So what exactly is diabetes?
Diabetes is the name given to a group of conditions in which there is too much sugar in the blood stream. Insulin (a hormone produced by the pancreas) acts as a key to unlock the door to the cells, allowing the movement of sugar from the blood stream into the cells to be used for energy. In diabetes, the pancreas secretes insufficient insulin, or the insulin does not work effectively, therefore blood sugar levels will remain high.
There are 3 types of diabetes:
- Type 1 diabetes: The pancreas does not produce insulin, so insulin must be given to the body manually. (This was previously known as juvenile diabetes, as it is generally diagnosed in younger people)
- Type 2 diabetes: The insulin produced by the body is not very effective at taking the glucose from the blood stream to the cells.
- Gestational diabetes: Occurs in pregnancy and in many cases is only a temporary condition, and goes away after the mother gives birth. The mother does however have a higher risk of subsequently developing Type 2 diabetes.
You may wonder if there is a “special” diet needed for diabetes, and the answer, fortunately is no! The same principals of healthy eating that apply to the general population also apply to diabetics.
The incidence of diabetes, particularly Type 2 diabetes is on the increase. In
Australia, it has been found that almost 1 in 4 Australians 25 years and over has
either diabetes or a condition of impaired glucose metabolism. Complications of
uncontrolled diabetes include increased risk of heart disease and stroke,
blindness, kidney failure, limb amputation and erectile dysfunction in men.
Guidelines for healthy eating for diabetes:
1. Aim for a healthy weight range This is the most important thing you can do to control diabetes. Even a small loss can greatly improve blood glucose control. To lose weight, limit food high in fat and sugar and limit alcohol.
2. Limit high fat foods Foods high in fat can contribute to excess weight. In particular, saturated fats (mainly found in animal products) can increase your blood cholesterol level which is a risk factor for heart disease
3. Limit foods which are digested quickly (ie limiting high GI foods) Eating large amounts of refined sugar can upset diabetes control and cause weight gain, therefore avoid this such as lollies, ordinary soft drinks and cordials and refined breads and cereals.
4. Exercise Regularly Exercise helps to control blood glucose levels and your weight. It is a key to good health.
5. Spread your eating evenly over the day It is better to small main meals and include morning tea, afternoon tea and supper. Include good quality carbohydrate at every meal; these include carbohydrate foods such as wholegrain breads and cereals, Basmati rice, fruit, starchy vegetables, dried beans and lentils, low fat milk or yoghurt.
Tags: Blood Sugar, Carbohydrate, Diabetes, Glycaemic Index, Glycemic Index, T1DM, T2DM, Wholegrains
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