More than 23 million adults over the age of 20 have diabetes and more than five million may not even realize they have it, according to the American Diabetes Association. Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to a number of health-related complications, including blindness, kidney disease and amputation. A diabetic diet can help your diabetes and prevent complications, and may even be able to prevent the onset of diabetes.
Diabetes Diagnosis
There are three blood tests that doctors run to diagnose diabetes. The fasting plasma glucose measures blood sugar after fasting for eight hours. A fasting plasma glucose greater than 126 indicates you have diabetes. The oral glucose tolerance test also requires an eight hour fast followed by the consumption of a glucose-containing beverage. Blood sugar is tested before and two hours after drinking the sugary beverage. A two-hour blood glucose greater than 200mg/dL indicates you have diabetes. Sometimes your doctor may order a random blood test if you are experiencing diabetic symptoms, such as extreme thirst and frequent urination. A random blood glucose greater than 200mg/dL with symptoms indicates diabetes. Testing positive for anyone of these tests and being formally diagnosed with diabetes by your doctor indicates the need for a diabetic diet. The diabetic diet can help you manage your blood sugars and improve your health.
Diagnosed With Prediabetes
People with prediabetes have blood sugars that are higher than normal, but not high enough to diagnose with diabetes. For example, a fasting blood glucose of 100 to 125 is an indication that you may have prediabetes. Most people with a diagnosis of prediabetes will develop diabetes within 10 years, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders. Following a healthy diet and exercise plan to get to a healthier weight is the recommended treatment for people with prediabetes. As a healthy diet, the diabetic diet can be used as part of the treatment plan for people with prediabetes.
Family History of Diabetes
If you are overweight and have a family history of Type 2 diabetes, you have a greater chance of developing diabetes yourself, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders. Following a diabetic diet to help you lose weight can significantly reduce your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. The diabetic diet is not an overly restrictive diet, but a healthy low-fat eating plan that includes a variety of healthy foods from each of the food group in moderate amounts. MayoClinic.com says the diabetic diet can be followed by anyone, with or without diabetes.
References
- NIDDK: Diagnosis of Diabetes
- Diabetes Care: Executive Summary: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes---2010
- American Diabetes Association: Diabetes Statistics
- International Diabetes Federation: Complications of Diabetes
- NIDDK: Am I at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes?
- MayoClinic.com: Diabetes Diet: Create Your Healthy-Eating Plan
