If you are careful and plan out a routine where you can measure the amount of calories you burn from doing the exercise you can ensure that you do not put your self in any risks. Also be sure to research what types of exercise have different affects on your body and blood levels as some exercise can have immediate affects on your blood sugar levels where as others may take a couple of hours to take affect.

By: Will Blears