The American Diabetic Association defines diabetes as "as group of diseases characterized by high blood glucose levels that result from defects in the body's ability to produce and/or use insulin." There are three main characterizations of diabetes: Type I, Type II and Gestational. Each of these can be controlled with medications and/or diet. The American Diabetic Association diet was developed by the association to help diabetics control their disease.
Significance
According to the American Diabetic Association, insulin is a hormone that is required to convert glucose from sugar and starches into energy for the body. Type I diabetes means that the body does not produce any insulin. Type II diabetes means that the body either does not produce enough insulin or the body cannot use the insulin it produces. If you are diagnosed with either type of diabetes, a balanced diet, like the American Diabetic Association diet, helps control your blood sugar levels. Maintaining your blood sugar levels limits the insulin levels needed for constant energy and limits the side effects of diabetes.
Concerns
Diabetes affects many systems of the body if it is not managed effectively and if your blood sugar is not maintained at a normal level. According to the American Diabetes Association, uncontrolled diabetes and uncontrolled blood sugar levels can causes heart disease, kidney disease and nerve damage. Heart disease includes high blood pressure, heart attacks and heart rhythm changes. Kidney disease affects the body's ability to filter impurities from the body and is seen in edema or swelling in the ankles and feet. Eventually, people with kidney disease require dialysis to filter their blood and remove the excess fluid from the body. Nerve damage, called diabetic neuropathy, starts in the hands and feet, and causes the sufferer to lose feeling in the hands and feet. This is dangerous because it can limit the ability of the diabetic to feel pain when they are injured. The key to limiting these side effects is maintaining a normal blood sugar. This level is decided by your physician, but is typically 70 to 130 mg/dl. The food choices in the American Diabetes Association diet help maintain a normal, constant blood sugar level.
Diet
The American Diabetic Association has developed a diet that includes fruits and vegetables; whole grains, breads and cereals; skim and low-fat dairy products; and proteins. The association recommends that foods from each of the groups are eaten each day, and the foods eaten should be low on the glycemic index. The glycemic index is a rating of the effect of foods on your blood sugar. A high glycemic index food will cause more of a change in blood sugar than a lower glycemic index food. The glycemic index is found on the American Diabetic Association website. Fruit and vegetable choices include apples, berries, asparagus, spinach and green beans. The association also recommends that raw fruits and vegetables are a better choice because raw foods have a lower glycemic index. Whole grains, breads and cereal choices include bran, whole-grain bread, wheat and brown rice. Skim and low-fat dairy is recommended including milk, cheese and yogurt. Protein is an important part of the diet, and includes low fat poultry and meats, fish, eggs, nuts and beans. This diet does not recommend how often you should eat or a specific eating schedule. You should consult with your physician to decide how many meals you should eat and how often you should eat.
Foods to Avoid
The Diabetic Association recommends that you avoid excessive animal fats. There are good fats that should be included in a healthy diet such as olive oil and fish oil. Margarine should be substituted for butter, and low-fat or skim milk should be substituted for whole milk. Even though eggs are a good source of protein, eggs should be limited to three to four per week because of the cholesterol content. You should avoid excess sugar but a little in moderation is acceptable. The American Diabetic Association also recommends you avoid salt intake because it can increase your blood pressure and water retention. This includes salt in processed foods as well as table salt. Finally, the ADA recommends you limit your alcohol intake or not drink alcohol at all. You should contact a physician to decide if alcohol intake is acceptable for you.
Considerations
The American Diabetic Association Diet is a recommendation for healthy food intake for diabetic consumers. The association recommends that you consult with a physician or dietitian to create a diet plan for your specific needs. The association developed this diet with diabetics in mind; however the association states that this is a healthy diet that can be followed by anyone, including those who are not diabetic. A healthy diet is part of a plan developed by you and your physician to manage diabetes and minimize the effects of the disease.
