The amount of glucose in your blood is controlled by the pancreatic hormone insulin, which triggers the uptake of glucose by muscle, fat and liver cells. Diabetes is caused by the pancreas either not making enough insulin or by the cells in the body not having a strong-enough response to insulin levels, resulting in chronically high blood glucose levels. People who have diabetes often need to follow special diets.
Calorie Restriction
Because diabetes is often associated with being overweight, diabetics are often given calorie restrictions, which can help them lose excess weight. This reduced-calorie diet, along with an exercise plan, can help remove extra body fat from the patient, which can improve the body's response to insulin. Typically, patients are told to follow a 1,500- to 1,800-calorie diet, though the exact figures may vary based on size, activity level and nutritional needs, notes EndocrineWeb.
Blood Glucose
Another goal of diabetes diets is to keep blood glucose levels low, DLife reports. This typically involves limiting carbohydrate intake because carbohydrates have a direct effect on blood glucose concentrations. This is especially important for people with type 1 diabetes, in which the pancreas does not make any insulin, so this form of diabetes requires insulin injections. The amount of insulin injected must be correlated with the amount of carbs eaten to keep blood glucose levels from getting too high or too low. Carb counting is also important for people with type 2 diabetes, who have a poor response to insulin, as it can prevent sudden spikes in blood glucose.
Recommended Foods
People who are following a diabetes diet should try to eat primarily healthy carbohydrates, such as those found in fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Foods high in fiber, such as legumes, nuts, vegetables and fruits, are also recommended, the Mayo Clinic says, as fiber can help keep blood sugar levels low and protect against heart disease. Oily fish, such as herring, mackerel, sardines, salmon and trout, are also recommended, as the oils they contain can reduce your risk of developing heart disease.
Foods to Avoid
People with diabetes should also try to avoid certain foods, as they can negatively impact their health. Foods high in saturated and trans fats should be minimized because people with diabetes have an increased risk of heart disease. Daily intake of cholesterol and sodium should also be restricted, as excessive consumption of these food items can increase your risk of heart disease.
Considerations
Although it is possible to improve your blood glucose control through diet, eating a healthy diet does not mean you can eschew all other forms of diabetes treatment. It is still important to monitor your blood glucose levels several times each day. If your blood glucose levels remain high, even with a carefully planned diet, you will need to consider other treatment options, such as oral diabetes medications or insulin.
