If you are a diabetic, you are intimately aware of the importance of diet for managing your health condition. Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The American Diabetes Association estimates that there are over 23 million Americans with diabetes. Managing your diabetes is essential to help you avoid the complications associated with this incurable disorder. You can begin with your diet.
Benefits
A diabetic diet for women is designed to help stabilize blood sugar. When you have diabetes, either your body is resisting the effects of insulin to stabilize glucose levels or it cannot produce adequate amounts of insulin. Your diet will compensate for this by avoiding the spikes in blood sugar which can increase your risks for complications. Your diet will also address the risk factors such as cardiovascular disease associated with diabetes.
Nutritional Content
A diabetic diet concentrates on energy-dense foods that are high in nutritional value but lower in calories like vegetables and fruits. It will also focus on foods with a lower glycemic index, GI, such as whole grains. GI measures the increase in blood glucose levels, explains the Nemours Foundation. Foods with a high GI, such as starchy foods like potatoes and rice, cause spikes in blood sugar levels as they are digested. Since control of blood glucose is essential, avoiding these foods may help you manage your diabetes.
Recommendations
The American Diabetes Association offers some specific recommendations to help you plan your diabetic diet. If you are overweight, you can use your diet to decrease risk factors for other chronic health conditions. However, the association does not advocate low-carbohydrate diets as a means to achieve weight loss. Mayo Clinic warns that low-carb/high protein diets may reduce the amount of nutrients you consume, leading to possible vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
Eating Out
Eating out poses some challenges for those following a diabetic diet. A 2010 study published in the "American Journal of Public Health" found that diners often have a hard time correctly estimating calories and fat content. Participants underestimated the nutritional value of their foods by one-half. The American Diabetes Association explains you can eat out if you make good choices by avoiding empty calories such as white bread and foods that can contain high amounts of sugar.
Prevention/Solution
If you follow a diabetic diet, you are taking a large step forward toward managing your health condition. Familiarizing yourself with healthy options can make it easier to make good choices whether you are at the grocery store or eating out. Take the time to read product labels and explore the nutritional value of restaurant meals. In this way, you can stabilize your blood sugar and improve your quality of life.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Leading Causes of Death
- American Diabetes Association: Diabetes Statistics
- Nemours Foundation: Glycemic Index
- American Diabetes Association: Nutrition Recommendations and Interventions for Diabetes
- Mayo Clinic: Atkins Diet: What's Behind the Claims?
- "American Journal of Public Health"; Attacking the Obesity Epidemic: The Potential Health Benefits of Providing Nutrition Information in Restaurants; S. Burton, et al; September 2006
